Perspectives on Latter-day Saint Names and Naming: Names, Identity, and Belief

Description

Perspectives on Latter-day Saint Names and Naming approaches cultural, historical, and doctrinal dimensions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through a fresh lens that explores how these dimensions intersect with names and naming. Featuring a collection of chapters from multiple authors, its bipartite structure examines fascinating topics in relation to the Church, looking first at cultural and historical perspectives before analyzing doctrinal and scriptural perspectives. The book discusses such matters as how contemporary naming practices of Latter-day Saints compare to those outside the faith, how code names were used in one of the faith’s books of scripture to protect Church leaders from persecution, and how names and naming relate to the covenant identity of Church members. Through its fresh approach to understanding religious identity and belief in relation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this book is an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Mormon studies and will also be of interest to people with a fascination with names and naming issues as those occur in a variety of settings, including religious ones. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Editor Biographies Chapter 1: Introduction to Perspectives on Latter-day Saint Names and Naming : Names, Identity, and Belief Background Introduction to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Content and Structural Considerations of this Book Recurring Themes Across the Book’s Chapters Identity and Distinctiveness as a People Special Status and Vulnerability Beyond Referentiality Names, Covenants, and Progression Names and Doctrinal Insight Notes References Part I: Cultural and Historical Perspectives Chapter 2: Place Names of the Mormon West: Religion, Heritage, and Idiosyncrasy Native Aboriginal Names Spanish Place Names Explorers, European Fur Trappers, and Place Names Distinctive LDS Toponyms LDS Scriptural Names on the Land Contemporary LDS Names Given in the West Biblical Names Names by Latter-day Saints Following American Traditions Conclusion Notes References Chapter 3: Scandinavian Influences on Anthroponyms and Toponyms in Utah Historical Demographic Background Information Personal Names Surnames Given Names Bynames Toponyms Conclusion Notes References Chapter 4: Nameways in Latter-day Saint History, Custom, and Folklore Naming and LDS Folklore Places People Family Names Changing Names Giving Names to Children Church Leader Names Labels and Titles Labels Titles Conclusion Notes References Chapter 5: Composite LDS Given Names Notes References Chapter 6: Contemporary Latter-day Saint Naming Contemporary Latter-day Saint Naming. Part I (1982–98) Percentages of Children Given the Most Common Names Differences in Names Commonly Used Names from the Book of Mormon Naming After Famous Church Members A Basketball Connection Comparing Singular Names in Colorado and Utah Are Utah Baby Namer Names Distinctively LDS? Conclusion to Part I Contemporary Latter-day Saint Naming. Part II (for Data in 2012) Percentages of Children Given the Most Common Names Differences in Names Commonly Used Book of Mormon Names and LDS Heroes The Uniqueness of Utah Naming in 2012 Conclusion to Part II Contemporary Latter-day Saint Naming. Part III (for Data in 2021) Percentages of Children Given the Most Common Names Differences in Names Commonly Used Book of Mormon Names and LDS Heroes The Uniqueness of Utah Naming in 2021 Conclusion to Part III Notes References Chapter 7: Early Latter-day Saint Code-Names Notes References Part II: Doctrinal and Scriptural Perspectives Chapter 8: Onomastics and Latter-day Saint Belief Names and the LDS Belief in a Latter-day Restoration Names and the Covenant Relationship Names and LDS Heritage The Importance of Personal Names Names and the Doctrine of the Plan Names and the Book of Mormon Conclusion Notes References Chapter 9: The Doctrine of Names in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ Taking Upon Oneself the Name of Christ The Name of the Church The Name Joseph Smith The Gathering Salvation as a Family Affair Names, The Abrahamic Covenant, and the Eternal Nature of Families Priesthood and the Name of God Special Witnesses of the Name of Christ Names and the Priesthood Keys Restored by Moses, Abraham, and Elijah Conclusion Notes References Chapter 10: Book of Mormon Names: Beyond Etymology Overview of the Book of Mormon Trends in Book of Mormon Names Apologetic Approaches Etymological Approach Attestational Approach Deciding Between Alternatives Naming Practices in the Book of Mormon Future Work Notes References Chapter 11: Striking While the Irony Is Hot: Hebrew Onomastics and Their Function within the Book of Mormon Text A Note on Language, the Onomasticon, and Methodology A “Wrestle… Before God”: Jacob and Enos Sons and Daughters at the Right Hand of God: Benjamin Alma: God’s “Young Man” in Hiding Shilom: Peace and Its Absence in Zeniff's Autobiography Noah: Rest and the Absence of Rest as the Inversion of a Biblical Onomastic Trope “(The Divine) Father Is Man”: Abish as a Hebrew ʾăbî -name in the Narrative Context of Theophany Mosiah: Yahweh is Savior Ammon the Faithful Seed of Compassion: Zarahemla and Its Abrahamic Covenant Significance Place of Inheritance: Jershon and Its Abrahamic Covenant Significance Lifted Up in Pride and Humbled in Poverty: The Narrative Juxtaposition of Zoram, Zoramites, and the Rameumptom Vis-à-Vis the Poor at Onidah Descending to Destruction: Jared and Jaredites in the Cainitic Traditions Other Examples: Joseph, Amlici/Amalickiah, and Rabbanah Conclusion Notes References Chapter 12: “Like a Shadow that Accompanies the Body”: Names and Naming in the Ancient World The Importance of Names Naming and Existence Renaming New and Hidden Names Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13: Book of Mormon Names: A Collection that Defies Expectation Expectation 1: Personal and Cultural Identifiers Name Letter Effect Influence of Name Letter Preferences Name Letter Use by Authors Associations from Life and Culture Expectation 2: “Rules” of Authorship Care Considerations Accessibility Character Fit Multiple Sources Expectation 3: Properties and Probabilities Phonotactic Patterns Name Sources for Comparison Study Parameters Phoneme Identity and Frequency Phonotactic Probability Measurement of Phonotactic Probability Phonotactic Calculator Results Variance in Phonotactic Probabilities with the First Four Phonemes Probability Spread Across Four Phonemic Lengths Conclusion Notes References Index