Interestingly, though, "cult" is a word that originally meant the collective worship practices of a particular religion. It's still used that way in modern French.

The meaning of "cult" as an illegitimate or invalid religion that controls people's personal lives was largely invented by Evangelical Christians starting in the 1950s – primarily as a means to denounce Christians they did not consider Christians.

I am no fan of the LDS Church. I consider their anti-LGBTQ and sexist practices to be abhorrent. But they don't exercise more social control or influence over people's personal lives than your average Baptist or Pentecostal church.

Growing up Baptist, I learned that Pentecostals were "cult" members, just like Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Christian Scientists.

I learned that even as I was forbidden to attend Hollywood movies, read superhero comic books, grow my hair beyond a certain length, or date outside the circle of "born again" believers who attended theologically correct churches — cult-y practices if ever any existed.

I don't know that the word "cult" has much utility given its origins and continued use as a slur by certain religious groups against other religious groups with very similar beliefs and practices.