The Meaning of "Mormon"

How should we define the word "Mormon?" I recently learned a fabulous meaning, but first this sidenote:

Joseph Smith was NOT a language expert. He was NOT fluent in foreign languages. Yet, it is clear from his life that he had a thirst for knowledge about language, and that he studied the best that he could. The Book of Mormon was claimed to be written by the descendants of Hebrews in a compact language described as "Reformed Egyptian." The Book as dictated in English occasionally has foreign sounding words like "deseret" and "rameumptom." Such words often can be connected with reasonable meanings, but Joseph’s usage and interpretation of foreign words can be problematic as well. An example comes from his interpretation of the word "Mormon." He allegedly wrote the following:

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 300; Times & Seasons, May 15, 1843, 4:194
I may safely say that the word Mormon stands independent of the learning and wisdom of this generation.--Before I give a definition, however, to the word, let me say that the Bible in its widest sense, means good; for the Savior says according to the gospel of John, "I am the good shepherd;" and it will not be beyond the common use of terms, to say that good is among the most important in use, and though known by various names in different languages, still its meaning is the same, and is ever in opposition to "bad." We say from the Saxon, "good"; the Dane, "god"; the Goth, "goda"; the German, "gut"; the Dutch, "goed"; the Latin, "bonus"; the Greek, "kalos"; the Hebrew, "tob"; and the "Egyptian, "mon." Hence, with the addition of "more," or the contraction, "mor," we have the word "mormon"; which means, literally, "more good."

President Gordon B. Hinckley in October General Conference of 1990 provided the following gentile correction:

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Mormon Should Mean ‘More Good’," Ensign, Nov 1990, 51
His statement intrigued me—Mormon means "more good." I knew, of course, that "more good" was not a derivative of the word Mormon. I had studied both Latin and Greek, and I knew that English is derived in some measure from those two languages and that the words more good are not a cognate of the word Mormon. But his was a positive attitude based on an interesting perception. And, as we all know, our lives are guided in large measure by our perceptions. Ever since, when I have seen the word Mormon used in the media to describe us—in a newspaper or a magazine or book or whatever—there flashes into my mind his statement, which has become my motto: Mormon means "more good."

President Hinckley was saying the word "Mormon" has no obvious cognates related to "more good," but the word SHOULD mean "more good" to the Latter-day Saints, as suggested by the title of his talk.

I appreciate President Hinckley's forthright approach. If the word Mormon does not have strong linguistic connections, then we should acknowledge that problem.

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On her personal website and on Segullah, Kathryn Soper recently posted a brilliant definition of the word "Mormon" that I intend to remember.

Below, I paraphrase and expand her definitional argument, giving the scriptural references that she did not provide.

1. The title page of the Book of Mormon indicates that it is "an account written by the hand of Mormon," a prophet.

2. Mormon (the author, historian, prophet) was named after the "land of Mormon" (3 Nephi 5:12). Also, Mormon was named after his father (Mormon 1:5).

3. The place of Mormon was named by Noah, the iniquitous king (Mosiah 18: 4).

4. The place of Mormon (or near it) is where Alma, as repentant priest of Noah, came to believe the prophetic words of Abinidi and therefore abandoned his loyalty to Noah (Mosiah 17: 1-4).

5. The place of Mormon had a "fountain of pure water" (Mosiah 18:5) known as the "waters of Mormon" (Mosiah 18: 30), which was in the "forest of Mormon" (Mosiah 18:30) "infested … by wild beasts" (Mosiah 18: 4).

6. Alma baptized 204 souls in the waters of Mormon and they "were filled with the grace of God" (Mosiah 18: 16).

Given these scriptural facts, Kathryn Soper proposes the following definition:

“Mormon” signifies a place of purity surrounded by danger; a place where a fallen people were removed from evil and filled with grace; a place named by a degenerate man [but] hallowed by a repentant one.

Mormon as a place refers to a sanctuary from danger, a sacred location for ordinances. Mormon as a person refers to a prophetic leader and historian, who helped set the stage for the last dispensation preceding the return of Christ. His writings provide a protection from danger.

Mormonism in multiple dimensions represents an improvement upon the past and a protection from danger. Thus, I am NOT too opposed to thinking of the word as connoting "more good," and EVEN "more safety."

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