Church goes from short to long with domain name switch.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is changing its domain name to a much longer domain name.
Visitors will soon go to ChurchofJesusChrist.org rather than LDS.org, which was short for Latter-day Saints.
While most organizations prefer a shorter domain to a longer one, there was a special circumstance here: Jesus said to do it. Well, assuming he foresaw the internet, he would have suggested it.
In a news release about the change, the Mormon church stated:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the name of the Church Latter-day Saints believe came by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (see Doctrine and Covenants 115:4). “Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power,” President Russell M. Nelson has said.
The Church is now making changes to many of its communication channels to reflect the faith’s full name and better convey commitment to follow Jesus Christ…
Mormon.org will eventually be merged into the ChurchofJesusChrist.com domain as well.
Alan Built says
We’re still going to hold onto our lds.app domain. “Google told us to ;)”
Anonymous says
So, like DNW.com.
Joe Styler says
Yes exactly 🙂
Andrew Allemann says
I started with DomainNameWire and then got DNW
Green Jobs says
What???
Kevin Murphy says
It’s even dumber, given that they also own the .lds top-level domain.
Tommy tutone says
Most of your top government officials are mormon, I mean latter day saints. They’re rebranding because the numbers in that church are going down, and I would guess something else is coming so they want to distance themselves from that name that shall not be mentioned. Maybe the catholics should rebrand also along with every other religion because of the majority of them are all abusive.
William says
I am trying to understand why people are negatively commenting about a church changing its domain names. How many of you here visits the church website when it was lds.org or any other name. The visitors to these sites are church member and referrers and those people will visit the site even if you make it http://www.Americaisbeinggovernbyalunaticandwelovehim.com.
Whether they believe in Ghost or Angels is none of our business since it works for them. Donald Trump has already changed America’s name to Jungle headquarters and we still love him and if you don’t what can you do about it? NOTHING ! Apply the same principles
Alan Shiflett says
As a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the number one question I have been asked by others regarding my religion is whether we believe in Jesus Christ. Most people have heard of “Mormons” but have no clue about our core beliefs.
I believe re-branding around the actual name of the Church of Jesus Christ is an attempt to help focus on the fact that our entire belief system is centered around the foundation of believing in Christ.
As someone who spends everyday talking with businesses/organizations on how to improve their brand through shorter domains it does seem a bit backwards. At the end of the day though, I do understand why sacrificing a shorter domain to help emphasize the true name/belief of the Church would be more important in this case.
Kevin Murphy says
Alan,
Is this really true: “the number one question I have been asked by others regarding my religion is whether we believe in Jesus Christ.”?
Have you never met anyone who asked “What the fuck are you talking about? How could an adult believe in angels unless they have a mental health problem?”
Kev
Alan Shiflett says
I didn’t say I never met people who asked those sort of questions, but the typical questions are about who/what we believe in.
I find most people tend to be pretty respectful/curious about other people’s beliefs.
Kevin Murphy says
I hate to break it to you mate, but they’re biting their tongue rather that laugh out loud at you. Sorry!
Matt says
Kevin Murphy seems to be some sorta a$$whole who thinks his atheism makes him better then a believer. Truly obnoxious to have to engage let alone read such rudeness. Learn manners.
Charles Christopher says
Kevin,
Believing you have total, and ultimate, control over your life is an interesting expression of faith.
Charles
John says
My instincts have always been right about this Kevin Murphy, and I pretty much told him so in the blogs a while ago now.
Mormonism is a false religion, but I would never speak to them or even of them so contemptibly.
I did not know he is an atheist, however. Now that takes a lot of faith.
And yes, angels are quite real. I’m sure plenty of domainers also know that too, but I don’t expect any of them to chime in here. Kevin will, however, learn how real they are one day, either gladly or not, as will everyone.
Derp says
False religion.
Ethan says
I see no problem that an adult believes in angels. Just because you can’t see angels does not mean they don’t exist.
