Anti-Mormonism

Note: This article is being re-written - please see talk page for planned outline and to give suggestions. The planned re-write will be about "Anti-Mormonism" (not a forum for Anti-Mormonism or Apologetics) and criticisms, and will not result in a forum for or against the Latter Day Saint movement Anti-Mormonism is a term applied primarily by members of the Latter day saint movement (especially by members of Mormonism's largest and most prominent sect, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church"; see also Mormon), to critics or opponents they contend stand in overt opposition to their church's practices or teachings. Anti-Mormon activities range from reasoned arguments (often references to Archeology or the Bible) to scathing exposés and public protests.

Use of the term is sometimes controversial, with those dubbed "Anti-Mormon" occasionally contending the term is applied too broadly, or as an ad hominem attack against anyone who attempts a critique, investigation or study that Mormons find objectionable--regardless of its merits.

There are honest critics of Mormonism who attempt fair, reasonable, scholarly studies, but there are also deceptive critics who either exaggerate doctrinal differences or totally fabricate teachings, and claim them to be Mormon doctrine. Although it is possible that some incorrect claims are honest misunderstandings of Mormon doctrine, others appear to be used to create a false impression of Mormonism. Latter Day Saints seldom refer to honest criticisms as "anti-mormon"; normally they reserve the term is reserved for dishonest or deceptive critics.

Anti-Mormonism is generally not a prejudice against the Mormon people, but an opposition to Mormon doctrines, practices, and leadership. However, such opposition has frequently been violent and vehement. In their early years, the Mormon people encountered frequent persecution and conflict forcing them to move from place to place, resulting in the settlement of Utah. Even after establishing a community in Utah, opposition to plural marriage and other beliefs prompted the United States government to send one third of its standing army to Utah in what is known as the Utah War.

Another reason for opposition to Mormonism is that their doctrines, particularly on Jesus, are considerably different from those of mainstream Christianity. Certain aspects of Mormonism--primarily temple ceremonies--are withheld from the public, making even sympathetic research difficult. Mormonism also tends to invite criticism with its bold claims, such as the claim that it is the only form of religion endorsed by God, although this is a claim made or implied by other religions too, such as Islam, Judaism and mainstream Christianity itself[1].

Historic opposition

Joseph Smith, Jr, the founder of Mormonism, taught widely that all of the Christian teachers of the day were in error and had departed from the true Christian faith. He was vigorously pursued by detractors since the time he recounted his First Vision. He was ultimately assassinated by a mob in 1844.

Conflict between Mormons and their critics or opponents has frequently been vehement and violent. On October 27, 1838 Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs signed an executive order (known as the "Extermination Order") instructing the general of the state militia that, "The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary, for the public peace-their outrages are beyond all description. If you can increase your force, you are authorized to do so, to any extent you may consider necessary." This executive order was eventually rescinded by Governor Christopher S. Bond on June 25, 1976, over 137 years later.

Most of Smith's followers later fled Nauvoo, Illinois in 1846 due to increasingly violent conflict and persecution. They eventually settled what was then part of Mexico (now Utah) to organize a separate "country", the State of Deseret. Conflict with non-Mormons was also a factor in groups of Mormons leaving England to join other Mormons in the United States

In Utah, the Mormon practice of polygamy or plural marriage was openly practiced for the first time, having been introduced by Smith and practiced secretly some decades earlier. Quickly declared illegal, plural marriage generated signifigant criticism throughout the United States. Rather than abandon a practice they regarded as sacred, many polygamists chose to live "underground," as they called it, often separated from their families, for fear of being arrested or assaulted.

Doctrinal opposition

In mainstream Christianity, a strong disagreement with the theology, beliefs and practices of the Mormon church is common, see Mormonism and Christianity.

In many ways, this tension is unsurprising: Mormon founders argued that mainstream Christianity is significantly different from what Jesus and the Apostles intended. Mormons teach that the biblically prophesied Great Apostasy has happenned and that the mainstream Christian churches no longer follow the complete teachings of Jesus.

