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.
Mormonism
- 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.
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:
Judaism
- 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.)
Christianity
- 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.
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.