content: <PAGE>   1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 1996.
                                                 Registration No. 333-____________
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                  WASHINGTON D.C.
  
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
                          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                              -----------------------
  
                  WorldCom, Inc. (F/K/A LDDS Communications, Inc.)         
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                 Georgia                                           58-1521612     
  - ---------------------------------------------               --------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation               (I.R.S. Employer
    or organization)                                           Identification No.)
  
  
           515 East Amite Street
           Jackson, Mississippi                                     39201-2702    
  - ----------------------------------------                    --------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)
  
    LDDS Communications, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1990 Stock Option Plan
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Full title of the plans)
  
                              P. Bruce Borghardt, Esq.
                                   WorldCom, Inc.
                             10777 Sunset Office Drive
                                     Suite 330
                             St. Louis, Missouri 63127              
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (Name and address of agent for service)
  
                                 (314) 909-4100                  
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  <PAGE>   2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Proposed              Proposed
         Title of               Amount                maximum               maximum              Amount of
        securities               to be            offering price      aggregate offering       registration
     to be registered         registered            per share(1)            price(1)                fee
  - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      <S>                     <C>                     <C>                <C>                     <C>
       Common stock           16,924,028              $26.69             $451,659,997            $155,745
      $0.01 par value           shares(2)
  - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  </TABLE>
  
                   This Registration Statement registers additional securities of
  the same class as other securities for which a registration statement filed on
  this form relating to the same employee benefit plan is effective.
  Consequently, pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of
  the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by WorldCom, Inc. (the "Company")
  with respect to the LDDS Communications, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1990
  Stock Option Plan, the LDDS Communications, Inc. 1988 Non-Qualified Stock
  Option Plan, the LDDS/ATC 1988 Stock Option Plan, the LDDS/ATC Second 1988
  Stock Option Plan, the Advantage Companies Inc. Performance Stock Option Plan
  1987, the LDDS/ATC 1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and the LDDS/ATC 1984
  Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (the "Plans") on September 23, 1993,
  Registration No. 33-69322, are incorporated by reference into this Registration
  Statement.
  
  
  Item 8.  Exhibits
  
           See Exhibit Index.
  
  
  
  
  
  - ----------------------
  
      (1)  Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of determining
  the registration fee.  Proposed maximum offering price represents the average of
  the high and low prices for shares of common stock reported on the Nasdaq
  National Market on August 9, 1996.
  
      (2)  This Registration Statement also covers such additional shares of 
  common stock as may be issuable pursuant to antidilution provisions.
  
  
  
  
                                        2
  <PAGE>   3
                                     SIGNATURES
  
                   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
  the registrant certifies that it is has reasonable grounds to believe that it
  meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Jackson, State of Mississippi on August 16,
  1996.
  
  
                                          WORLDCOM, INC.
  
  
  
                                          By:   /s/ Scott D. Sullivan        
                                                ----------------------------------
                                                Scott D. Sullivan
                                                Chief Financial Officer
  
  
                                 POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
                   Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes
  and appoints Bernard J. Ebbers, Scott D.  Sullivan and P. Bruce Borghardt, and
  each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and
  lawful attorneys in fact and agents for him and on his behalf and in his name,
  place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments
  (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
  file the same, with exhibits and any and all other documents filed with respect
  thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental
  or regulatory authority), granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full
  power and authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite
  and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the
  same as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself might or could do if
  personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys in
  fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
  hereof.
  
                   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
  this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
           Name                              Title                             Date
           ----                              -----                             ----
  <S>                                        <C>                               <C>
  /s/ Carl J. Aycock                         Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Carl J. Aycock
  
  
  /s/ Max E. Bobbitt                         Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Max E. Bobbitt
  
  
                                                          
  /s/ Bernard J. Ebbers                      Director,                         August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                 President and                                     
  Bernard J. Ebbers                          Chief Executive
                                             Officer
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>   4
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
           Name                              Title                             Date
           ----                              -----                             ----
  <S>                                        <C>                               <C>
  /s/ Francesco Galesi                       Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Francesco Galesi
  
  
  /s/ Stiles A. Kellett, Jr.                 Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Stiles A. Kellett, Jr.
  
  
                                             Director                          August   , 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Silvia Kessel
  
  
                                             Director                          August ____, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  John W. Kluge
  
  
  /s/ John A. Porter                         Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  John A. Porter
  
  
  /s/ Stuart Subotnick                       Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Stuart Subotnick
                                                             
                                             Director,       
  /s/ Scott D. Sullivan                      Secretary, and                    August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                 Chief Financial                                   
  Scott D. Sullivan                          Officer, (Principal
                                             Financial Officer and
                                             Principal Accounting
                                             Officer
  
  /s/ Lawrence C. Tucker                     Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Lawrence C. Tucker
  
  
  /s/ Roy A. Wilkens                         Director, Chief Executive         August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                 Officer, WilTel                                   
  Roy A. Wilkens                                            
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
  
                                         4
  <PAGE>   5
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
       Exhibit Number                                Description                                    Page
       --------------                                -----------                                    ----
            <S>            <C>                                                                      <C>
            5.1            Opinion of P. Bruce Borghardt as to the legality of the
                           Securities to be issued                                                  
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.1           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                                           
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.2           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP                                         
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.3           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                                             
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.4           Consent of P. Bruce Borghardt (included in Exhibit 5.1)                  
                                                                                                    -----
  
            24.1           Power of Attorney (included in Signature Pages)
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
  
                                       E-1
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12188}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WORLDCOM INC /MS/", "cik": "0000723527", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "581521612", "state-of-incorporation": "GA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-10349", "film-number": "96617095"}, "business-address": {"street1": "515 EAST AMITE ST", "city": "JACKSON", "state": "MS", "zip": "39201-2702", "phone": "6013608600"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "LDDS COMMUNICATIONS INC /GA/", "date-changed": "19930916"}, {"former-conformed-name": "RESURGENS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "CENTRAL CORP /GA/", "date-changed": "19890523"}]}
text: 1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 1996.
                                                 Registration No. 333-____________
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                  WASHINGTON D.C.
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
                          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                              -----------------------
  
                  WorldCom, Inc. (F/K/A LDDS Communications, Inc.)         
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                 Georgia                                           58-1521612     
  - ---------------------------------------------               --------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation               (I.R.S. Employer
    or organization)                                           Identification No.)
  
