After President Russell M. Nelson announced on August 16th that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanted its members and others to take greater care with its name and avoid using terms like "Mormon," "Mormonism," "LDS Church," and "Mormon Church," social media exploded with people wondering what would happen with familiar hashtags, especially with general conference approaching.

The Church has recently revealed the new hashtag it will be using this upcoming general conference:

Join us to hear messages of light, hope, comfort, and truth. Share what you're learning using #GeneralConference. pic.twitter.com/7Cy7aRaUvM— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@LDSchurch) September 27, 2018

About this shift in how we refer to the Church, President Nelson said in a statement: "The Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have work before us to bring ourselves in harmony with His will. In recent weeks, various Church leaders and departments have initiated the necessary steps to do so. Additional information about this important matter will be made available in the coming months."

He also clarified, "The name of the church is not negotiable, because the Lord has told us what his church shall be called,” he said, citing the faith’s scriptural verse of Doctrine and Covenants 115:4: “'Thus shall my church be called … The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' So, we’re not changing names. We’re correcting a name — that’s important to note."

While additional name changes and new information might still be pending, it's clear the Church is moving forward to follow the prophet's counsel, use the God-given name of the Church, and help us all refocus on Him whose Church this is.

To download a free general conference preparation packet that includes games, family activities, thought-provoking articles, and even delicious recipes, click here.

Lead image from lds.org