Is it OK to say “Mormon”?
It’s not a slur, but the church asks people not to use it.Since 2018, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has asked others to use its full name, and to call members Latter-day Saints instead of Mormons. “Mormon” is still fine in names like the Book of Mormon.
1 · MindWhat it is
On August 16, 2018, church president Russell M. Nelson said the Lord had impressed on him the importance of the church’s full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church then updated its style guide (its rules for writers and reporters).
Here’s what the guide asks:
- For the church: use the full name the first time. After that, “the Church,” “the Church of Jesus Christ” or “the restored Church of Jesus Christ” are fine.
- For members: say “Latter-day Saints” or “members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ.”
- Avoid: “Mormon Church,” “Mormons” and “LDS” as stand-ins for the church or its members. The church calls “Mormon Church” a nickname, not an authorized title.
- Still OK: “Mormon” in proper names and history, like the Book of Mormon (a book of scripture the church uses alongside the Bible) or the Mormon Trail.
This wasn’t the first request. A 2018 CNN report noted that church leaders had made similar efforts to move away from the nickname in 1982, 2001 and 2011. Many people outside the church, and some members, still say “Mormon” out of habit. Pew Research Center, a neutral research group, now uses “Latter-day Saints” in its reports and notes the church stopped using “Mormon” in 2018.
What each tradition or community says
Church leaders teach that the full name was revealed by God, so they ask members and others to use it. A religion professor told CNN that leaders also want to stress that it is a Christian church, with Jesus Christ’s name right in it.
Members aren’t all the same. Many have shifted to “Latter-day Saint.” Others still say “Mormon” casually, a word the church itself used in its “I’m a Mormon” ad campaign before 2018. A good-faith slip is easy to fix.
Some reporters and readers find the full name long and still add “Mormon” in parentheses so people know who they mean. Pew does this in its 2026 report on Latter-day Saints.
2 · HeartWhat it feels like
Names carry weight. For many members, “Latter-day Saint” says who they are and who they follow. Hearing the name they’ve asked for is a small sign of respect, the same way you’d use a neighbor’s preferred name.
For the person asking, it can feel like a lot of syllables. That’s OK. Nobody expects perfect. What matters is that you’re willing to try.
Calling people what they ask to be called is one of the easiest kindnesses there is.Neighbor Radio
3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor
Use “Latter-day Saint” for people. “My neighbor is a Latter-day Saint” is clear and respectful.
Use the full name once, then shorten. Say “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” first, then “the Church of Jesus Christ” or just “their church.”
Don’t correct others harshly. If a friend says “Mormon,” you can model the other name without making it a lecture.
When in doubt, ask. “What do you like to be called?” works for almost anyone.
This weekThis week, the next time the subject comes up, try saying “Latter-day Saint” instead of “Mormon.”
Plain wordsWhat do these words mean?
- Book of Mormon
- Scripture that Latter-day Saints read alongside the Bible, first published in 1830.
Four questions to take with you
From the story of the Good Samaritan, the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Good Neighbor Test.
- Did they see? Or look right past?
- Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
- Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
- Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?
Try it on: a name or nickname you’ve asked people to stop using for you. How did it feel when someone finally got it right?
Quick questions
Is “Mormon” offensive?
It isn’t usually meant as an insult, and many people still use it. But the church asks people not to use it for the church or its members, so the respectful choice is “Latter-day Saint.”
Is “LDS” OK?
The church’s style guide asks people to avoid “LDS” as a stand-in for the church or its members.
Why is it still called the Book of Mormon?
It’s a proper name for a book of scripture, and the church says “Mormon” is correct in proper names like that.
When did this change?
The church’s president made the statement on August 16, 2018, and the church updated its style guide at the same time.
- Church Newsroom: Style Guide, The Name of the Church
- Church Newsroom: Name of the Church (August 16, 2018)
- CNN Wire via WTVR (2018): Why Mormons don't want you to call them Mormons anymore
- Pew Research Center (2026): Latter-day Saints are highly religious, though not uniformly so
Fact-checked October 13, 2026 against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Pew Research Center. Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Every fact is checked against what each community says about itself, in its own official sources, plus a neutral reference. Part of this community and something doesn't sound like you, or spot a mistake? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.