From Deseret News archives:

LDS Church terms no longer in use

Published: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 12:16 a.m. MST
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The organization, magazine and business names within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have changed over the years.

For example, today there is the Young Women organization. But it wasn't always so. The group started as the Young Ladies' Relief Society. It was also referred to as the Young Ladies' Retrenchment Association, the Young Ladies' National Mutual Improvement Association, the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association and the Aaronic Priesthood MIA Young Women — all before today's title.

Today's Primary groups — nursery, Sunbeams, CTRs and Valiants — used to have a variety of nicknames.

Here's a partial list of some of the names and abbreviations previously used in the church:

A.C.M.I. — The Arizona Co-operative Mercantile Institution, the title for a short-lived Arizona version of ZCMI.

Beacons — This was a short-lived title for 8-year-olds in the primary, starting in 1953.

Bluebirds — These were 10- and 11-year-old girls, starting in the 1926 Primary organization. Later, they were just the 10-year-olds.

Story continues below
Children's Friend — Original name of The Friend, a church magazine for young children, from 1902 to 1970.

Co—Pilots — This was the title for Primary 7-year-olds in 1952.

Deseret Sunday School Union — Original name of the church's Sunday School program.

Firelights — In 1960, this was the 10-year-old Primary girls.

Gaynotes — The 9-year-old Primary girls in 1959 used this title, as part of the revised Liahonas (Little Homemakers) girls program.

Junior Sunday School — A standard church program for about 50 years, starting in 1933.

Juvenile Instructor — The official publication of the church's Sunday School, from 1866 to 1930. The name was simplified to Instructor, until it ceased publication in 1970.

Improvement Era — The original name of today's Ensign magazine, from 1897 to 1970. There was also a Relief Society Magazine, from 1914 to 1970.

Larks — Primary girls, age 9, used this name in 1929.

Lihomas— This was an umbrella title for all older Primary girls in 1940.

Recent comments

The "Top-Pilot" class is missing also!

Anonymous | April 5, 2008 at 12:11 a.m.

Wait a minute, when I was a "Merrie Miss" I was in the 10/11 yr old...

Teresa Marie | March 1, 2008 at 11:30 p.m.

Don't forget Bluebirds. Primary girls between Larks and Seagulls.

Jean | Feb. 14, 2008 at 6:50 a.m.

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