Most mainstream Christian churches teach that Mormonism is a form of pseudo-Christianity, which has departed from the teachings given in the Bible and now espouses beliefs fundamentally different. Mormonism is sometimes called a cult. Also fueling tension, Mormon missionaries proselytize indiscriminately, including to mainstream Christians, seeking to invite all people to convert to Mormonism.

Doctrinal opposition to Mormonism has a long history, and can be broken down into several categories:

Correct disagreements on doctrine

Incorrect differences on doctrine

Doctrinal Misrepresentations
The people who make and counter these claims in detail are frequently referred to as apologists.

Some of the common techniques used in anti-mormon writings include:

Fabricated References

The Book of Mormon is divided into books, chapters, and verses, and references to passages are similar in nature to biblical references. Many anti-mormon articles will use page numbers, which makes it harder to check the source, since page numbers vary by editions. However, in many cases, the references are totally fabricated, and the supposed passages do not exist. In other cases, a valid reference is given, but when you consult the text, there is nothing found that substantiates the point being made.

Use of Secondary Sources

A number of anti-mormon documents were published during the LDS church's early years. Many of these contained unsubstantiated claims that often contradict each other as well as contradicting accepted facts. Many modern-day anti-mormon articles cite these secondary sources without attempting to validate their accuracy. This is followed by later scholars quoting the previous works as if they were widely accepted, when their accuracy is often questionable. The result is a large body of anti-mormon literature that is based upon itself, with little verifiable details.

Sensationalized exaggeration

Some critics take several points of Mormon doctrine, and then exaggerate and/or extend the doctrine, stating their conclusions using phrasing that is not found in Mormonism, and claiming that "most Mormons" believe this extreme case. In many cases, the "conclusion" they arrive at isn't believed by any Mormons, let alone most Mormons. One variant of this approach is to use modified statements that are similar to, but don't accurately describe Mormon doctrine. Another variant is to use speculative positions that some Mormons believe, but about which the Mormon Church has not issued any formal position.

Examples include:"Mormonism teaches that Lucifer is the brother of Jesus." This is a sensationalized, factual restatement of teachings of Mormonism."Mormonism teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had sexual intercourse with God." This is a sensationalized extrapolation of statements such as: (1) Mormons believe that Jesus is the literal Son of God; (2) God the Father has a physical body; and (3) Brigham Young stated that Jesus was conceived in the same way as other people.

Personal attacks

Some arguments might be classified as the argumentum ad hominem rhetorical technique, of ridiculing one's opponent in order to discredit the opposite view, in ways that have no bearing on any matter actually at issue. Examples of this technique would be referring to Joseph Smith as an egotist or treasure hunter. Many such early articles were contradictory: one would refer to Joseph Smith as having piercing eyes, and another would claim he was shifty and never looked you in the eyes; he was tall and thin in one article, and short and heavy in another. Hugh Nibley, a famous Mormon apologist wrote an article entitled "In Their Own Words", which juxtaposed many of these contradictory claims. He wrote in conclusion, if opponents couldn't get Smith's physical appearance correct, how can we trust them in more substantive arguments?

Bait and Switch

A common technique used by deceptive critics is similar to the "bait and switch" technique of promising one thing and producing something different. An example of this is the claim that Mormons believe that a prophet named Amulek claimed to be infallible. They will then quote a portion of Alma 11:21: "I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord."

By telling the reader (or listener) what they will see, they have predisposed the reader to interpret the passage in a way that conforms to the initial claim.

In reality, the situation covered by this passage is similar to that in Numbers 23, where Balak asked Balaam to curse the Israelites, to which Balaam replied that he could only say what the LORD told him to say.

In Alma 11, a false preacher (Zeezrom) is trying to get Amulek to contradict himself. Zeezrom asks Amulek to answer some questions, to which Amulek replies: "Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord." (Alma 11:23).

