Anti-mormon, also spelled antimormon, refers to those who actively oppose the mission of the Mormon Church by spreading innuendo, hate literature, and misinformation. While not everyone who disagrees with Mormonism is automatically an anti-Mormon, the term is often used that way among Mormons who, because of their history of persecution, are sometimes overly sensitive to such criticism.
The most vocal anti mormonism revolves around the anti-cult movement among evangelical Christians who seek to portray Mormonism as counter to Christianity, a dangerous cult, and a threat to their own congregations because of Mormonism’s active missionary efforts. Secularists are also alarmed at the growth of Mormonism, though they are less likely to publish hate literature attacking Mormonism and its beliefs, though some groups, often comprised of disillusioned exmormons turned natural humanists, do actively oppose Mormonism.
Most anti-Mormon attacks center on one of very few areas of disagreement: Mormon temples, Mormonism’s historical practice of polygamy, the characters of the prophets Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, or the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Anti-Mormons attempt to portray Joseph Smith as disreputal or the Book of Mormon as contradictory to the Bible.
While undoubtedly these have had some effect on Mormons, one of the most interesting reactions to anti-Mormonism has been the growth of the Mormon apologetic community, especially since the growth of the Internet. This includes FARMS, FAIRLDS, Jefflindsay.com, SHIELDS, and a host of other smaller sites and organization who defend Mormon beliefs and the Mormon Church.