For fifty years I have been suspect of anyone asking about "Mormons" or "Mormonism", and equally suspect of anyone studying it or answering questions about it---because, by definition, (to me) they do not and cannot understand it. I think of the time in 1987 when I was accosted by a big crowd of Blacks after midnight on a street in New York City, and upon learning I was from Utah, asked me if I was a "Mormon," and I had to correct them that I was a member of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The Church has taught this doctrine for many years since long before President Nelson has asked us to abide by it.
The members of the Church, I believe, should strive to follow suit, especially if we want to consider ourselves faithful members, no matter the setting, religious or secular, including universities. Why?
Because we are the ones responsible for enabling the world to label us (a) a cult and (b) non-Christian because we have not used the proper name of the Church. The very words Mormon and Mormonism lend themselves to a cultist label. They sound non-Christian. Those opposed to the Church have capitalized on this for almost 200 years. Those words have limited the gathering of Israel. They were first applied to us by mockers and we thought it smart to accept the label. But we were fools. If the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, you can't spread truth by inserting a diversion to "Mormon". It is the accurate name of the Church that is the straight line.
If they want to do research, research how and why using the accurate name of the Church in history has been essential to the spread of the Church. How using the nickname has been a diversion and distraction to members and non-members both.
For fifty years I have been suspect of anyone asking about "Mormons" or "Mormonism", and equally suspect of anyone studying it or answering questions about it---because, by definition, (to me) they do not and cannot understand it. I think of the time in 1987 when I was accosted by a big crowd of Blacks after midnight on a street in New York City, and upon learning I was from Utah, asked me if I was a "Mormon," and I had to correct them that I was a member of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The Church has taught this doctrine for many years since long before President Nelson has asked us to abide by it.
The members of the Church, I believe, should strive to follow suit, especially if we want to consider ourselves faithful members, no matter the setting, religious or secular, including universities. Why?
Because we are the ones responsible for enabling the world to label us (a) a cult and (b) non-Christian because we have not used the proper name of the Church. The very words Mormon and Mormonism lend themselves to a cultist label. They sound non-Christian. Those opposed to the Church have capitalized on this for almost 200 years. Those words have limited the gathering of Israel. They were first applied to us by mockers and we thought it smart to accept the label. But we were fools. If the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, you can't spread truth by inserting a diversion to "Mormon". It is the accurate name of the Church that is the straight line.
If they want to do research, research how and why using the accurate name of the Church in history has been essential to the spread of the Church. How using the nickname has been a diversion and distraction to members and non-members both.