Secret Teachings

One of the most difficult techniques to counter is the belief that there are "secret teachings" that "normal" Mormons aren't told. According to this claim, at some point up the church hierarchy, leaders hold radically different beliefs to those that are taught to people further down in the hierarchy. According to this theory, the wholesome "public teachings" are used to get people to join the Mormon church. This argument is often used in conjuction with a previous allegation that is shown to be incorrect. Supposedly, the claim is believed by the higher leaders, but not known by the general membership.

Using this technique, authors can make spectacular claims about what Mormons "really believe". When a member says they don't believe that, the response is generally that they aren't high enough in the church to know what the leaders "really believe". It is never explained at what point these "secret teachings" are revealed to leaders as they ascend the hierarchy, and no cases exposing this practice are provided.

Since the Mormon Church doesn't have paid local leaders, and since the local units have considerable autonomy, many Mormons have trouble understanding how others can believe this theory. Nevertheless, this is a popular method of deflecting any criticism of their original claims.

Ceremonies held in LDS temples are seen by the devout as sacred, and are not discussed publicly. This has led to many lurid and unfounded claims, which Mormons are reluctant to rebut, however innacurate they might be.

Former Members

Literature by former Mormons who actively criticize the church often present the author's experience as typical of most members, though this may not be the case. For example, if a person grew up in the Mormon church, "going through the motions" of regular church attendence while secretly harboring doubts, they might assume that many other Mormons felt the same way.

Particularly if the author grew up in Utah or some other community with a large Mormon population, their regular church attendence might have been a product of peer pressure or familial expectation, more than of personal conviction. When such people move to an area where Mormons are less prevalent, their church attendance decreases significantly or ceases altogether.

Literatue of this form often claims that Mormons don't have a close personal relationship with Jesus, something that most active Mormons would strongly refute. This logicial fallacy is this technique is attempting to generalize from the specific. It is particularly a problem when such generalization is based on the experiences of a single person.

Actual Doctrinal Differences

There are actual, mutually acknowledged differences between Mormon Doctrine and orthodox Christianity. These include:

Mormons believe that Heavenly Father has a solid body of (purified) flesh and bones, whereas orthodox Christians believe that only Jesus has a solid, physical body.
Mormons believe that Jesus, Satan, and ourselves were present with Heavenly Father before the world was created. Satan rebelled, but Jesus (and all those who are/will be born on earth) sided with Heavenly Father. Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus and the Father are uncreated; that Satan, the demons, angels, and people are created by God.
Alleged Doctrinal Differences

Some doctrines are attributed to Mormonism by its opponents and depicted as contrary to mainstream Christianity, but are not acknowledged by Mormons. These include:

God has a physical body, and was born and raised on a planet orbiting the star Kolob.
God fathers souls by his wife (a/the goddess). These souls wait in heaven to be incarnated. The firstborn of these souls was Jesus, but Satan and the souls of all humanity were born the same way.
Each inhabited world (and there are many) has its own god, who was elevated to that status from humanity.

Some of the doctrines attributed to Mormonism by its opponents and depicted as contrary to scientific fact are:

The Native Americans (aka American Indians) are actually Jewish. Their ancestors colonized the Americas by crossing the oceans by some manner of sea-going vessel. The Book of Mormon account describes a ship; the exact dimensions are not given, nor is the path taken.
All large bodies in the solar system, including Mars and Venus, are habitable. The Sun is not only habitable, but inhabited by people resembling those on Earth.
The light of our sun comes from Kolob. Earth will one day become transparent, so that it shows images from other worlds, and eventually will give off light as the sun does.
As Adam and Eve were ejected from the garden of Eden, Earth was removed from orbit around Kolob and placed in its current orbit.
Apologetics

Apologists are those who directly answer the questions of critics of any belief. Mormon apologists would answer the above by explaining the actual doctrine taught by the LDS Church, as this is where most of the opposition is directed. These items correspond in order to the questions raised above.

