In October 1979 General Conference, Elder Bruce R. McConkie declared, "We are called Mormons."  He went on to list other things of which we are falsely accused which "sow the seeds of prejudice among those who otherwise might learn who we are and what we believe."  Elder McConkie then closed his thought with a request that still stands today, "We feel it is not too much to ask, in this age of enlightenment and open dialogue, to let us be the ones who tell who we are, what we believe, and why our cause is going forward in such a marvelous way."

Many of us are familiar with the series of talks Elder Ballard gave to graduating students about Using New Media to Support the Work of the Church. Both Elder Ballard and Church Public Affairs have encouraged Latter-day Saints to join the online conversation and use language that friends of other faiths will understand.   

Even still I receive emails expressing concern about using the word Mormon, especially using the term Mormon Church.  As members of the church, we all know who we are, what we believe, and that this is Jesus Christ's Church. Many of us understand the style guide set forth by the church to the media. But not everyone else does.

More than 70 years ago, when President Gordon B. Hinckley was a missionary in England he asked an associate, "How can we get people, including our own members, to speak of the Church by its proper name?" To which the associate replied, "You can't. The word Mormon is too deeply ingrained and too easy to say. . . . I've quit trying. While I'm thankful for the privilege of being a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church which bears His name, I am not ashamed of the nickname Mormon."

Even though I'm an active, daily participant in online conversation about the church, in the past I too have struggled with embracing the word Mormon. I want to share the insights I have gathered which have helped me respectfully say, "I am a Mormon."

1. In the Book of Mormon, Ammon taught King Lamoni using terms King Lamoni would understand.  Ammon used the term "Great Spirit" so he could then connect that term with the concept of God. [Alma 18:26,28].  This has helped me realize that I too should use the term Mormon as it's the most common word non-Mormons use to find out information about the Church and its members.  Once someone finds my site or video, I can then teach them that the correct name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2. I am well aware that those who would "sow the seeds of prejudice" are more than willing to use terms such as Mormon and Mormon Church. If those who want to learn about our beliefs can find truthful sites about our faith on the Internet, then we don't have to spend as much time clearing up misconceptions and lies spread by others.
3. The talk Mormon Should Mean "More Good" given by President Hinckley in the October 1990 General Conference is really what got me over that last hurdle, that last remaining stigma. "If there is any name that is totally honorable in its derivation, it is the name Mormon. . . .After all, it is the name of a man who was a great prophet who struggled to save his nation, and also the name of a book which is a mighty testament of eternal truth, a veritable witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ."
   

Today the word "Mormon" rolls off my fingers as if it were my own name, as it has become a name I use each day. In Gospel Doctrine class it has even rolled off my tongue. I just have to smile at the strange looks and eye brows raised in question that asks, "Doesn't she know any better?"  To which I then remind myself, "Yes, I really do."