We refer occasionally to "LDS"
or "the LDS." LDS is an acronym
for "Latter-Day Saint," and when
we use the acronym, we are referring to members
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City,
Utah. The LDS Church is one of the fastest
growing in the world, nearly doubling in
size every decade.
Our use of the term "Mormon" suggests
a group of people which includes the LDS
but is actually an umbrella covering many
more people. The LDS church tends to dominate
the use of the word Mormon because it is
the largest group within Mormonism, but there
are many members of smaller sects also considered
"Mormon," some as large as 500,000.
The use of the word "Mormon" covers
all of these various sects, most, if not
all of which, are not associated with the
LDS church based in Salt Lake City.
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- LDS, Reform, and Reorganized all exist as
separate sects under the Mormonism umbrella.
- Mormonism began in 1830. The LDS and the
Reorganized groups separated from each other
around 1845. Reform Mormonism formed in 2002.
- All 3 groups have different approaches to
faith and life, but all 3 have commonalities.
- The term "Mormon" applies to anyone
belonging to any of these groups.
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Reform Mormonism is, therefore, a sect of
Mormonism in general. We are not LDS, nor
are we associated with any of the various
other Mormon sects. Our unique approach to
faith and life offers some clear distinctions
between us and the LDS or any of the other
Mormon sects. To understand this relationship,
it might be helpful to compare it to the
relationship of other sects within other
denominations:
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- Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform are three
different types of Judaism.
- Orthodox is considered the most strict. Reform,
considered the most liberal, formed around
1870. All value their history and heritage.
- The term "Jew" or "Jewish"
applies to anyone belonging to any of these
groups (although Judiasm extends sociologically
and culturally beyond strict religious lines.)
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- Catholicism, Protestantism, and the Eastern
Orthodox groups are all different types of
Christianity.
- Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox formally
split from each other around 1000-1100 A.D.
- Those who formed the major churches of the
Protestant movement (Lutherans, Methodists,
etc.) all sought change (or reform) from
Catholicism.
- The term "Christian" applies to
anyone belonging to any of these groups.
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There are many other terms, often related
to Mormon theology or sociology, that the
average non-Mormon or non-LDS might find
confusing. This is because, over time, the
LDS church and society has infused certain
words with additional meaning and context
beyond the normal dictionary meaning expected
by an observer. For example, when the LDS
use words like "Christianity" or
"prophet" they usually have definitions
in mind that would not be the definition
you would expect from an average person on
the street. This is not unusual. Non-Jews
may not understand what is meant by "tikkun
olam" ("improvement of the world")
or the subtle differences meant when it is
used by an Orthodox Jew or a Reform Jew.
Reform Mormonism has some unique word definitions
as well, but in most cases, Reform Mormon
usage of words like "revelation,"
"prophet" and "truth"
vary greatly from the LDS connotations, as
well as what may be assumed by non-Mormons. |
