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Mormon no more: Tabernacle Choir renamed after 150 years

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sing in the Conference Center at the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. 
George Frey via AP Images
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sing in the Conference Center at the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. 
SOURCE: George Frey via AP Images
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Mormon no more: Tabernacle Choir renamed after 150 years
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is no more.The well-known choir was renamed Friday, taking the name, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.The change effectively strips out the word "Mormon" in a move showing the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' new president is serious about ending shorthand names for the religion that have been used for generations by church members and previously promoted by the church.The name change is a nod to the home of the choir for the last 150 years — the Tabernacle — located on church grounds known as Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.Church President Russell M. Nelson announced guidelines in August requesting people stop using "Mormon" or "LDS" as substitutes for the church's full name. He said "Latter-day Saints" was acceptable shorthand.The full church name was given by revelation from God to founder Joseph Smith in 1838, according to the faith's beliefs. The term Mormon comes from the faith's signature scripture, the Book of Mormon, which is based on the record keeping of an ancient prophet named Mormon, according to the faith's beliefs.A church website about the term Mormon that was up before Nelson's August announcement describes the term as an "unofficial but inoffensive nickname for members."In August, Nelson acknowledged that it would be a "challenge to undo tradition of more than 100 years," but said the name of the faith is "not negotiable," according to a video posted on a church website.He said church members need to use the proper name if they want outsiders to use it."We're not changing names. We're correcting a name," Nelson said. "Some marketers change names hoping to be more successful — that's not our point. We're correcting an error that's crept in over the ages."In a different video, Nelson said, "It's not Mormon's church, it's not Moses' church, it's the church of Jesus Christ."The name change will be a big effort for the Utah-based faith that counts 16 million members worldwide. The renaming of the choir is the first step with many changes still to come.The faith's presidents are considered prophets who lead through revelations from God. Nelson, 94, ascended to the post in January when the previous president died.The choir renaming comes a day before Nelson and other Mormon leaders are set to provide spiritual guidance and deliver church news at a twice-yearly weekend conference in Salt Lake City attended by nearly 100,000 people and watched by hundreds of thousands of others on TV and online.The choir of about 360 men and women sings at the conferences and has performed worldwide and at inaugurations of U.S. presidents, including President Donald Trump. It had been known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir since 1929 when the group began broadcasting its weekly radio program to a wider audience.Choir president Ron Jarrett called the name change an exciting opportunity for the choir to start a new chapter that aligns the group with Nelson's request. He said the choir's website and social media pages will be updated to reflect the new name."It is a huge brand for the church. It's been there for a long time and people recognize it," Jarrett said. He added, "I don't think we'll lose people. In fact, we may even gain listeners. ... It will look and feel and sound just like always."The church tried once before to insist on the use of its full name — in 2001 ahead of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.Chad Guertin, a 32-year-old Mormon from Magna, Utah, said he's not upset about Nelson's guidance but that it's difficult to weed out the use of Mormon and LDS."You want to, you know you should, but it's so habitual in how we've referred to ourselves for so long," Guertin said. "Putting it into practice is harder because we have an awfully long name."

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is no more.

The well-known choir was renamed Friday, taking the name, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

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The change effectively strips out the word "Mormon" in a move showing the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' new president is serious about ending shorthand names for the religion that have been used for generations by church members and previously promoted by the church.

The name change is a nod to the home of the choir for the last 150 years — the Tabernacle — located on church grounds known as Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

Church President Russell M. Nelson announced guidelines in August requesting people stop using "Mormon" or "LDS" as substitutes for the church's full name. He said "Latter-day Saints" was acceptable shorthand.

The full church name was given by revelation from God to founder Joseph Smith in 1838, according to the faith's beliefs. The term Mormon comes from the faith's signature scripture, the Book of Mormon, which is based on the record keeping of an ancient prophet named Mormon, according to the faith's beliefs.

A church website about the term Mormon that was up before Nelson's August announcement describes the term as an "unofficial but inoffensive nickname for members."

In August, Nelson acknowledged that it would be a "challenge to undo tradition of more than 100 years," but said the name of the faith is "not negotiable," according to a video posted on a church website.

He said church members need to use the proper name if they want outsiders to use it.

"We're not changing names. We're correcting a name," Nelson said. "Some marketers change names hoping to be more successful — that's not our point. We're correcting an error that's crept in over the ages."

In a different video, Nelson said, "It's not Mormon's church, it's not Moses' church, it's the church of Jesus Christ."

The name change will be a big effort for the Utah-based faith that counts 16 million members worldwide. The renaming of the choir is the first step with many changes still to come.

The faith's presidents are considered prophets who lead through revelations from God. Nelson, 94, ascended to the post in January when the previous president died.

The choir renaming comes a day before Nelson and other Mormon leaders are set to provide spiritual guidance and deliver church news at a twice-yearly weekend conference in Salt Lake City attended by nearly 100,000 people and watched by hundreds of thousands of others on TV and online.

The choir of about 360 men and women sings at the conferences and has performed worldwide and at inaugurations of U.S. presidents, including President Donald Trump. It had been known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir since 1929 when the group began broadcasting its weekly radio program to a wider audience.

Choir president Ron Jarrett called the name change an exciting opportunity for the choir to start a new chapter that aligns the group with Nelson's request. He said the choir's website and social media pages will be updated to reflect the new name.

"It is a huge brand for the church. It's been there for a long time and people recognize it," Jarrett said. He added, "I don't think we'll lose people. In fact, we may even gain listeners. ... It will look and feel and sound just like always."

The church tried once before to insist on the use of its full name — in 2001 ahead of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Chad Guertin, a 32-year-old Mormon from Magna, Utah, said he's not upset about Nelson's guidance but that it's difficult to weed out the use of Mormon and LDS.

"You want to, you know you should, but it's so habitual in how we've referred to ourselves for so long," Guertin said. "Putting it into practice is harder because we have an awfully long name."