"The term "Mormon" is not a proper one to be applied to the Saints of God"
George Q. Cannon and religious nomenclature
George Q. Cannon was a prominent leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for much of the nineteenth century. The native of Liverpool, England, joined the church after his uncle, John Taylor, shared the religion with him and his family. Like thousands of others who emigrated to North America and settled in Nauvoo. Following the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, George and his family headed westwards and joined in the migration to the Salt Lake Valley. George served multiple missions for the Church and in 1860 became an Apostle. Almost immediately he was assigned as president of the Church’s European Mission.
George was a polygamist and was involved in various political and economic matters in Utah. He also wrote about different aspects of Latter-day Saint history, including his own experiences in Hawaii. Following his conversion he remained a committed member and ardent believer of his faith until he died in 1901.
On 5 January 1864, he presided over a meeting of missionaries in the British Mission which was being held in Birmingham, England. George’s remarks ranged widely but he touched on a topic that has become more relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since Russell M. Nelson became president of the Church in 2018:
Another thing I will refer to; I should be pleased to hear the use of the word “Mormon,” or “Mormonism,” when applied to ourselves and the Gospel, discontinued, as far as possible, among the Elders and the Saints. This subject was alluded to at the last General Conference of the Elders held in this place. The term “Mormon” is not a proper one to be applied to the Saints of God; and we should refrain from its use as much as we possibly can. We are not “Mormons,”—we are Latter-day Saints. Our religions is not “Mormonism,”—it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we take our rightful name through obedience to the commandments that He has revealed. We have become members of the Church of Jesus Christ. We are not followers of Mormon. We are just as much followers of Nephi, Lehi, Elijah, or any of the ancient Prophets of God. We are as properly Brighamites, Josephites, Smithites, or any other sites, as we are “Mormons” or “Mormonites.” When I use the term “Mormon,” I feel as though I was condescending to the use and acknowledgement of an epithet applied to us by our enemies.
In other personal writings, George occasionally makes mention of the word “Mormon” but it is typically in quotes and about an external factor, e.g. relating what a newspaper article says, or recording an advertisement:
Friday, Sept. 11th, 1863. Very stormy to-day. An advertisement appeared in one of the <morning> papers, inserted by some person of whom we had no knowledge, informing the public that there was to be a Ball given this evening
to the two Mission Prophets who were in the city at the Mormon[Mormon] Palace (the house of one of the brethren named Jacobsen was called thus derisively and known as such among the people) to the two Mormon Prophets who were in the City and calling upon the inhabitants to illuminate their houses in honor of the event.
His journals, which are largely made available in transcription format online, show a remarkable aversion to the use of “Mormon” both before and after his 1864 denunciation of it while serving as mission president. The 52 volumes provide immense insight into the Church, Utah, and Latter-day Saint lifestyles. There were times, however, when George had to accept the fact that “Mormon” or “Mormonism” were convenient ways of referring to the Church and its teachings. For example:
[7 April 1897] At 7:30 there was a large congregation gathered in the Tabernacle to listen to a lecture or an address which it had been announced I would deliver, the subject being The Relationship of Mormonism to the Christian World. This is the last of a series of ten lectures which have been delivered on various subjects under the auspices of the Mutual Improvement Association.
While George had to tolerate and sometimes use the terms, he had a clear preference for not using the terms and they are generally used very infrequently in his personal writings. In 1862 he noted how Amasa Lyman presented a similar view:
Brother Lyman made a few remarks suggesting that we no longer say “Mormonism” when we mean the Gospel.
Despite a desire to steer away from the terms, convenience and shorthand won out over formality and proper nouns. Culturally the term “Mormon” became increasingly accepted. There have been other times where efforts have been undertaken to change the usage of the words, but they were unsuccessful in changing behaviour. In more recent years there has been a renewed desire and consistent messaging to use the full name of the Church publicly and privately. Below is the current style guide:
The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838.
In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
When a shortened reference is needed, the terms “the Church” or the “Church of Jesus Christ” are encouraged. The “restored Church of Jesus Christ” is also accurate and encouraged.
While the term “Mormon Church” has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use. Thus, please avoid using the abbreviation “LDS” or the nickname “Mormon” as substitutes for the name of the Church, as in “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church,” or “Church of the Latter-day Saints.”
When referring to Church members, the terms “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” “Latter-day Saints,” “members of the Church of Jesus Christ” and “members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ” are preferred. We ask that the term “Mormons” and “LDS” not be used.
“Mormon” is correctly used in proper names such as the Book of Mormon or when used as an adjective in such historical expressions as “Mormon Trail.”
The term “Mormonism” is inaccurate and should not be used. When describing the combination of doctrine, culture and lifestyle unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the term “the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” is accurate and preferred.
When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, it should be stated that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not affiliated with polygamous groups.
George is one of many Latter-day Saint leaders who implored for the Church to be known by its proper name. Here are some other examples from about a century later:
“Don’t let the Lord down by calling this the Mormon Church. He didn’t call it the Mormon Church.” (President George Albert Smith, April 1948)
“Members of the Church do not resent being referred to as Mormons, nor does the Church resent being referred to as the Mormon church. As we have said, however, it is not the correct name of the Church. Its correct name is, as we have already explained, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (D&C 115:4).” (President Marion G. Romney, April 1979)
“Note carefully the language of the Lord. He did not say, “Thus shall my church be named.” He said, “Thus shall my church be called.” Years ago, its members were cautioned by the Brethren who wrote: “We feel that some may be misled by the too frequent use of the term ‘Mormon Church.’” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, April 1990)
“I suppose that regardless of our efforts, we may never convert the world to general use of the full and correct name of the Church. Because of the shortness of the word Mormon and the ease with which it is spoken and written, they will continue to call us the Mormons, the Mormon church, and so forth. They could do worse. More than fifty years ago, when I was a missionary in England, I said to one of my associates, “How can we get people, including our own members, to speak of the Church by its proper name?” He replied, “You can’t. The word Mormon is too deeply ingrained and too easy to say.” He went on, “I’ve quit trying. While I’m thankful for the privilege of being a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church which bears His name, I am not ashamed of the nickname Mormon.” President Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1990)