I regularly get messages from orthodox Latter-day Saint readers who take me to task for continuing to use the word “Mormon” in my writing. I’ve discovered that it’s not particularly helpful for me to explain (though I have certainly tried) that a national media outlet that covers all religions, not just one, will continue to use the established terminology that readers already know and expect. It’s the terminology that the church itself pushed pretty heavily until less than two years ago, and language does not change overnight.
This means RNS will continue to refer to adherents as “Mormons” as well as “Latter-day Saints” when we need to, though we use the full name of the church or “LDS Church” rather than “Mormon Church,” in keeping with the church’s longstanding request.
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