The top-level domain (TLD) “.mormon” is an Internet domain name extension that is intended for use by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its affiliates. TLDs form an integral part of the domain name of a website. Each TLD can correspond to a certain organization or type of organization.
According to the information provided by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the regulatory body that oversees domain names, the “.mormon” TLD was delegated on September 20, 2014, to the Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (ICANN “Delegation Record for .MORMON”). Intellectual Reserve, Inc. is a non-profit holding company for the intellectual property assets owned by the LDS Church, the religious organization popularly known as the Mormon Church. This company is responsible for managing the domain names associated with the LDS Church and its various entities.
The “.mormon” TLD can be used by the LDS Church and its affiliates to create websites related to the church, its teachings, mission, activities, or initiatives. For example, general.conference.mormon could potentially be used for website providing information on the church’s biannual general conference, while youth.mormon might be employed for a website specifically aimed at the church’s youth programs.
However, it should be noted that as of February 2020, the LDS Church has decided not to use the “.mormon” TLD anymore as part of a larger effort by church leadership to emphasize the full name of the church and to move away from shortened or nickname versions of the church’s name, such as “Mormon” (Deseret News “LDS Church domain strategy retiring .lds, .mormon TLDs”).
Instead of the “.mormon” TLD, the LDS Church is anticipated to make use of the “.lds” TLD. The “.lds” TLD was also delegated to Intellectual Reserve, Inc. at the same time as the “.mormon” TLD, with the intent of its use to be for websites associated with the LDS Church.
In conclusion, while the “.mormon” TLD exists and is owned by the LDS Church’s Intellectual Reserve, Inc., its use has been phased out by the church which prefers to use its official name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the associated “.lds” TLD for online activities.
Sources: ICANN “Delegation Record for .MORMON”; Deseret News “LDS Church domain strategy retiring .lds, .mormon TLDs”
