Anti-Mormonism

An anti-Mormon political cartoon from the late 19th century

Anti-Mormonism includes people and literature that are critical, or opposed to, the adherents, institutions, or beliefs of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement as a whole. It may include physical attacks, discrimination, persecution, hostility, or prejudice against Mormons and the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Opposition to Mormonism began before the first Latter Day Saint church was established in 1830 and continues to the present day. The most vocal and strident opposition occurred during the 19th century, particularly the forceful expulsion from Missouri and Illinois in the 1830s and 1840s, during the Utah War of the 1850s, and in the second half of the century when the practice of polygamy in Utah Territory was widely considered by the U.S. Republican Party as one of the "twin relics of barbarism" along with slavery.[1]

Modern-day opposition generally takes the form of websites, podcasts, videos or other media criticizing Mormonism, or protests at large Latter-day Saint gatherings such as the LDS Church's semiannual general conference, outside of Latter-day Saint pageants, or at events surrounding the construction of new temples. Non-Mormon critics generally believe that the church's claims are false, that it is non-Christian, or that it is a religion based on fraud or deceit on the part of its past and present leaders. The FBI began tracking anti-Mormon hate crimes in the United States in 2015 and have noted an increase in incidents over time (through 2019).[2]

  1. ^ "1856 Republican Platform". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-15. Resolve: That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign powers over the Territories of the United States for their government; and that in the exercise of this power, it is both the right and the imperative duty of Congress to prohibit in the Territories those twin relics of barbarism—Polygamy, and Slavery.
  2. ^ "The FBI has been tracking crimes against Latter-day Saints for 3 years. Here's why". Deseret News. 12 January 2019.