Anti-Mormons are those who in engage in Anti-Mormonism, To understand the proper definition of this term and how it relates to this blog, we must start with understanding of the term "Mormon"..
"Mormon" is a noun and an adjective.. In the proper noun sense it refers to an prophet character in the Book of Mormon used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day saints, commonly refereed to as the Mormons or LDS..
As a descriptive term or adjective, "Mormon" refers to the beliefs of those associated with the LDS Church headquarter in Salt Lake City and to a somewhat lesser degree those groups which historically split off from the larger organization sometime in history.. Within the context of the is Blog, Mormon will refer to the larger Salt Lake City Church, not the smaller groups such as the FLDS etc.
So when the term Mormon is often used in this latter descriptive way, when someone refers to a member of the LDS church as a Mormon, we know he himself is Not named Mormon but holds beliefs that are in someway aligned with or connected to the system of Beliefs held by the LDS Church.. Similarly when we say that is a Mormon idea.. We are suggesting the idea is come from the culture of those who hold to LDS system of beliefs.
In this sense the term Mormon is much like other descriptive nouns.. Such as Catholic, Christian, Baptist. etc. Like when you say I'm Catholic, or I'm Christian.. the same is said I'm Mormon, or I'm not a Christian or I'm not a Mormon.
"Mormonism" is strictly a noun referring to the beliefs held by Mormons or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Similarly "Catholicism" refers to the beliefs held by Catholics, or members of the Roman Catholic Faith. Unlike the term Mormon, it's not a personal descriptor.. One doesn't say "I'm Mormonism" any more than they would say "I'm Christianity" or "I'm Catholicism".. Instead the proper usage is to say "I believe in Catholicism" or I practice Catholicism, and so it's with Mormonism, people practice Mormonism, people believe in Mormonism.
The prefix "Anti-" simply means to be AGAINST or Opposed to something.. So when we attach the prefix to the word Mormon or Mormonism, it simply changes the meaning of the word to refer to it's antagonist. Anti-Mormonism is the act of being AGAINST or OPPOSED to Mormonism. Anti-Mormons are those who practice Anti-Mormonism..
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