The "I'm a Mormon" campaign was an attempt to meet people on their own level. President Monson and President Hinckley had backgrounds in publishing and public relations, so that approach made sense to them.
There's some merit to that, but there's more merit to owning our identity as the Church of Jesus Christ. There's also more merit in following the guidance of the living prophet than there is in using past prophets to justify ourselves.
I look forward to the time when calling a Latter-day Saint a Mormon will sound just as backwards and provincial as it does when Muslims are called Mohammedans.
Gordon HensleyMay 22, 2025
Catholics, Baptists, Quakers, Presbyterians, Hindus, Muslims, Episcopalians, Jews, Lutherans, Spaniards, Americans, Chinese, Christian. As humans, particularly in the western linguistic tradition, we naturally gravitate toward simple one or two word labels when referring to individuals or groups. It is not something we do maliciously. "Hobbit People" or "Persons of Magnetism" doesn't easily roll off the tongue of the casual speaker. Then there is the reason we don't always use the long form term "The Holy Priesthood After the Order of the Son of God." So here we are. The other leaders weren't wrong. It's just that now we choose to emphasize to the world that we are, in fact, Christians, or Members of the body of Christ.
Rochelle HaleMay 22, 2025
I love using the full name of the Church. Yes, it did take some getting used to. Many of our friends and relatives still refer to us as "Mormon," and we insert the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the conversation as we are able. Often in our "Come, Follow Me" study group, we might use "Mormon" as we study the history of the church. Some people, although now recognizing us as Christians, will never refer to us using the correct name of the Church. A dear cousin, now deceased, moved to Hawaii several years ago and worked with several members. Often, though we corrected her several times, in our conversations, she would refer to the Mor-MANS. We need to remind ourselves that the Lord's doctrine never changes, though programs and procedures might. One Prophet's instructions may have been totally appropriate for the time, but we need to follow our current Prophet.
Jim WMay 22, 2025
3 Nephi 28:8 sums up the whole issue nicely. Are we Mormon’s Church, or are we Jesus Christ’s Church? Whether past prophets were ok with the term Mormon or not does not matter. Our current prophet has determined that we should use the correct name for the Church no matter what was done in the past. The restoration is ongoing and not static.
Dallin LukasMay 21, 2025
Why did the church embrace the name "mormon" in the early 2010s??? I handed out tens of thousands of cards with "I am a mormon" on them. Are we going to just pretend that never happened?
Kent LarsomMay 21, 2025
I suggest you read President Hinckley's October 1990 talk on the use of the word Mormon. He said it is fine to use that word.
Ralph W. GalliniMay 21, 2025
I joined the Church in 1968. I have never referred to myself as a Mormon. I would always say I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I also never used the word Mormonism to describe the Gospel. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon and greatly respect the prophet Mormon. He would never want the Church to be called by his name. Thanks to President Nelson for telling us to use the correct name of the Church.
DumaMay 21, 2025
When the Church had the campaign "I'm a Mormon," the instruction was to say "I'm a father, a [whatever], a [whatever, and I'm a Mormon." I guess the "I'm a Mormon" phrase didn't sit right with me even before President Nelson's talk, so I opted to say "I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ" instead.
I cringe a little when I hear the term "Mormonism" when referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ, even when it's used in historical quotes. I'm glad we've gotten away from both of those terms.
Lon ChildMay 21, 2025
Joseph Smith’s stance on the nickname “Mormon” was pragmatic and ultimately positive. While the term originated as a pejorative label from outsiders referencing the Book of Mormon, Smith did not express offense at its use. Instead, he sought to redefine the term in a positive light. In 1843, he famously stated that “Mormon” means “more good,” presenting the nickname as honorable and even desirable, though this etymology is not linguistically accurate. Smith’s attitude reflected a willingness to embrace the label and turn it into an asset for the church’s identity and influence.
He was not ashamed of the nickname and encouraged members to focus on its positive connotations. Smith’s approach was to accept the reality of the nickname’s widespread use and to reinterpret it constructively, rather than reject or condemn it
John DeightonMay 21, 2025
Completely agree, I never liked the term "mormon" as a nickname, it never sat comfortably with me and indeed when the Church (under President Monson) started the whole "I'm a Mormon" media campaign and "Mormon Messages" I was agasp, had to be some corporate marketing team thought that would be a good idea, not! So pleased President Nelson corrected all of this in 2018.
