Anti-mormonism is any hostile opposition to Mormonism or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Especially during the early years of the Mormon Church, there was very strong anti-Mormonism activity.

The Mormon Church was organized officially in 1830, and from that day until 1989 more than 1,931 anti-Mormon publications were distributed in English alone. Publications of anti-Mormon material show no sign of slowing down; in fact since 1960 the number of anti-Mormon publications has increased. The Mormon Church for the most part ignores anti-Mormonism activity because of the overriding belief that people have the freedom to believe as they wish, but the Mormon Church does collect anti-Mormon publications for historical purposes. Most Mormons do however feel that most anti-Mormon publications greatly misrepresent the Mormon Church and that much of the information presented is opinion and was never researched.

Early anti-mormonism criticism of the Church mostly revolved around Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. To most people Joseph Smith’s claims were odd especially that he had received revelation from God and that this revelation led to the publishing of The Book of Mormon. However the Book of Mormon was evidence and many people felt a need to explain its existence. This was the topic of most of the early anti-mormon criticism and it was done through various ways, by discrediting Joseph Smith and his family, and then by focusing on doctrinal points.

Anti-Mormonism feelings reached their peak in 1839 when the Governor of Missouri signed an order that legally allowed for the extermination of Mormons. Joseph Smith was put in jail, and the Mormons were exiled from Missouri. Feelings of paranoia that the Mormons would “take over” the state government led to much of the problems in Missouri and again in Illinois when the Mormons were forced to leave their homes and Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered by a mob. The Mormon leaders decided that to avoid further problems they would set up homes outside of the United States, so they traveled to Utah, where they hoped further persecution would end. For a time the Mormons were able to avoid further problems with neighbors, but in 1852 renewed anti-Mormon activity erupted because of the members practice of polygamy.

Anti-polygamy laws were passed and Mormons were portrayed as criminals and immoral. The government of the U.S. even began confiscating Church property and imprisoning members. In 1890 the Mormon Church published a manifesto stopping the practice of polygamy and much of the anti-Mormon activity stopped. For a time the Mormon Church experienced a relatively good image by most, and this image continues with many people. There are still however many organizations and individuals actively engaged in anti-Mormonism. Today much of the anti-Mormonism logic is returning to the first theories and allegations made just after the organization of the Mormon Church.

Anti-Mormon activity is very publicly noticed with protestors outside the conference center during the Mormon Churches worldwide meeting of Conference and at temple open houses and any other major function of the Church. Church members have been counseled by Church leaders to not react to or debate with anti-Mormon protestors but to keep their responses, “in the form of a positive explanation of the doctrines and practices of the Church.” Church leaders urge people that are interested in finding out about the Mormon Church to get their information straight from the Church; to read the Book of Mormon and other Church records themselves and then make a judgment, rather than relying on other sources to judge the Mormon Church.
Other Links:

The Truth About Anti-Mormonism
Lame Anti-Mormon Websites
The English and Anti-Mormons
Dave's Mormon Inquiry: Defining Anti-Mormon