Chronology of the Church’s Name
3 Nephi 27:8; “And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.”
Matthew 16:18; “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Kirtland Temple
While the Church spent a fair amount of time and energy coming up with a name for itself and changing it around a few times, one thing always remained the same. God’s word. Jesus promised us the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against HIS church and true to His word, His bride exists even today!
If the name of the Church was inspired of God, why didn’t they just name themselves this in the beginning? Why the evolving name for the “only true church on the face of the earth”?
Church of Christ
April 1830
D&C 20:1; “The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—“
The Church of the Latter-day Saints
May 3, 1834
History of the Church 2:62; “After prayer, the conference proceeded to discuss the subject of names and appellations, when a motion was made by Sidney Rigdon, and seconded by Newel K. Whitney, that this Church be known hereafter by the name of “The Church of the Latter-day Saints.” Remarks were made by the members, after which the motion passed by unanimous vote.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
April 26, 1838
Elders’ Journal, Vol. 1, No. 4, pg 52; “Verily thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph Smith, Jr. and also my servant Sidney Rigdon and also my servant Hyrum Smith and your counsellors who are, and who shall be hereafter appointed; and also unto my servant Edward Partridge and his Counsellors, and also unto my faithful servants who are of the High Council of my church in Zion (for thus it shall be called) and unto all the Elders and people of my Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints scattered abroad in all the world; for thus shall my church be called in the last days, viz., The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.”
1887
An Address to All Believers in Christ, pg 73; “…We obeyed His commandment, and called it THE CHURCH OF CHRIST until 1834, when, through the influence of Sydney Rigdon, the name of the church was changed to “The Church of the Latter Day Saints,” dropping out the name of Christ entirely, that name…” – David Whitmer
[…] The name of their church at that time was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See Mormon Dilemma 551 for a chronology of the Church’s […]