Comments | Return to Story
annamarieMay 27, 2025
THE NAME ‟MORMON” The following quotes from the book: The Divine Origin of the Restoration, pp. 57-59 by F. Edward Butterworth Copyright © 1989 Cosmic Press – Chico, California [The point of Brother Butterworth’s quotes was that people outside the original church used that term for its members primarily derogatorily.] The names ‟Mormon,” ‟Mormonite,” and ‟Mormonism” were nicknames given to the original Latter Day Saint Church by its enemies in the early 1800s. Joseph Smith Jr. strongly opposed accepting these names as a proper designation for the church. Other early church leaders also rejected these names as the following documentation clearly shows. Joseph Smith Jr. said early in his ministry: The name Mormon, and Mormonism, was given to us by our enemies, but Latter Day Saints was the real name by which the church was organized (Times and Seasons 1:54). In another church paper, Joseph wrote: We thought no harm in advising the Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, as they are reproachfully called, to gather to this place (Messenger and Advocate 1:180). Oliver Cowdery disliked the nickname ‟Mormonite”: It is now more than four years since this church was organized in these last days, and though the conferences have always shown by their minutes, that they took no other name than the name of Christ, the church has, particularly abroad, been called ‟Mormonite.” As the members of this church profess the book of Mormon, the world, either out of contempt and ridicule, or to distinguish us from others, have been very lavish in bestowing the title of ‟Mormonite”… but WE do not accept the above title, nor shall we wear it as OUR name, though it may be lavished out upon us double to what it has hitherto been (Evening and Morning Star 2:158). Later, Oliver Cowdery spoke very emphatically against the name “Mormons”: ‟Latter Day Saints” [are] vulgarly styled ‟Mormons” (Messenger and Advocate 2:294). Parley P. Pratt wrote the following in May 1840: As to party names, we shall acknowledge no name as belonging to the people of God but that of Saints; a name which is older than the flood. In relation to the Church of God in this age of the world, we shall acknowledge no name but “the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-Day Saints” (Millennial Star 1:7) This early practice of resisting the use of the name ‟Mormon” to designate the original Latter Day Saint church has continued in the Reorganization. President Israel A. Smith, grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr., wrote: We of the Reorganized church are not Mormons and…should reject its use…. In Lucy Smith’s history of Joseph Smith, she made use of the term, but explained that she did not approve of it (Saints’ Herald, September 16, 1944, p. 5). Lucy Smith made the following statement: ‟I told you that we were ‛Mormons,’” I replied, ‟because that is what the world calls us, but the only name we acknowledge is Latter Day Saints” (Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith the Prophet and His progenitors; p. 188). President Israel A. Smith continued his explanation about the use of the name ‟Mormon”: Not only did the founder of the church reject the word, but the church in his day repudiated it as applicable to themselves. In an epistle prepared by the High Council of the church (which certainly was authoritative) dated July 3, 1834, we find the following: ‟Whereas the church of Christ recently styled the Latter Day Saints, contumeliously called Mormons, or Mormonites.” Thus there was ample justification in the action of the Reorganized church (Gen. Conf. Resolution No. 301) in discouraging the use of the word ‛Mormons’ as applying to our members (Saints’ Herald, Sept. 16, 1944; p. 5). Other leaders of the original church also regarded the name ‟Mormon” in the title of the church as a ‟vulgar” term, because it cast derision on one of the sacred books of the church, the Book of Mormon. These included W. W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, John Corrill, A.S. Gilbert, and John Whitmer (Evening and Morning Star 2:114). Since the Utah church has chosen to use the term ‟Mormon” as a semi-official designation of that institution, it should not be used to describe the original Latter Day Saint Church, which will be referred to in this manuscript as the ‟Restoration.” _________________
EricMay 23, 2025
The "I'm a Mormon" campaign was an attempt to meet people on their own level. President Monson and President Hinckley had backgrounds in publishing and public relations, so that approach made sense to them. There's some merit to that, but there's more merit to owning our identity as the Church of Jesus Christ. There's also more merit in following the guidance of the living prophet than there is in using past prophets to justify ourselves. I look forward to the time when calling a Latter-day Saint a Mormon will sound just as backwards and provincial as it does when Muslims are called Mohammedans.
