gene fuller

(3 Nephi 27:8.)

8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be
called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the
name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name
then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

Different people no doubt understand this passage in different ways. it
really appears to me that Jesus was saying (even before there was a claim
about a "Mormon Church" that any church that uses a name of a man is that
man's church.

This raises another question for me, however. That is, what do we mean by
"Believe in"? If I say I believe in Jesus Christ, I mean that I believe that
He has the words of eternal life, that He has the power to deliver me from
sin and its effects, etc. If I say I believe in George Bush, I mean
something considerably less. If I say I believe in the Bible or the Book of
Mormon, I guess I am saying that I have some confidence that what is written
in them may help lead me to Jesus Christ. But if I believe in the
Constitution of the United States, that alone doesn't even make me a citizen
of the United States. It does not make me a Constitution. So to say that I
or anyone else may be a Mormon based on some definition of "Belief in" the
Book of Mormon seems to be saying I (or someone) has become an ancient
Nephrite prophet. {8-)>

Of course you all are entitled to your own opinions.

david bowie

And on that day, Gene Fuller chanted:


:: I think what makes the most sense... is that anyone who believes in
:: the Book of Mormon, could accurately be called a Mormon. Rather or
:: not they are in the big LdS church, or any of the breakoffs that
:: still use the BoM.

: (3 Nephi 27:8.)

: 8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a
: church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be
: called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it
: be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are
: built upon my gospel.

: Different people no doubt understand this passage in different ways.
: it really appears to me that Jesus was saying (even before there was
: a claim about a "Mormon Church" that any church that uses a name of a
: man is that man's church.

Well, given the history of the term and peoples' descriptions of what it
means to them that i've heard, it seems pretty clear that the "Mormon" in
the phrase "Mormon church" refers to the Book of Mormon, not any
individual named Mormon.

In any event, i quite agree that it'd be wrong if the official name of
TCoJCoL-dS were "Mormon church". However, why do you seem to refuse the
utility and acceptability of using "Mormon church" not as a *name*, but as a *nickname*?
<snip>

David, who doesn't go by Dave
--
David Bowie http://pmpkn.net/lx
Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.

gene fuller

I think I have stated this before, but in case I have not, of for those who
either are new since the last time, or for those who for some reason failed
to read it, or for those whose memories have begun to fail (let's see, what
was it I was talking about <G>?) Oh yes, why do I not accept "Mormon Church
as a nickname. Mostly because I see no need for a nickname for Christ's
Church. But also the word 'Mormon" is used to refer to too may different
groups who are utterly different in faith and practice from The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so that for me the word is worse than
meaningless.

But primarily it fails to describe what we truly claim to be, and that is
Christ's Church made up of Christ's people. The new name that Jesus Christ
gave to his people was His own. They were to be called the Children of
Christ, or in His name. (Mosiah 5:6-9) I know of no later prophet who has
changed that.

kornbelt

who

failed

what

Church

McConkie had no problem using "Mormon." The "Encyclopedia of Mormonism"
published by Deseret uses the term "Mormon." The "Mormon Tabercle Choir"
uses the term "Mormon." (Have they changed their name?)

Growing up in the LDS church I never once considered the label to be
pejorative, and nobody else I knew did either.

Anyway, you may not like the nickname. And, of course, you are entirely free
to eschew it. But do you feel judgmental, even a little, against those who
do use it?

KB

gene fuller

Thank you for your generosity in allowing me my choice! {8-)> As for feeling
judgmental, I am pretty sure I am no more judgmental about those who use the
"nickname" than you are about me. {8-\>