“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” (Articles of Faith 1:9)

And the Savior does lead His Church by continuous revelation, as seen by the number of announcements and changes enacted by President Russel M. Nelson. One of these changes includes using the full name of the Church and dropping the nicknames “Mormons”, “the Mormon church”, and “LDS church” among others. Another is the decrease in Sunday services from 3 hours to 2 hours so we can focus on gospel learning at home in addition to a traditional church setting. This bold move, following various changes in the Church in recent years, has garnered various reactions from members and from the general public. During the time of President Thomas S. Monson, the age of full time missionaries allowed to serve was lowered. There is a need for all these changes and we will come to see why this is so.

The Need for Continuous Revelation in Our Days

As the adversary continuously upgrades his evil schemes, it is very important that we seek what the Lord wants us to do to keep up with the times. The cunning ways of Satan may ensnare us and take us away from the covenant path. Through the revelations given to His chosen prophet, the Lord directs His Church and gives instructions on how to upgrade our defense against the evil one. With this continuous guidance, we can make necessary changes that will enable us to endure in the last days.

The Need to Use the True Name of the Church

One of the most talked about revelations given recently is the directive to drop the common nicknames of the Church and to use its full name, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is so much need for this change no matter how subliminal it may seem. A beautiful article that expresses the depth of this revelation can be read here:
https://faith.ph/common-questions/why-mormons-change-name/

The Need for a Shorter Sunday Meeting Block

Focusing on Gospel learning at home is the main goal of this change. The way I see it, there is a great need to do this for spiritual self-reliance. We are in the last days, a time when wars, rumors of wars and different calamities are prophesied to occur. There might be times when it will be difficult to make it to a meetinghouse or the seminary and institute buildings to be taught and to learn gospel principles. If not in a home setting, where will we have it then? The Lord wants our testimonies to remain strong in those times, and for us to be able to feel the Spirit of God, even at home. Where better to nurture our testimonies and fan the ember of faith if not within our families? The Lord wants us to emphasize teaching and practicing gospel principles in a more personal way.

The Need for Opening our Minds and our Hearts for Coming Changes

There will be more changes to come. It is not an issue of what revelations and when they will be given, but more how we will take them that matters. Let us broaden our understanding and live by faith. As the world evolves, the need for further instructions from God becomes more vital. Yes, “He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God”

At the foundation of all these is the truth that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are mindful of us. These changes protect us and strengthen us, not only as a Church collectively, but individually as well. If we take them to heart and live in accordance to these inspired counsels, we can have personal security, even in these “perilous times”.

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What’s in a Name?

Immediately after the announcement, involved blogs, websites, and social media pages changed their names – one by one – in accordance with the Prophet’s words. Even the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir followed suit with its new name – The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Names and brands that took years to build were gone in seconds. One might ask, “Are all these measures necessary? Aren’t people going too extreme for a mere name correction?”

The name of the church is not inconsequential and not negotiable, President Nelson explained. “When it comes to nicknames of the Church…the most important thing…is the absence of the Savior’s name.”2 The absence of the Savior’s name in His church, he added, already means victory for Satan and a disregard for Jesus Christ’s role.

Historically speaking, the nicknames of the Church – particularly Mormons – have negative connotations. The term Mormons was first used in the 1830s by people who had antagonistic feelings toward the Church. It is, by all means, derogatory. Although in recent years, others have accepted the nickname, it remains tangled with controversial issues.

Let’s prove this claim by having an experiment on the web. Type the phrase “are Mormons…” into Google, and the predictions that come up will prove that the term “Mormons” is still associated with negative issues like polygamy.

Missionaries can perhaps attest to this. One sister said “When I introduced myself to people using the Church’s full name printed on my nametag, many would look confused, so I would ask, ‘Do you know the Mormon Church?’ This follow-up was usually met with immediate recognition, but it came with a price. The moment ‘Mormon Church’ was mentioned, people questioned me [about] whether the Church was a cult or not. Thus, I learned through my proselyting experiences that when Jesus Christ was removed from the Church’s name, people [thought] the Church was nothing but a cult. Truly, the name is everything in the Church.”

“Thus, shall my church be called”

The name of the church is of such great importance that it was a subject of disputations among members in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. To these disputations, Paul taught:

“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”3

Christ taught the people, “And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church.”4

There is no clearer explanation for the name of the Church than Christ’s own explanation. Because it is Christ’s Church, it only makes sense that it should be named after Him. If the Church is called by any other name then it is not His, but a man’s.

