Mormons/LDS: Did Joseph Smith apostatize when he removed Christ from the name of the Church from 1834 to 1838?

Question

1828-1834: Church of Christ
1834-1838: Church of the Latter Day Saints
1838-1851: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
1851-pres: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Several apostles and leaders, including David Whitmer, seemed to thing so (and were excommunicated in 1838, just before it was changed back).

*think so* (sorry for the typo)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Whitmer#Excommunicated_as_a_.22Dissenter.22
You're right, gumby, Whitmer wasn't excommunicated JUST for that. He was excommunicated because he questioned Joseph Smith's "inspired" leadership, due to his running from Ohio Creditors, AND making seemingly uninspired decisions such as removing Christ from the name of the Church.

Besides, Smith had already translated the BoM and had access to 3 Ne 27, which specifically says that if it's not called by Christ's name, it's not His Church.
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/27/3,7-9#3

Gumby: The Word of Wisdom didn't become a "commandment" until 1853 in Utah under Brigham Young. David Whitmer didn't break the Word of Wisdom any more than Joseph Smith did at the time. If you read D&C 89, it never says it's a commandment. It is phrased as a suggestion.

Whitmer didn't declare himself president of the Church, either. After he was excommunicated, he became president of a separate Mormon church that claimed Joseph was apostate. Get the facts straight.

Answer 1

According to D&C 115:4: The name of [the Church is] a name given by the Lord: “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”.

I have never heard anything about the Church being called "The Church of the Latter-day Saints" in my 30 years in the Church. The Church was originally called the Church of Jesus Christ, and then "of Latter-day Saints" was added to differentiate it from the Church of former days.

Also, I have never heard or ready anything to indicate that early apostles and leaders did not like the name change.

Joseph Smith never apostatized. If he had, the Church would have not continued.

According to History of the Church, Volume 3, the footnote for D&C 115 says:

Doctrine & Covenants 115. It will be observed that in verses three and four of this revelation the Lord gives to the Church its official name, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Previous to this the Church had been called "The Church of Christ," "The Church of Jesus Christ," "The Church of God," and by a conference of Elders held at Kirtland in May, 1834, (see Church History, vol. 2, pp. 62-3), it was given the name "The Church of the Latter-day Saints." All these names, however, were by this revelation brushed aside, and since then the official name given in this revelation has been recognized as the true title of the Church, though often spoken of as "The Mormon Church," the "Church of Christ," etc. The appropriateness of this title is self evident, and in it there is a beautiful recognition of the relationship both of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Saints to the organization. It is "The Church of Jesus Christ." It is the Lord's; He owns it, He organized it. It is the Sacred Depository of His truth. It is His instrumentality for promulgating all those spiritual truths with which He would have mankind acquainted. It is also His instrumentality for the perfecting of the Saints, as well as for the work of the ministry. It is His in all these respects; but it is an institution which also belongs to the Saints. It is their refuge from the confusion and religious doubt of the world. It is their instructor n principle, doctrine, and righteousness. It is their guide in matters of faith and morals. They have a conjoint ownership in it with Jesus Christ, which ownership is beautifully recognized in the latter part of the title. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints," is equivalent to "The Church of Jesus Christ," and "The Church of the Latter-day Saints."

Answer 2

The revelation replaced into initially printed interior the Pearl of great fee in 1851, ten years formerly the South seceded from the North. yet, South Carolina and secession have been an argument in Joseph Smiths time and a newspaper article printed on Dec 21, 1832 and merely twelve miles from the place Joseph replaced into residing on the time envisioned that civil conflict replaced into handy through fact of South Carolina and slavery. The e book "Mormon u.s." factors out that "quickly is an argument of 28 years" and that conflict did no longer unfold to all countries as a results of the Civil conflict. The prophesy did no longer come authentic. Sorry.

Answer 3

Please quit using Wikipedia as a "reliable" source. Read your church history. Many people were excommunicated in the early days for things that today would be a joke. However, at the time the name was changed and Christ's name was removed was to separate us from the other faith that was around back then called "Church of Christ".

Come on! Get over yourself already!

Answer 4

If your going according to the scriptures, the church was called many things but the name has been officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since it's foundation in 1830.

Even in these last days Modern Apostles and Prophets, call the church by many names, Church of Christ, and so forth.

Answer 5

I would say that he did based on the verse quoted from 3 Nephi.
On the other hand, apostacy has to mean that he had the right mix to begin with and that is a question up for serious debate!

Answer 6

That's not why david whitmer was excommunicated. Get your facts straight.

EDIT: You forget that he also refused to follow the word of wisdom and began to declare himself the president of the church.

Answer 7

Well, it appears that the Lord revealed the name by which His church should be called in 1838. I wouldn't say that Joseph Smith was apostatizing; he just didn't know which name to give the Church yet.

Answer 8

Looks like he was just trying to figure out what the church needed to be called...never heard that before.
I don't worry about it.

Answer 9

It's not the name of the church that matters...just that it's the true church.

You must remember prophets are not infallible...just righteous men.

Answer 10

huh? not sure Mr. "I'm Mormon but i don't fully believe". i have never heard that and i am pretty confident on my church history knowledge. but i could be wrong.