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| '''Mormon''' is a colloquial term that originated in the ] as a reference to people who |
'''Mormon''' is a colloquial term that originated in the ] as a reference to people who practice ]. The term originates from the title of ''The ]'', published in ] by ], which Mormons consider, along with the ], to be ]. Most Mormons are members of the ] (LDS Church); however, members of numerous other organizations within Mormonism (with the notable exception of the ]) refer to themselves as Mormons. | ||
| The name "Mormon" in the title of ''The ]'' refers to a man by that name, who according to the title page was the book's main author. The book states that Mormon was a prophet who lived in the Americas circa ]. The use of the word "Mormon" to describe Church members, as well as the Church itself, arose soon after the publication of ''The Book of Mormon'' in 1830. Although originally used pejoratively, the term has been used widely within the LDS Church, as evidenced by the name of the Church's most prestigious choir "the ]," the names of several Church songs, such as "I'm a Mormon Boy," and the tagline, "From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Mormons," which appeared at the end of a series of Church-produced television commercials. Likewise, several other denominations of Mormonism have widely used the word "Mormon". | |||
| However, as early as 1979, leaders of the LDS Church began discouraging use of the term due to concerns at least in part that the term "Mormon Church" was being used to the exclusion of the Church's official name, which is believed to have been revealed by God (see for example ). While discouraging the use of the terms "Mormon Church", "Mormon fundamentalist", "Mormon dissident", and "Mormon" in reference to other churches originating with ], the Church has stated in a 2001 that the word "Mormon" as an adjective in such expressions as "Mormon pioneers", "Mormons" as a noun in reference to members of the Church, and "Mormonism" as a doctrine, culture, and lifestyle, were all acceptable. Indeed, the Church has since acquired and set up a website at http://mormon.org intended for those who are not members of the Church, but are looking for more information. | |||
| Despite the Church' |
Despite the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' efforts to encourage use of its official name, the Associated Press has continued to recommend "Mormon Church" as a proper second reference in its influential Style Guide for journalists. Additionally, some scholars feel the terms "Mormon" and "Mormonism" are useful to collectively describe all those groups which claim to originate from the Mormon religion founded by Joseph Smith. Moreover, some other churches and individuals within Mormonism disagree with the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and continue to call themselves Mormons. Sometimes "]" or "Restoration Movement" is used for this purpose instead, but that can lead to confusion since there is an entirely different group of ] churches (those derived from the Campbellites or Stone-Campbell churches, for example, the ] and the ]) which are also known as the ]. | ||
| Some scholars (e.g. Melton, in his ''Encyclopedia of American Religion'') subdivide the Mormons into "Utah Mormons" and "Missouri Mormons". The Missouri Mormons are those Mormons who did not travel westward to Utah, and the organizations formed from them (the ], |
Some scholars (e.g. Melton, in his ''Encyclopedia of American Religion'') subdivide the Mormons into "Utah Mormons" and "Missouri Mormons". The Missouri Mormons are those Mormons who did not travel westward to Utah, and the organizations formed from them (the ], ], ], etc.), while the Utah Mormons are those who did travel westward to Utah, and the organizations formed from them (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the various ]-practising groups such as the ] and the ]). This nomenclature is not common within the Church, and Latter-day Saints remonstrate that the use of "Mormons" or "Mormon Fundamentalists" to refer to organizations or groups outside of the Church is a grave misunderstanding of Mormon theology, in particular the principle of ] and ]. | ||
| For an illuminating contrast, see ]. | For an illuminating contrast, see ]. | ||
Revision as of 17:12, 9 December 2003
Mormon is a colloquial term that originated in the 1830s as a reference to people who practice Mormonism. The term originates from the title of The Book of Mormon, published in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr., which Mormons consider, along with the Holy Bible, to be scripture. Most Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church); however, members of numerous other organizations within Mormonism (with the notable exception of the Community of Christ) refer to themselves as Mormons.
The name "Mormon" in the title of The Book of Mormon refers to a man by that name, who according to the title page was the book's main author. The book states that Mormon was a prophet who lived in the Americas circa 400. The use of the word "Mormon" to describe Church members, as well as the Church itself, arose soon after the publication of The Book of Mormon in 1830. Although originally used pejoratively, the term has been used widely within the LDS Church, as evidenced by the name of the Church's most prestigious choir "the Mormon Tabernacle Choir," the names of several Church songs, such as "I'm a Mormon Boy," and the tagline, "From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Mormons," which appeared at the end of a series of Church-produced television commercials. Likewise, several other denominations of Mormonism have widely used the word "Mormon".
However, as early as 1979, leaders of the LDS Church began discouraging use of the term due to concerns at least in part that the term "Mormon Church" was being used to the exclusion of the Church's official name, which is believed to have been revealed by God (see for example ). While discouraging the use of the terms "Mormon Church", "Mormon fundamentalist", "Mormon dissident", and "Mormon" in reference to other churches originating with Joseph Smith, Jr., the Church has stated in a 2001 press release that the word "Mormon" as an adjective in such expressions as "Mormon pioneers", "Mormons" as a noun in reference to members of the Church, and "Mormonism" as a doctrine, culture, and lifestyle, were all acceptable. Indeed, the Church has since acquired and set up a website at http://mormon.org intended for those who are not members of the Church, but are looking for more information.
Despite the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' efforts to encourage use of its official name, the Associated Press has continued to recommend "Mormon Church" as a proper second reference in its influential Style Guide for journalists. Additionally, some scholars feel the terms "Mormon" and "Mormonism" are useful to collectively describe all those groups which claim to originate from the Mormon religion founded by Joseph Smith. Moreover, some other churches and individuals within Mormonism disagree with the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and continue to call themselves Mormons. Sometimes "Restorationism" or "Restoration Movement" is used for this purpose instead, but that can lead to confusion since there is an entirely different group of Christian churches (those derived from the Campbellites or Stone-Campbell churches, for example, the Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ) which are also known as the Restoration Movement.
Some scholars (e.g. Melton, in his Encyclopedia of American Religion) subdivide the Mormons into "Utah Mormons" and "Missouri Mormons". The Missouri Mormons are those Mormons who did not travel westward to Utah, and the organizations formed from them (the Community of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite), Church of Christ (Temple Lot), etc.), while the Utah Mormons are those who did travel westward to Utah, and the organizations formed from them (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the various polygamy-practising groups such as the True & Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). This nomenclature is not common within the Church, and Latter-day Saints remonstrate that the use of "Mormons" or "Mormon Fundamentalists" to refer to organizations or groups outside of the Church is a grave misunderstanding of Mormon theology, in particular the principle of continuous revelation and Priesthood authority.
For an illuminating contrast, see Quakers.