A Church trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination of these that identifies the Church as the source of an item or service. A Church trademark can also be the distinctive appearance of an item, including its size, shape, color, texture, packaging, and graphics.
The following is a partial list of Church trademarks and service marks:
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Church Symbol (Christus under an arch)
- Liahona
- Book of Mormon
- Mormon
- LDS
- CTR
- FamilySearch
These are trademarks and service marks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Intellectual Reserve, Inc., and are registered in the United States of America and other countries.
General Guidelines
Trademarks are, and should be used as, adjectives that describe a particular good or service. In this regard, trademarks should not be made into verbs or made plural or possessive. An appropriate generic term should also be included with each trademark the first time it appears in a work (for example, FamilySearch website). Thereafter, the generic term should appear frequently with the trademark.
When using Church trademarks in publications, do not use the ™, ℠, or ® symbols. Instead, use an appropriate trademark attribution notice such as “Liahona is a trademark of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Intellectual Reserve, Inc., and may be registered in the United States of America and other countries.”
The Name of the Church
When referring to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to the Global Visual Style Guide at style.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Use of Mormon and LDS
As noted above, Mormon and LDS are Church trademarks. However, some uses of Mormon and LDS may qualify as fair use and, as such, do not require Church permission. Although fair use of a trademark is determined on a case-by-case basis, the guidelines in the next paragraph may help you determine whether a particular use you intend to make is a fair use.
You may not use Mormon or LDS (or other Church trademarks) in a manner that suggests or implies that you or your product or service is endorsed by or affiliated with the Church or its leaders. Thus, the terms Mormon and LDS (or any other Church trademarks) should not be used in the name of an organization or product. Such use can confuse others by giving the false impression of Church sponsorship or endorsement. For example, the following would not be appropriate uses of Mormon or LDS unless the Church were to give you explicit written permission:
- Mormon Savings—as the name of a financial institution or program.
- LDS Shopping Network—as the name of an association of merchants.
Additional Information
Of course, these guidelines cannot anticipate every potential type of fair use. If you would like specific guidance on a proposed use, please contact the Church’s Intellectual Property Office at:
Phone: 1-801-240-3959 or 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-3959
Email: cor-intellectualproperty@ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Updated 2021-04-04
