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Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The term is often used to describe persons or literature that are critical of their adherents, institutions, or beliefs, or physical attacks against specific Mormons or the LDS Church as a whole. 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 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. Modern-day opposition generally takes the form of websites offering alternative views about Mormonism or non-violent protest at large Latter-day Saint gatherings such as the church's biannual General Conference, outside of Latter-day Saint pageants, or at events surrounding the construction of new LDS temples. Opponents generally believe that the church's claims to divine origin 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. ==Origin== The term, "anti-Mormon" first appears in the historical record in 1833 by the Louisville (Kentucky) ''Daily Herald'' in an article, "The Mormons and the Anti-Mormons" (the article was also the first known to label believers in the Book of Mormon as "Mormons").〔''Oxford English Dictionary'', s.v. "Mormon".〕 In 1841, it was revealed that an ''Anti-Mormon Almanac'' would be published. On August 16 of that year, the Latter Day Saint ''Times and Seasons'' reported the Mormons' confidence that although the ''Anti-Mormon Almanac'' was designed by "Satan and his emissaries" to flood the world with "lies and evil reports", still "we are assured that in the providence of God they will ultimately tend to the glory of God—the spread of truth and the good of the church".〔''Times and Seasons'', vol. 2 no. 20, August 16, 1841, p. 513.〕 The anti-Mormon newspaper certainly was not the first of its kind; Mormonism had been criticized strongly by dozens of publications since its inception, most notably by Eber D. Howe's 1834 book ''Mormonism Unvailed''. The Latter Day Saints initially labeled such publications "anti-Christian",〔cf. ''Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate'', vol. 3, no. 1, October 1836, p. 319.〕 but the publication of the Almanac and the subsequent formation of an "Anti-Mormon Party" in Illinois heralded a shift in terminology. "Anti-Mormon" became, on the lips of the church's critics, a proud and politically charged self-designation.〔A similar party would arise in Utah in 1883, professing to be "'anti-Mormon' ... to the heart's core." Cf. Jennifer Hansen, Letters of Catharine Cottam Romney, p. 76. See also Liberal Party (Utah).〕 Today, the term is primarily used as a descriptor for persons and publications that oppose the LDS Church, although its precise scope has been the subject of some debate. It is used by some to describe anything perceived as critical of the LDS Church.〔Some examples of Mormons expressing this sort of sentiment are as follows: "(Are You an Anti-Mormon? )", ''AntiMormon.KeepRight.net'', accessed June 2006. "(Correspondence between James White and Dr. Louis Midgley )", ''SHIELDS-Research.org'', accessed June 2006. & "(How I define an Anti-Mormon )", ''FAIR Message Boards'', accessed June 2006.〕 Siding with the latter, less-inclusive understanding of the term, Latter-day Saint scholar William O. Nelson suggests in the ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' that the term includes "any hostile or polemic opposition to Mormonism or to the Latter-day Saints, such as maligning Joseph Smith, his successors, or the doctrines or practices of the Church. Though sometimes well intended, anti-Mormon publications have often taken the form of invective, falsehood, demeaning caricature, prejudice, and legal harassment, leading to both verbal and physical assault." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Anti-Mormonism」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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