On the 10th of August, Australians will have the opportunity to participate in the 2021 national census.
The Pacific Area Presidency of the Church recently sent a letter to local Latter-day Saint leaders inviting members of congregations to use the full and correct name of the Church ─ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ─ when answering which church they belong to.
People can complete the census questionaire either online or with a paper form.
There are sufficient spaces on the online form for the full name of the Church, but on the paper form, individuals may need to write "The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS" or "The Church of Jesus Christ."
A letter was also sent to the Australian Bureau of Statistics requesting that officials count the various ways ─ including shortened references and nicknames ─ that people may record to state that they are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For example:
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Church of Jesus Christ
- The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS
- Latter-day Saints
- Latter-day Saint
- LDS
- LDS Church
- Latter-day Saint Church
- The Church of Latter-day Saints
- Mormon Church
- Mormon
The Church's style guide for news media states: “In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’ When a shortened [second] 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.”
Read President Russell M. Nelson's address "The correct name of the Church," for more information.