I think a lot of anti-Mormon bigotry is just based on ignorance. The things that originally made the LDS church persecuted and hated, such as polygamy, were officiallly repudiated by the Mormons a century ago. From the point of view of orthodox Christianity Mormonism may indeed be a cult. But so what? It’s now a harmless cult and Mormons have been a productive and successful part of our political and economic culture.
As a descendent of polygamous Mormons during the time period I'm about to reference, your ignorance is showing.
But read B. Carmon Hardy's appendix of his book, Solemn Covenant: The Mormon Polygamous Passage, and you'll be enlightened. Hardy, too, is a descendent from Mormon polygamists.
In the appendix, Hardy documents about 260 additional plural marriages that Mormon leadership secretly solemnized between 1890 and 1910-- the direct period AFTER the "manifesto" which was suppose to have halted "new" plural marriages.
Often, the newlyweds would either have it done in Mexico, or head there for a "honeymoon" period.
Even Lds "prophets" took on additional wives during those years...True also of Lds voted-in Congressman like Democrat B.H. Roberts, who wasn't seated by Congress in 1898 due to his 1893 or 1894 additional (third) wife that came after the manifesto...
Mormon leadership finally began trying to calm things down in the early 1900s...but...
#1...didn't break up most already-existed or recently-added polygamous arrangements;
#2...continued to teach that polygamy was forever as Mormons believe marriage is forever.
#3...taught that the Mormon jesus would re-institute polygamy when he returned (Lds "apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine book, p. 578, 1966)
I KNOW that a lot of ANTI-mormonISM is based on KNOWLEDGE of that Religious Organization.
I think a lot of anti-Mormon bigotry is just based on ignorance. The things that originally made the LDS church persecuted and hated, such as polygamy, were officiallly repudiated by the Mormons a century ago. From the point of view of orthodox Christianity Mormonism may indeed be a cult. But so what? It’s now a harmless cult and Mormons have been a productive and successful part of our political and economic culture.
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In my case, it is based upon knowledge and experience. The LDS doctrines have not changed much and they are still a cult. Many LDS actually support gay marriage because they know the next step is polygamy and a desire to return to that. And Polygamy was still practices until the 1930’s btw, long after the declaration against it (which only happened because they were unincorporated). The PR was that the LDS fought Prop 8, but the reality is they didn’t fight as hard or as much as they claim they did. They still believe in a theocracy. They are just biding their time. I speak from PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS.
Harmelss? NOTHING that makes that may people believe in a false Christ is harmless. Part of the economic culture? Utah leads the country in bankruptcies and foreclosures. Yeah that’s a benifit.