Please be respectful and humble. That will make you more professional.
Kevin Murphy says
How do you feel about the tooth fairy, Ethan?
Kevin Murphy says
You think Santa Claus exists too?
Ethan says
I’m declining to comment on fairy tales.
Michael Anthony Castello says
For some –
seeing is believing, for others –
believing is seeing.
Your choice
Charles Christopher says
>You think Santa Claus exists too?
Are you aware of the Pagen History of Santa Claus and its connection to the still practiced ritual of the “Easter Egg Hunt”?
It comes from harvesting amanita muscaria mushrooms. These mushrooms live symbiotically with conifer trees … Read: Christmas trees. Thousands of years ago, before acid rain killed the trees lower branches, shaman used children to harvest the mushrooms from under the trees and then placed them onto the tree to dry and concentrate the compounds that brought about the desire “entheogenic” experience.
Decorating a Christmas tree is also continuation of this ritual.
This ritual was carried out in winter and 40 day change of diet help enhance the experience (lent). Much research points to Russia regarding this ritual, at a time when people lived in yurts. Thus, the doorway’s where blocked by snow and the only access was through the top area above the chimney. If you look at advertisements for chimney swipes in the early 1900 you will not it included an image of a mushroom or umbrella, because back then people had not yet forgotten the Pagen History of Christmas and how Christians changed the symbolic meaning to bring Pagens into the church.
So, if you have a Christmas tree, and your decorate it, and you have your children hunt for easter eggs during easter, like it or no you are in fact expressing recognition of “Santa Clause”. Stop doing those things and only then would I say you can claim NOT to believe in the idea and symbolism of Santa.
Oh, and regarding Rudolfs red nose leading the team, amanita is red when it becomes most potent. Thus making you most “high”, and thus Rudolf’s red nose lead the team, and Sante, into the heavens. Now you know the inside joke that Rudolf’s red nose has always represented.
For more details of the Pagen origins of this part of Christianity watch Pharmacratic Inquisition. This video often gets deleted so you may have to search to find a new link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfkVnf4eEfM
Here is a 1930 postcard of a chimney sweep and the Amanita around him:
http://www.superiorconcept.org/Firstnight/germany.htm
So yes, I believe in Santa Claus, the many shaman of old that once a year went around as the spiritual leader of their people helping them reconnect to God and that which is greater than self.
Also note, today many leaders of the FDA, etc, were tripping on mushrooms in the 60’s and 70’s. Now they get to approve research to study what they were taking back then, before that such research has been refused. Interestingly studies of Amanita all resulted in the same thing: those who entered the studies claiming to be atheist all left the studies as believers … Exactly what “Santa” intended … That was the “gift”, the birth within, he was bringing.
Truth is more amazing than fiction ….
Charles Christopher says
While I am on the subject I guess I should also add another piece, one Pharmacratic Inquisition does not cover.
Why did the missionaries through history always stop these shamanic practices?
The best hint I have ever heard was regarding a study centering on a Buddhist Monk. As most likely know, Buddhist are holistic student of consciousness. A researcher was curious what they might reveal if under the influence of “hallucinogens”, those chemicals which we are taught cause uncontrollable brain noise.
The Monk was given high dosages of many well known hallucinogens over some period, LSD etc. The Monk’s tradition allows use of such compounds but generally suggest not using them because of its effect on their training … But its not what you think …
When the Monk took the compounds he remained in COMPLETE CONTROL. With each compound he moved in and out of the experience describing what was going on with the “journey” each compound took him on. then went back in to collect the next part of the experience and came out to describe it.
He did this because nothing was new to him, he recognized the states of consciousness each compound took him through … And he NAMED EACH ONE.
Think about that, he named the states.
In other words he’d already been trained to achieve what the compounds caused. The reason they don’t used the compounds is it makes them lazy, losing the ability to achieve those states on their own.
