The Deseret News recently published a story about Gary Lawrence, who released a book clarifying common misconceptions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One thing popped out at me.
“In a survey, Lawrence found that only 3 out of 10 people say Mormons are only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have nothing to do with polygamous groups. About 45 percent of people polled thought all believers in the Book of Mormon are called Mormons, while 25 percent had no opinion.â€
That’s not a misconception; it’s true. Mormonism covers all the churches that claim to descend from Joseph Smith. It’s no different from all the churches claiming to be Christian.
It’s ironic the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to argue they be included in the definition of Christian, but insist on a monopoly of the term “Mormon.â€
With respect, Kim, I think you’re engaging in question begging: It’s not a misconception because it’s true. You use your conclusion as its own support, but don’t show why it’s more correct or more acceptable than the position that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are most commonly called Mormons, should not be distinguished from other groups by not using the term Mormon to describe the others. The practice of referring to the other groups as Mormons sows confusion.
They can be distinguished, by calling them members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
If you want to distinguish between Catholics and Baptists, you don’t refer to the Catholics as Christians.