God has a physical body. We do not know anything about God before He was God, but the pattern which has been defined for us on this Earth gives implications. According to the Book of Abraham, the star nearest to where God dwells is the star Kolob.
Again, the pattern defined for us on this Earth implies that God also has a wife. The words used in LDS scriptures are that "intelligences were organized". The first of these was Jesus. Lucifer was a leader, hence he is called a "son of the morning". When Lucifer was cast out of Heaven for rebellion, he became known as Satan.
Again, by implication, there are others who have attained the status of god, but we have not been told anything about them or their creations. According to the Book of Moses, God created many worlds with inhabitants, but it wasn't said that all created worlds have inhabitants. There is no support for this in Mormon doctrines, only speculation.
The Book of Mormon relates that three separate groups were directed by God to leave the Eastern Hemisphere and come to the Americas. After about 1000 years of records in the Americas, one of the remaining factions is destroyed by the other about the year 400, who not only destroyed the people, but homes, cities and other cultural evidences of the inhabitants. Mormons do not know how many members of the remaining faction were left to mix with whatever other peoples may have migrated to the Americas, but because of promises made to them by God, they are the "principal" inhabitants of the Americas.
According to the Book of Moses, God created many worlds with inhabitants, but it wasn't said that all created worlds have inhabitants. God is the God of these worlds.
There is nothing in Mormon doctrine that claims that the light of our sun comes from Kolob.
Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden. There is nothing resembling the rest of this claim in Mormon doctrine.
Modern day opposition

A small number of people are active in opposing Mormon beliefs and campaigning against the Mormon church. Many are ex-Mormons themselves, particularly plural wives, who have become active in opposing the polygamist practises of some Mormon sects. Some anti-Mormons direct their hostility toward Mormon church leaders, past and present.

More hostility tends to be directed toward church leaders of the 19th century than towards more recent leaders.

Finally, there is a minority of anti-Mormons who demonstrate an open hostility toward any and all Latter-day Saints. It is common to find them among the protesters at major Mormon events.

Organized opposition to Mormonism

There are several organizations which oppose the Mormon church. Their activities vary. In most cases the primary activity is informational – they seek to provide what they regard as a true picture of the Mormon church. Some are independent while others are connected with parent churches, and not all are Christian. Examples of such organizations are:Utah Lighthouse Ministry (founded by Jerald and Sandra Tanner), Mormon Research Ministries, Mormons in Transition and Utah Partnerships for Christ.

Some anti-Mormons have become well-known for their activities. A few of them are:

Arthur Budvarson
Ed Decker
Bill McKeever
Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Professional anti-Mormonism

Regardless of what other motives they may have, there are some who focus on the money that can be made in the anti-Mormon "business," (as Ed Decker referred to his trade at least once). Ed Decker, in fact, threatened to file lawsuits against other anti-Mormons (including Jerald and Sandra Tanner) who rose to the defense of the Mormon church when his films made extreme accusations about Mormon officials. Decker claimed that the negative reviews, by those who should have praised the films, in his view, caused him a loss of revenue.

Seminars to counter Mormon teachings

LDS missionaries routinely present their message to believing Christians, encouraging them to convert to Mormonism. To many, this is viewed as an attack on mainstream Christian beliefs. Partly in response to this, many organizations who disagree with Mormon teachings hold seminars at mainstream Christian churches to highlight differences between Mormonism and mainstream Christianity, and to offer the mainstream Christian viewpoint on these differences.

Anti-Mormon Protests

Every six months, Latter-day Saints gather in Salt Lake City for "General Conference." In addition to the church members who come to hear their leaders speak, anti-Mormon protesters also attend. They also appear when new Mormon temples are opened to the public before they are dedicated. Below is a link to a description of one of these protests, from a Mormon point of view.

http://www.fairlds.org/apol/antis/200304.html

The following link, from the same website, leads to a photo essay of a recent anti-Mormon protest.

http://www.fairlds.org/apol/antis/200310gc.html