Another important question that might arise in connection with correcting the name of the Church is the use of the phrase “of Latter-Day Saints” after the words “The Church of Jesus Christ.” After all, we see no directive in the Book of Mormon or the Bible about this matter. The answer can be found in a compilation of modern revelations known as the Doctrine and Covenants. Jesus Christ Himself said,

“For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”5

Why the addition? Members believe that the Church went through a period called the Great Apostasy following the death of the Savior and His Apostles. Great Apostasy means that Christ’s Church and the authority needed to lead it were gone for a time. To emphasize that there was an actual restoration of the Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ said His Church was to be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The revised style guide released by the First Presidency encouraged the use of the full name of the Church, which is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” However, for shortened reference, it is acceptable to use “the Church,” “the Church of Jesus Christ,” and “restored Church of Jesus Christ.” Members can still be called “Latter-day Saints.” The term “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” is also accurate when referring to people of the Church.

Correcting the Errors

The name correction is never about rebranding, President Nelson taught. Brands only concern man-made organizations, which Christ’s Church is not. It also does not mean any disrespect for the prophet-historian Mormon. Doing away with the Church’s “other names” is about being accurate. President Nelson said of the ancient prophet Mormon:

“I think Mormon would be very embarrassed if he knew people were calling it the Mormon Church.”6

Now, here’s the big question: How can we erase hundred-year-old nicknames of the Church? It will take a long time. Years. Maybe even decades to do so. Or the nicknames may never be gone at all. But through our earnest efforts, “the Lord will lead us through.”

President Nelson gave some advice on how we can correct others regarding the name of the Church:

“We will want to be courteous and patient in our efforts to correct these errors. Responsible media will be sympathetic in responding to our request.”

The Change Should Start From Us

The reason why it is important for the name correction to start with the members of the Church can be found in a verse in Alma:

“Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.”7

The Latter-day Saints are inward vessels. By becoming better at using the Church’s proper name, others who are not of the same faith – the outer vessels – will do it as well.

President Nelson also thinks the same. He told members during his recent trip to Canada,

“It’s disingenuous for us to believe that we’re frustrated because the others don’t call us by the right name when we don’t call us by the right name ourselves. We’ve got to clean up our own part first, and then the media will follow—they’ll be gracious.”

Correcting an established habit and “identity” are quite challenging, but it is possible. Sincere and earnest efforts to follow the Lord will always be met with help from heaven. As the name correction takes place, a “pour down” of blessings, “the likes of which we have never seen” will come from on high, just as the Prophet promised.

References:

1 https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/style-guide

2 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/the-correct-name-of-the-church?lang=eng

3 1 Corinthians 10:13

4 3 Nephi 27:8

5 Doctrine and Covenants 115:4 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/115.4?lang=eng#p4)

6 https://www.lds.org/church/news/president-nelson-in-montreal-were-correcting-not-changing-the-churchs-name?lang=eng

7 Alma 60:23

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One of Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s most powerful statements during conference, was that, “our covenants and our Savior’s Atonement enable and ennoble. Together, they help us hold on and let go. Together, they sweeten, preserve, sanctify, redeem.” We hear about the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ often. We know that we can experience the power of His Atonement as we repent and seek forgiveness, comfort those who are troubled and oppressed, forgive ourselves and others, cast our burdens at His feet, and lose ourselves in the service of our fellowmen. On the other hand, we rarely hear that our covenants also have enabling power.

The need for moral and spiritual power to thrive in this world is inevitably increasing. The source of this power is God and access to this power is through our covenants with Him. Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught that, “in these divine agreements, God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments.” Our covenants with God enable us to weather the storms of life with perseverance, overcome life’s challenges with sustained hope, and recognize the subtle enticements of the adversary. Our covenants give us power to dispel mists of confusion about moral values that the world often tries to distort, and raise our views to see the things of eternity. When we live true to our covenants with God, our lives will be elevated to a great spiritual degree and we will gain the attributes of Godliness that we so desire.

As we seek to keep our covenants, we may find ourselves falling short of our commitment. In these trying times, we can take comfort and access the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as we turn to God for forgiveness and the cleansing of our souls. In many scriptural accounts, the Lord shows mercy to all those who offer up a broken heart and a contrite spirit. So will He also show mercy unto us as we look to Him for guidance and correction.

The guidance and correction that we seek often come from the prophet of God. Elder Ulisses Soares testified of the power given to the prophets to become the mouthpiece of God here on Earth. He recounted an experience when He witnessed the hand of the Lord in bringing to pass a miracle and they were right where God needed them to be. Prophets are the instruments by which God performs many mighty miracles. They speak the words of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has given us prophets in our day to declare unto us the mind and heart of God regarding all things pertaining to our salvation and exaltation. Elder Ulisses added that “[h]aving prophets is a sign of God’s love for His children.” When we follow the counsel of the prophets, we will feel the love of God in our lives, and our confidence that He is mindful of us will increase.

As we continue to seek inspiration from the words of God spoken by the mouth of His servants during General Conference, may we be blessed with a renewed commitment to pattern our lives in accordance with the covenants we have made with God. May we also find peace and comfort that the grace of God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all those who come unto Him in faith.

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