Name Change
I think it's appropriate to start with this video by current President and Prophet Russel M. Nelson. This video is 14 min long, you can either sit though it or read the transcript at https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/the-correct-name-of-the-church?lang=eng
I've come to realise how very significant this course of actions is by the LDS church.
I came to hear about this change a few weeks ago and immediately thought why? Why the blurring of the lines from a very distinct group of religious people calling themselves the Latter Day Saints, who primarily follow the angel Mormon and the teachings of Joseph Smith.
Why the change from LDS.org and Mormon.org to ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Why the change from MormonNewsroom.org to Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org ?
Why the change from LDS Music to Sacred Music?
But after watching the conversion of Micah Wilder from the Adam's Road Ministry (https://www.adamsroadministry.com/) and his Mother who used to be a professor at Brigham Young University it suddenly occurred to me:
Most conversions to the Latter-day-saints are unsuspecting, un-discerning and/or "shallow rooted" Christians who see a facade of Christ in a group of people that do a great job of community and think it's all the same. Essentially, this is the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.
Nelson is right on a few points
It is not a whim.
And it is not inconsequential.
This is very intentional and very calculated. Why do I think this? because of 2 verses in the Bible.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8 (KJV)
The Book of Mormon attests to : The "angel" appeared to J.Smith? and gave him "another gospel"?
Do you understand? This is all a Lie. Regardless of how genuine Nelson feels when he speaks.
Nelson states:
"To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan" and "When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives"
I think Satan quite a bit smarter than that, and I doubt he shakes is fist up at God and says "HA, I got your name off the building"!!! Wouldn't he be smarter to deceive a large group of people that atonement didn't happen on the cross, lets do away with all this blood stuff because water is much more important, and you got to pay for your sin with striving because only after you "do all you can do" will God be pleased and take you the rest of the way.
Unfortunately, the LDS church doesn't have Christ at the centre anyway. They have water baptism for the dead, a complete absence of atonement by Christ's blood on the cross, doing all you can do, and a hope of becoming a god in exhalation.
Didn't Adam and Eve get a major lesson in deception when they were convinced they could become "like God"?