Members 'offend' Jesus and please the devil when they use the term 'Mormon,' President Nelson says

In his second major address during the 188th Semiannual General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson issued a stern, uncompromising reading on his August edict – for members, media and others – to use the faith's full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints.

His instruction is not a change, not rebranding, not cosmetic, not a whim and not inconsequential, Nelson said 21,000 church members in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City as well as more satellite watching across the globe. "It is the command of the Lord."

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Nelson delivered in the final talk of the conference, announcing a more temples, including a second in Washington County, and plans to renovate the iconic six-spilled Salt Lake Temple.

Earlier, though, returned to the faith and excised "Mormon" as a substitute for shorthand.

The church's name "is not negotiable," said the 94-year-old who took the reins of the 16 million-member faith in January. "When it is so, what is the name of the church?" And if we allow nicknames to be used and adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, he is offended. "

Using common nicknames such as "Mormon church," "LDS Church" or "Church of the Latter-day Saints," said Nelson, "… is a major victory for Satan."

When members "discard the savior's name," he said, "we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us – even his Atonement."

Discussion of the subject of the discussion on the subject of the discussion on the subject of "Christening", "dealing with sorrow, pain and loss, and relying on Christ's healing power".

Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about the power of forgiveness.

"Surely each of us could quote an endless array of old scars and sorrows and painful memories that this very moment still corrodes the peace in someone's heart or neighborhood," he said. "Whether we have caused it or not, we are blessed with it."

Jesus Christ preached forgiveness as part of his Sermon on the Mount, Holland said. And even forgave those who crucified him.

"It is, however, important for any of you living in real anguish to note what he did not say," the apostle added. "Jesus did not say, 'You are not allowed to feel nor do you want to be in the right? toxic relationship or return to an abusive, destructive circumstance. '"

Apostle Fellow Neil L. Andersen warned that, "without being alarmed, we need to be ready" for trials and tragedies – and pointed to two terrorist bombs detonated in Brussels, Belgium, airport in March 2016.

Andersen quoted senior missionary Richard Norby: "I tried to run for safety, but I immediately fell down. … I could see that my left leg was badly injured. I [noticed] black, almost spiderweb-type, soot drooping from both hands. I was pulled out of my skin and it was not so much my skin that had been burned. My white shirt was turning red from an injury on my back. "

"Why would this happen?" Andersen asked.

Speaking "especially" to "those who are keeping the commandments of God … [and] Are you unexpected and painful, "he said that" intermingled with joy and happiness, one thing is certain: There will be times, hours, days, sometimes years when your soul will be wounded. "

Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president, was the first and only woman at this conference. A women's session, however, featured three female speakers Saturday night.

In her speech, Cordon described what it means to be a "shepherd" for Christ.

"We have been assigned specific individuals and families to tend to be certain of the Lord's flock are accounted for," she said. "… It's about making you feel good about yourself. In that way, all can recognize that they are known by a loving Father in Heaven. "

Urged cord Latter-day.

"Sisters and brothers, the world is more hopeful-filled and joyful because of the small-minded acts of kindness you perform," she said. "As you seek the Lord's direction, your eyes will be opened. Your sacred ministering assignment gives you the divine right to inspiration. You can seek that inspiration with confidence. "

He recounted the many tragedies endured by LDS President Joseph F. Smith – and the "vision of the redemption of the dead" he reported receiving on Oct. 3, 1918,

The vision "comforted his heart and his answers to many of his questions," Ballard said. "We can be comforted and learn more about our own future and we will be able to learn more about it.

"… How grateful I am today … to know where my precious Barbara is," Ballard said. "And that we will be together again, with our family, for all eternity."

Latter-day Saints believe husbands and wives, with their children, can be together as families in the afterlife.

Members should accept the blessings that are offered to them, apostle Dale G. Renlund said.

"Our Heavenly Father wants to help us, but we do not always let him," Renlund said. "Sometimes, we even act as if we already know everything."

That way of thinking comes from Lucifer. "He seeks to drag us down. He wants us to experience endless woe, "Renlund said. "He is the one who tells us we are not adequate, the one who tells us we are not good enough, the one who tells us there is no recovery from a mistake. He is the ultimate bully, the one who kicks us when we are down. "

Jack N. Gerard, a general authority Seventy and a point person in the church in Utah's medical marijuana, recounted how he had been misdiagnosed and actually had a serious pulmonary embolism, or blood clot, in his lung that needed immediate attention.

He invited listeners "to consider an important lesson learned from this experience – to step back from the world and assess your life. Or in the words of the doctor, if there is anything in your life, you need to consider, now is the time. "

Moreover, members should seek truth. "In the world today, the debate over truth has reached a point of contention. time to consider what changes we need to make. "

Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the governing First Presidency, warned Latter-day Saints that "Satan's war against truth and against our personal happiness is becoming more intense. The world and your life can seem to you in increasing commotion. "

But, he said, it's part of a plan. "Our mortal life is designed by a loving God to be a test and source of growth for each of us," Eyring said, reassuring listeners that "the loving God who allowed these tests for you to be sure of a way to pass through them. "

And that way is through faith and being "willing to take on the name of Jesus Christ …."

But it was not about "Mormon" a moniker for the church or its members that generated the most buzz on social media.

Some members who first thought it was not possible, or importantly, now said they were embracing the change.

After the President's Sunday sermon, a representative of the website By Common Consent tweeted: "President Nelson reiterates the reasons and importance of the name of the church. I appreciate his explanations. I was wrong to criticize his initiative as I did. Emphasizing the name of Jesus is a profound good. "

Some critics have said losing "Mormon" will undermine the benefits of "search engine optimization."

If this move was a rebranding effort of "a man-made organization, those arguments might prevail," Nelson said. But this is God's church and the "Lord's ways are not, and never will be, man's ways."

If members do their best to restore the correct name of the Lord's church, "he promised that God would" for his Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen.

He urged Latter-day Saints "to be courteous and patient" in correcting those who continue to use the word "Mormon." "Responsible media," added Nelson, "will be sympathetic in responding to our request."

"The narrative's style has always been to refer to its full name in its reporting," she said, "but to shorten to commonly used phrases or nicknames throughout a story for clarity and flow."

Paula Froke, lead editor for The Associated Press Stylebook, which The Tribune and many newspapers use, said AP is aware of the church's desires.

She told me that this is a news organization that is monitoring how the names evolve in the church itself – including among members – and with the public. For now, the AP Stylebook entry about the faith remains unchanged.

"Clearly, the term 'Mormon' is deeply ingrained," Froke said, "both in the church and in the minds of the general public."

The leader conceded in August that the church has [God’s] On Friday, it announced a new name for the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It is now The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. And the church-owned Deseret Mormon Times section.