Gordon HensleyMay 22, 2025
Catholics, Baptists, Quakers, Presbyterians, Hindus, Muslims, Episcopalians, Jews, Lutherans, Spaniards, Americans, Chinese, Christian. As humans, particularly in the western linguistic tradition, we naturally gravitate toward simple one or two word labels when referring to individuals or groups. It is not something we do maliciously. "Hobbit People" or "Persons of Magnetism" doesn't easily roll off the tongue of the casual speaker. Then there is the reason we don't always use the long form term "The Holy Priesthood After the Order of the Son of God." So here we are. The other leaders weren't wrong. It's just that now we choose to emphasize to the world that we are, in fact, Christians, or Members of the body of Christ.
Rochelle HaleMay 22, 2025
I love using the full name of the Church. Yes, it did take some getting used to. Many of our friends and relatives still refer to us as "Mormon," and we insert the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the conversation as we are able. Often in our "Come, Follow Me" study group, we might use "Mormon" as we study the history of the church. Some people, although now recognizing us as Christians, will never refer to us using the correct name of the Church. A dear cousin, now deceased, moved to Hawaii several years ago and worked with several members. Often, though we corrected her several times, in our conversations, she would refer to the Mor-MANS. We need to remind ourselves that the Lord's doctrine never changes, though programs and procedures might. One Prophet's instructions may have been totally appropriate for the time, but we need to follow our current Prophet.
Jim WMay 22, 2025
3 Nephi 28:8 sums up the whole issue nicely. Are we Mormon’s Church, or are we Jesus Christ’s Church? Whether past prophets were ok with the term Mormon or not does not matter. Our current prophet has determined that we should use the correct name for the Church no matter what was done in the past. The restoration is ongoing and not static.
Dallin LukasMay 21, 2025
Why did the church embrace the name "mormon" in the early 2010s??? I handed out tens of thousands of cards with "I am a mormon" on them. Are we going to just pretend that never happened?
Kent LarsomMay 21, 2025
I suggest you read President Hinckley's October 1990 talk on the use of the word Mormon. He said it is fine to use that word.
Ralph W. GalliniMay 21, 2025
I joined the Church in 1968. I have never referred to myself as a Mormon. I would always say I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I also never used the word Mormonism to describe the Gospel. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon and greatly respect the prophet Mormon. He would never want the Church to be called by his name. Thanks to President Nelson for telling us to use the correct name of the Church.
DumaMay 21, 2025
When the Church had the campaign "I'm a Mormon," the instruction was to say "I'm a father, a [whatever], a [whatever, and I'm a Mormon." I guess the "I'm a Mormon" phrase didn't sit right with me even before President Nelson's talk, so I opted to say "I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ" instead. I cringe a little when I hear the term "Mormonism" when referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ, even when it's used in historical quotes. I'm glad we've gotten away from both of those terms.
Lon ChildMay 21, 2025
Joseph Smith’s stance on the nickname “Mormon” was pragmatic and ultimately positive. While the term originated as a pejorative label from outsiders referencing the Book of Mormon, Smith did not express offense at its use. Instead, he sought to redefine the term in a positive light. In 1843, he famously stated that “Mormon” means “more good,” presenting the nickname as honorable and even desirable, though this etymology is not linguistically accurate. Smith’s attitude reflected a willingness to embrace the label and turn it into an asset for the church’s identity and influence. He was not ashamed of the nickname and encouraged members to focus on its positive connotations. Smith’s approach was to accept the reality of the nickname’s widespread use and to reinterpret it constructively, rather than reject or condemn it
John DeightonMay 21, 2025
Completely agree, I never liked the term "mormon" as a nickname, it never sat comfortably with me and indeed when the Church (under President Monson) started the whole "I'm a Mormon" media campaign and "Mormon Messages" I was agasp, had to be some corporate marketing team thought that would be a good idea, not! So pleased President Nelson corrected all of this in 2018.
ADD A COMMENT