And thats the key. Nobody needs the compounds, and its BETTER to get “there” without them. Somehow the missionaries had an understanding of the is dynamic.
On the flip side, The Pagens used the compounds to make sure nobody got left out, so to speak. The mushroom is a lot easier than dedicating yourself as a Buddhist Monk does … Buddhist may not believe in a single God, but they do believe in that which is greater than self (often referred to as “God”).
Many of us are born with an awareness of God, some are not. All of the above is in effect different cultures way of “reconciling” that difference over time.
Ethan says
I would like to clarify that my previous remark regarding angel’s existence was not endorsing Mormonism.
Roberto says
@Kevin Murphy – I’m not Mormon but most of the ones I know are incredibly generous, really hard working, dedicated to family, and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Most religions have a history that seems mythical – who cares. What’s important is that how and what they practice makes the world a better place. No tongue biting necessary.
Andrew Allemann says
What do most people refer to the religion as? I grew up thinking Church of Latter-Day Saints
Alan Shiflett says
Most people (including its members) will most often refer to members as being “Mormons” or part of the “Mormon Church” or “LDS Church” (abbreviated for Latter-Day Saint)
The name of the church has been The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since the 1830s, however its a lot easier to say Mormon or LDS then to say the whole name of the church (its a mouth full, especially for those of us who had to say it everyday in foreign languages on missions.)
The Church actually updated the logo in the mid-90s to make the words “Jesus Christ” larger then the other words to try to make it the first thing people see within the logo. This new change in digital branding matches the same general direction to emphasize the true name of the church. I won’t argue that it seems backwards from an ease of use perspective but I understand why they are doing it.
Bill Roy says
I too understand the reasoning behind the move, besides which opinions change over time as to how to appeal more to the marketplace (the public in this case). Identity perception is all important whether referring to a business, a religion, or a sports team.
The fact the church updated their logo in the mid-90’s is interesting to me from a business point of view. Having the domain ‘ JesusChri.st ‘ I can now use their action then to help explain it’s importance.
Derp says
Most folks who have a brain recognize Mormonism as a False Religion, created by a dude in the desert who wanted a way to legitimize polygamy.
Derp says
Any “church” that has to “re-brand” (multiple times) speaks volumes as to their legitimacy, or in this case, lack thereof.
Charles Christopher says
Take a look at history, there has been much “rebranding” of Christianity. Each placing varying importance on different aspects of the same bible.
I’m not LDS, I do live in Salt Lake City and have many great LDS friends.
Kevin Murphy says
The Mormons are a wonderful contribution to western civilization. Literally everyone thinks they’re absolutely fucking idiots, but we all also think they’re unbelievably very nice people. You can’t say that about any other religions, can you?
Steve says
This is a rebrand with the focus on mindshare. They want to emphasize that they are the “Church of Jesus Christ.” They want their brand to be synonymous with church and Jesus Christ. With the user typing it in, it is re-enforcing the sites’s credibility at a subconscious level as being the Church of Christ.
LDS doesn’t really say anything and does not convey a mission statement or an identity. It is just an abbreviation.
Abbreviations for domain names are great for url typein, but should never be utilized as a company name, without at least owning the full spelling, and preferably should always forward to the full name.
Here is a theoretical question for the board:
If you have two companies claiming to be a Blood Oranges company, which one would be the authentic Blood Oranges Co., bo.com or bloodoranges.com?
Apply this to any other generic that can be abbreviated. Which one is better?
ForensicPolice.com says
http://JezusChrist.com
Jovenet Consulting says
Sorry I am confused: do they know that they own and operate the .LDS new gTLD (not .LSD) as well as the .MORMON ?
🙂
What about JesusChrist.church ?
Bill Roy says
Well, seems to me that they missed a trick.
Jes.us
Chri.st
or even
JesusChri.st (which we own)
Just different people have different ways of looking at things, one of the aspects of domaining that makes it such an interesting business.