More Thoughts on Correcting the Church's Name

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/style-guide

I received the following comment to my previous post about the announcement made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning the use of the name of the Church.

I read the original article that was published and I noticed that in subsequent citations you can refer to it as “THE Church” (emphasis mine). For Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox, the LDS church is certainly not THE church. I think that you will find that those outside of the church will not change their nomenclature much.

The response to this comment is two-fold. The Style Guide from the official Church Newsroom states  in part the following:

The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838. 

In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." 

When a shortened reference is needed, the terms "the Church" or the "Church of Jesus Christ" are encouraged. The "restored Church of Jesus Christ" is also accurate and encouraged.

The official name of the Church starts with the word "The" capitalized. The name of the Church is exactly as it is stated. Subsequent references to the Church can use the shortened versions of the name. 

On August 16, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson released a statement concerning avoiding the use of nicknames, Abbreviations, and incorrect names referring to the Church and its members. On August 20, 2018, President Nelson is quoted as follows in an article in the Church News entitled, "President Nelson in Montreal: We’re Correcting—Not Changing—the Church’s Name."

President Russell M. Nelson’s call to identify the Church by its full, formal name—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—doesn’t constitute a name change but rather corrects misnomers that have persisted since the Church’s early history. The effort follows the Savior’s own scriptural directive and allows member and nonmember alike to acknowledge His role. 

“The name of the Church is not negotiable, because the Lord has told us what His Church shall be called,” said President Nelson. “So, we’re not changing names. We’re correcting a name—that’s important to note.” 

On August 16, President Nelson released a statement asking for a stop to the use of nicknames, abbreviations, and incorrect names—such as Mormon and LDS—that have overtaken and overshadowed the Church’s appropriate name.

In further response to the comment above, I would quote the Eleventh Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. 

However, I believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is THE Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today.