Anti-Mormon vs. Anti-Mormonism

Anti-Mormon vs. Anti-Mormonism

     When I was a Mormon a name they used for anyone who opposed the Church was an “anti-Mormon”. The term anti-Mormon covers a huge spectrum to the members of the Mormon Church. There’s a mindset within the Church that if you aren’t with them you’re against them. They expect Christians to just ignore the major doctrinal differences between Mormonism and mainline Christianity. They want all of us to just accentuate the positive things about their religion, not worrying about the rest.

     Granted there are groups that do appear to be less than kind to the Mormon people and there are others who can love the Mormon people while at the same time highly disagree with the doctrines of the Mormon Church. Many of the Mormons I have spoken to have told me that they see no difference between someone politely conversing with them using the Bible and someone screeching at them on a street corner, sign in hand telling them they’re going to hell. Both instances are perceived to be anti-Mormon, and enemies of the Church.

     Through this experience I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter how you try to present the Gospel to the lost they will still find offense to it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive to those who don’t believe. Especially to the Mormons when you try to show them how the doctrines of their religion are not in line with the Bible. You may wonder as I have why the LDS think that people, who oppose the doctrines of their church, oppose them as well. In the process of reading and researching for this article I found the following quote;


“Brothers and sisters, pray for the critics of the Church; love your enemies”. Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign May 1980


     Two years later he says it again. “Be of good cheer, for the Lord is guiding His church. Brothers and sisters, pray for the critics of the Church; love your enemies.” (Ensign May 1982)

     These quotes bring me to the title of this article. There is a huge difference in being against the Mormon people (anti-Mormon) and being against the doctrines of the Mormon Church (anti-Mormonism).

     For a Mormon to call someone an “anti-Mormon” is to call them something that is profane and vile. At least that is how the name was perceived when I was a Mormon. If a fellow church member called something or someone one anti-Mormon I knew to stay away. In Mormonism there’s this underlining persecution complex in the mindset of the Mormon. It usually kicks in not long after they are baptized into the Church when non-LDS friends and family start voicing their concerns about Mormonism.

     The new member may be exposed to literature that’s not church approved and paints the Church in a bad light, or they may run across someone who is a former Mormon who tells them about their exodus out of Mormonism. It’s just easier for the Mormons to slap the anti-Mormon label on an individual’s forehead or the cover of a book rather than take a step back and consider if there are valid concerns to be had about the Church.

     I know that there maybe a few people in the world who are against the Mormon people for whatever reason, I’m not going to dispute that. Generally speaking the people the Mormons are so quick to call their enemies and other names are just people who disagree with the doctrines of the Mormon Church. They have compared and contrasted their findings about Mormonism to Biblical research. I’m not talking about pulling stuff out of the air or off of just any random website discussing Mormonism.

     These people honestly looked at the historicity of Mormonism, its leaders, and its scripture. So if people are honestly researching, reading the materials the Mormon Church has already provided, and from there draw their own conclusion that Mormonism is a fraud does that still make them “anti-Mormon” or does it make them “anti-Mormonism”?

     I believe the problem of being quick to judge someone who opposes the Church stems from the notion the Mormons have that tells them “they are their religion”. They put on a pure, happy, clean cut image for the world. When someone speaks against their church bring up historical facts and such about their religion it tarnishes the way they want to be seen. I think maybe when someone shows them the truth about their religion; on some level it hurts their ego. With all those thoughts bouncing around in their heads it’s no wonder the moment someone makes a less than flattering remark about the Mormon Church they going into a defensive mode and think they are being attacked.

     I would love for the Mormon to understand that we aren’t against them. Sadly I know as long as they believe that only their Church holds all the keys to salvation they may never see the difference in an anti-Mormon and someone who is anti-Mormonism.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes (

2 Responses to “Anti-Mormon vs. Anti-Mormonism”

  1. Clare July 7, 2015 at 8:42 am #

    What I see as anti-Mormon is someone writing a passive aggressive article using biased opinions and slander to portray something that is non-existent.

  2. James November 29, 2017 at 5:14 pm #

    The classic argument of ignorance by Anti-Mormons who don’t like the term used to describe them and their behavior. What they really saying or demonstrating is that the they don’t like or understand English Grammar.. Perhaps it’s both.

    The terms ‘Anti-Mormon’ and ‘Anti-Mormonism’ are used differently due to grammar.. The latter, Anti-Mormon , like the term ‘Mormon’ (Someone who holds Mormon beliefs) is most often used as a ‘Adjective’.. and sometimes as a personal Noun.

    For instance , saying ‘ I am Mormon’ , If your name is ‘Mormon’ as in the Book of Mormon, then it’s a personal noun.. but saying ‘I am Mormon’ to refer to your religious beliefs.. then Mormon is an adjective that describes the Subject. “I” Sometimes it’s used as a descriptive noun, such as saying ‘I am a Mormon’.. in this instance Mormon is nothing more than a short hand description lieu of “Mormon person”, which is someone holding Mormon beliefs. Thus saying ‘ I am a Mormon’ and ‘I am a Mormon person’ are completely synonymous.

    Mormonism on the other hand is only a noun (Person, place or thing).. never an adjective. It a noun identifying the collection of Mormon beliefs and practices. Just like ‘Christianity” or “Catholicism” So saying “I am Mormonism” is a nonsensical.. since it would be equating the Subject “I” with the object “Mormonism”..

    Adding the prefix ‘Anti-‘ simply means to be against.. it never changes the grammatical nature of the term.. thus Anti-Mormon is grammatically the same as ‘Mormon’ (Adj/noun) and anti-Mormonism is the same as Mormonism. (Noun) thus when an anti-Mormon, someone who is against Mormon beliefs, say’s they are not anti-Mormon, but anti-Mormonism , they are contradicting themselves and equating themselves with everything that is against Mormon beliefs.. which it total nonsense, and in my opinion explains a lot as to the IQ of these anti-Mormons.

    Simply put, “Anti-Mormon” is an adjective/noun used to describe a subject, as something against Mormon beliefs. Anti-Mormon literature, versus Mormon literature. Anti-Mormonism is a noun referring to all that which is against Mormonism.

Leave a Reply
