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What is it about the LDS and their 3rd initial? It's really weird.

President Gordon B. Hinckley
President Thomas S. Monson
President Boyd K. Packer
Elder L. Tom Perry
President James E. Faust
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Elder Richard G. Scott
Elder Robert D. Hales
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Elder Henry B. Eyring
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Elder David A. Bednar

Or to get out of the leadership, Daniel C. Peterson? Plus there are many others throughout LDS history who aren't content with two names. It didn't used to be this way. Brigham Young and Joseph Smith were content, why do all these guys need to be Mr. John Q. Priesthood?

Anyone have a clue on this phenomenon? Are they some kind of key to finding Aztec gold? Can we fill in the initial with a random word if we don't know what they actually mean? What the hell?

Bond....James T. Bond

Edit: Personally I think these guys could spice their names up by filling in the initial with an outrageous name. Wouldn't Liverpool Tom Perry be alot better than L. Tom Perry? How about Boyd Kalamazoo Packer? Maverick Russell Ballard?
Dieter Falafel Uchdorf? Daniel Cantaloupe Peterson? I could go all night.

Maybe the initials are strategicaly made so as to make an acrostic when lined up properly--something along the lines of METCALFISNOTBUTTHEAD or maybe THECHURCHISTRUE

On a slightly more serious note, I generally try to use my middle initial to distinguish my name from other people as I happen to have a fairly common name (not unlike Joseph Smith). The initial helps a little bit. I'm not so sure I'm following the prophets' examples so much as following the example of my hero, Homer J Simpson.

You are right about the initials and John Q. Public deserves an answer either ASAP or at least on the QT, at least IMHO.

asbestosman wrote:Maybe the initials are strategicaly made so as to make an acrostic when lined up properly--something along the lines of METCALFISNOTBUTTHEAD or maybe THECHURCHISTRUE

On a slightly more serious note, I generally try to use my middle initial to distinguish my name from other people as I happen to have a fairly common name (not unlike Joseph Smith). The initial helps a little bit. I'm not so sure I'm following the prophets' examples so much as following the example of my hero, Homer J Simpson.

Remember Homer's real middle name? J=Jay

moksha wrote:You are right about the initials and John Q. Public deserves an answer either ASAP or at least on the QT, at least IMHO.

LOL, U R GR8. MI-6 Thanx U.

B...JB

When speaking with TBM's, I like to mix the names up a bit: Gordon B. Monson, James E. Nelson, Dallan H. Eyring...you get the idea. The key is doing it with a straight face, in total seriousness.

silentkid wrote:When speaking with TBM's, I like to mix the names up a bit[.]

Speaking of "mixing up the names a bit," remember when someone on RFM called him "Gordon B. Stinkley?"

Dr. Shades wrote:

silentkid wrote:When speaking with TBM's, I like to mix the names up a bit[.]

Speaking of "mixing up the names a bit," remember when someone on RFM called him "Gordon B. Stinkley?"

I've seen a lot of those:

Gordon B. Wrinkley
Boyd K. Slacker
Boyd Fudge Packer
Dallin Hoax

I can't remember any more off the top of my head.

Who Knows wrote:

Dr. Shades wrote:

silentkid wrote:When speaking with TBM's, I like to mix the names up a bit[.]

Speaking of "mixing up the names a bit," remember when someone on RFM called him "Gordon B. Stinkley?"

I've seen a lot of those:

Gordon B. Wrinkley
Boyd K. Slacker
Boyd Fudge Packer
Dallin Hoax

I can't remember any more off the top of my head.

Bring'em Young

I daresay there are a ton of these on Salamander.

It seems like it all started with Joseph F. Smith. All the "prophets" before him only had 2 names, and I'm sure JFS used the middle initial to differentiate him from THE Joseph Smith. Not sure why those who followed him felt it necessary to use the middle initial though. Wouldn't it be funny if Heber J. Grant just assumed this was a new rule and added the middle initial to his name and everyone after him followed suit. It all started from a misunderstanding caused by Joseph F. Smith.