           515 East Amite Street
           Jackson, Mississippi                                     39201-2702    
  - ----------------------------------------                    --------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)
  
    LDDS Communications, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1990 Stock Option Plan
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Full title of the plans)
  
                              P. Bruce Borghardt, Esq.
                                   WorldCom, Inc.
                             10777 Sunset Office Drive
                                     Suite 330
                             St. Louis, Missouri 63127              
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (Name and address of agent for service)
  
                                 (314) 909-4100                  
  - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Proposed              Proposed
         Title of               Amount                maximum               maximum              Amount of
        securities               to be            offering price      aggregate offering       registration
     to be registered         registered            per share(1)            price(1)                fee
  - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common stock           16,924,028              $26.69             $451,659,997            $155,745
      $0.01 par value           shares(2)
  - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  This Registration Statement registers additional securities of
  the same class as other securities for which a registration statement filed on
  this form relating to the same employee benefit plan is effective.
  Consequently, pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of
  the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by WorldCom, Inc. (the "Company")
  with respect to the LDDS Communications, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1990
  Stock Option Plan, the LDDS Communications, Inc. 1988 Non-Qualified Stock
  Option Plan, the LDDS/ATC 1988 Stock Option Plan, the LDDS/ATC Second 1988
  Stock Option Plan, the Advantage Companies Inc. Performance Stock Option Plan
  1987, the LDDS/ATC 1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and the LDDS/ATC 1984
  Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (the "Plans") on September 23, 1993,
  Registration No. 33-69322, are incorporated by reference into this Registration
  Statement.
  
  Item 8.  Exhibits
  
           See Exhibit Index.
  
  - ----------------------
  
      (1)  Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of determining
  the registration fee.  Proposed maximum offering price represents the average of
  the high and low prices for shares of common stock reported on the Nasdaq
  National Market on August 9, 1996.
  
      (2)  This Registration Statement also covers such additional shares of 
  common stock as may be issuable pursuant to antidilution provisions.
  
                                        2
  3
                                     SIGNATURES
  
                   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
  the registrant certifies that it is has reasonable grounds to believe that it
  meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Jackson, State of Mississippi on August 16,
  1996.
  
                                          WORLDCOM, INC.
  
                                          By:   /s/ Scott D. Sullivan        
                                                ----------------------------------
                                                Scott D. Sullivan
                                                Chief Financial Officer
  
                                 POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
                   Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes
  and appoints Bernard J. Ebbers, Scott D.  Sullivan and P. Bruce Borghardt, and
  each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and
  lawful attorneys in fact and agents for him and on his behalf and in his name,
  place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments
  (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
  file the same, with exhibits and any and all other documents filed with respect
  thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental
  or regulatory authority), granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full
  power and authority to do and to perform each and every act and thing requisite
  and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the
  same as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself might or could do if
  personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys in
  fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
  hereof.
  
                   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
  this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated.
  Name                              Title                             Date
           ----                              -----                             ----
  /s/ Carl J. Aycock                         Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Carl J. Aycock
  
  /s/ Max E. Bobbitt                         Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Max E. Bobbitt
  
                                                          
  /s/ Bernard J. Ebbers                      Director,                         August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                 President and                                     
  Bernard J. Ebbers                          Chief Executive
                                             Officer
  3
  4
  Name                              Title                             Date
           ----                              -----                             ----
  /s/ Francesco Galesi                       Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Francesco Galesi
  
  /s/ Stiles A. Kellett, Jr.                 Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Stiles A. Kellett, Jr.
  
                                             Director                          August   , 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Silvia Kessel
  
                                             Director                          August ____, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  John W. Kluge
  
  /s/ John A. Porter                         Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  John A. Porter
  
  /s/ Stuart Subotnick                       Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Stuart Subotnick
                                                             
                                             Director,       
  /s/ Scott D. Sullivan                      Secretary, and                    August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                 Chief Financial                                   
  Scott D. Sullivan                          Officer, (Principal
                                             Financial Officer and
                                             Principal Accounting
                                             Officer
  
  /s/ Lawrence C. Tucker                     Director                          August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                                                                   
  Lawrence C. Tucker
  
  /s/ Roy A. Wilkens                         Director, Chief Executive         August 16, 1996
  - --------------------------                 Officer, WilTel                                   
  Roy A. Wilkens
  4
  5
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit Number                                Description                                    Page
       --------------                                -----------                                    ----
  5.1            Opinion of P. Bruce Borghardt as to the legality of the
                           Securities to be issued                                                  
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.1           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                                           
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.2           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP                                         
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.3           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                                             
                                                                                                    -----
  
            23.4           Consent of P. Bruce Borghardt (included in Exhibit 5.1)                  
                                                                                                    -----
  
            24.1           Power of Attorney (included in Signature Pages)
  E-1