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And it came to pass that readers did rename …
It’s clear that church President Russell Nelson is no fan of the “Mormon” term when describing the church or its members.
While he and the faith’s style guide give a pass for historical references such as the Mormon Trail and proper nouns like the Book of Mormon, the M-word is otherwise virtually verboten.
But what if, in their zeal to eliminate the popular and persistent moniker, church leaders decided to rename the church’s signature scripture?
It’s a question blogger Bishop Bill asks in a recent Wheat & Tares post — and one we’re asking now: How should we retitle the Book of Mormon?
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
• The Book of And It Came to Passes: Hey, why not? It’s a salute to the volume’s most common phrase.
• The Books of Nephi, Alma, Mormon and Moroni: Why not honor the four principal writers? But there’s that “word” again.
• The Book of Joseph: This plays out on two levels. First, Latter-day Saints view the book as the “stick of Joseph” mentioned in Ezekiel to complement the “stick of Judah,” which they see as the Bible. Second, members believe church founder Joseph Smith translated the book from gold plates.
• A Tale of Two Civilizations: A literary allusion to the most prominent peoples — Lamanites and Nephites — in the narrative.
• The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Another Dickensian overture, this one to the periods of abundance and poverty that take place in its pages.
• The Rise and Fall of Civilizations: This, too, addresses the ups and downs — physically and spiritually — of the peoples portrayed.
• A Brave New World: A fitting name for this saga set in the ancient Americas. Oh, wait, that famous title is already taken.
• War and Peace: Shoot. Same problem.
• Slaughterhouse-Five Thousand: This name certainly works for the boatloads of bloody, even barbaric, battle scenes.
• A Farewell to Arms: Speaking of gore … but this title is really limited to Nephite missionary Ammon’s swashbuckling defense of a Lamanite king’s flocks from marauders or to the reformed Lamanites who turn from warmongers into peaceniks and bury their weapons.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Jesus teaches inhabitants on the ancient Americas in a scene from the “Book of Mormon Videos” series. Christ’s visit is the highlight of the book.
• The Son Also Rises in the New World: In a more hopeful Hemingway-like homage, this title highlights the book’s climax — the visit of a resurrected Savior — and it blends well with the current subtitle: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
OK, your turn.
The latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: Tithing on trial
In a key legal hearing last week, lawyers for the church argued a proposed class-action lawsuit over tithing violates the Constitution and has no business being in “secular courts.” Plaintiffs countered that their allegations are about fraud, not faith. Tribune reporter Tony Semerad dissects the arguments, how the judge greeted them and what happens next.
Read his story, and listen to the podcast.
Around the world
• Mormon Women for Ethical Government criticized Donald Trump and his team for bucking protocols designed to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. At the same time, the grassroots group urged Americans to pray for the “success” of the new administration.
• Thousands, including a multitude of Latter-day Saint young people, gathered at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City last week to assemble a million meals for the Utah Food Bank.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Latter-day Saint young people help assemble meals during a One Million Meals service night, sponsored by Silicon Slopes, in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. The meals will be distributed by the Utah Food Bank.
• At ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com, independent researcher Matt Martinich provides a deeper dive into the stakes (regional clusters of congregations) eliminated in Utah during the past 20 years, including the record-setting 11 discontinued in 2024.
• The governing First Presidency, led by President Russell Nelson, welcomed ambassadors from the Dominican Republic and Portugal last week in Salt Lake City.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Russell M. Nelson welcomes Ambassador Sonia Guzmán of the Dominican Republic during a visit in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
From The Tribune
• Apostles Gary Stevenson and Gerrit Gong attend the inaugural celebration of President Donald Trump.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostles Gerrit W. Gong, left and Gary E. Stevenson attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
• What does “American Primeval” get right in its portrayal of pioneer-prophet Brigham Young? Well, says a historian, at least his “haircut.”
(Netflix) Kim Coates, left, as Brigham Young and Alex Breaux as Wild Bill Hickman in an episode of “American Primeval.”
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