Choosing Appropriate Terms for Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as the LDS Church) is a vibrant and growing denomination within Christianity. As with other religions, it has faced its share of historical challenges and changes. In 1976, the Church acknowledged past instances of racism and took steps to address these issues. However, when it comes to referring to its members, there are several considerations to make.

Official Title and Member Preferences

The formal title of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's important to note that members of the Church prefer this official title and do not prefer the term "Mormons," which is often used by others to refer to members of this religion.

Short Form of the Name

Given the official title, a short form of the Church name parallel to terms like Catholicism and Protestantism is not straightforward. Unlike Catholicism, which is both a movement and a specific religious institution, and Protestantism, which refers to a wide variety of Christian denominations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a distinct identity.

Discussion on Appropriate Terms

To understand why a direct parallel does not exist, it's crucial to examine the nature of other Christian denominations:

Catholicism: A movement and a specific religious institution. The full name is the Catholic Church, or technically, the Roman Catholic Church. Individual church buildings may have long, detailed names. Protestantism: A Christian movement that encompasses various denominations and sects, including Adventism, Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Calvinism, Lutheranism, Methodism, and Pentecostalism, among others.

Each of these denominations is a subset of Protestantism, giving members the ability to identify themselves with specific names, such as "I'm Pentecostal" or "I'm a member of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel."

Restorationist Movement

From a theological standpoint, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is often categorized as part of the Restorationist movement. This refers to a belief that the Church represents a restoration of the original Christianity as practiced by Jesus and his apostles. The term Restorationist can be used as a short form, offering the same level of detail as "Protestant," indicating that you are Christian but not Catholic.

However, it is worth noting that most people do not simply identify as Protestant, but rather specify their denomination (e.g., Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.). Similarly, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would typically identify more specifically, such as "I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or "I'm Restorationist."

Subdenominational Identification

Although there is no direct parallel to terms like "Protestantism," members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can identify themselves with subdenominations. For example, someone might say, "I'm an Open Bible Church Pentecostal and attend the Arrow Creek Christian Center."

Key Points to Remember:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a single, unified religious identity that does not vary from region to region. All Sunday School lessons and doctrinal teachings are consistent worldwide. The official name has 10 syllables, similar to denomination names like "Cooperative Baptist Fellowship" (10 syllables) or "Open Bible Church Pentecostal" (9 syllables).

For those who wish to include long and varied church names as examples, here are a few:

The Spiritual Israel Church and its Army Alpha and Omega Brooklyn House of Prayer Macedonia First Born Church of the Living God Jesus the Son of the Living God Spiritual Baptist Church Church of Deliverance Tabernacle of Prayer More Than Conquerors Outreach Ministry Church Divine Guide Tabernacle of Faith Church Holy City Faith and Deliverance Ministries Center of Love Saint Andrews Temple Church of the Living God

This range of examples highlights the diversity within the Christian denominational landscape, further emphasizing the unique position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.