Where did the rumor that Mormons have horns originate?

Question

I'm a mormon, and I understand where a lot of rumors come from, like polygamy (which is DEFINITELY not a mormon practice), but I just don't understand where the "mormons have horns" comes from. So please help me understand. Why do you think I have horns, when, very very logically, I don't.

Answer 1

This is just a rumor too, but back when the wearing of hats, trench coats, etc. was common. President Heber J Grant (LDS President 1919-1945), was in Chicago, arrived at the home of a non-LDS family, he was invited to remove his hat, and, in jest, he said something to the effect of "My dear lady, if I were to remove my hat, you would then discover my Mormon Horns." The saying is there were many "old wives tales" going about the area, one of which was that Mormons had horns. It was probably just a made up rumor, aided by president Grant in jest, ash e had quite the sense of humor, just rolling with the rumor and the absurdity of it.

Answer 2

I have not heard the rumor that Mormons have horns. But it is my theory that when people do not understand a group, or they are made out to be so different from others, people start rumors to make the gap greater. As to the question why do I think you have horns, when, very very logically , you don't? Why do you presume to know what I think?

Answer 3

I don't believe that you have horns or anyone else that believes as you do. Perhaps it's a urban myth or bad joke, or by someone who doesn't understand Mormons,and makes fun of that for which they refuse to understand. I don't know where the origins of the rumor of horns originated. But,I would not let it ruin my day.

Answer 4

Becky B is the closest to being right. The preachers that were against us in the early days of the Church started the rumor about us having horns because they called us devils and therefore likened us to Satan whom they depicted as having horns. By the way, Satan doesn't have horns either. He is in the same form as we are, just without the mortal body. I have seen early cartoons printed in the newspapers depicting the Church leaders with horns hidden under their hats. It is all nonsense promulgated by wicked people that haven't the Spirit of Christ anywhere in their personalities.

Answer 5

If you were a real Mormon, you wouldn't refer to yourself as such!! You would be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, if I remember correctly. Either that, or you are a member of one of the small sects that broke away from the Latter-day Saints movement. In any case, there are definitely sects of mormonism that most certainly do subscribe to polygamy - why esle would Warren Jeffs (on FBI's top ten wanted list, now be in custody having been just arrested) be the leader of his polygamist sect?

As to the horns, see:
http://home.utah.edu/~nahaj/Mormon/#comments
about halfway down the page under RUMORS.

Answer 6

My guess might be that when the missionaries went out during the early days of the Church they would wear nice clothes which in those days included a hat. I suspect that some people just invented the idea that they wore the hats to hide horns, instead of being decently dressed.

Answer 7

I never heard of that and I ususally have heard them all. So I can't help you out, but I just wanted to say not everyone thinks you have horns!

Answer 8

Their belief system is the concoction of Joseph Smith and not inspired.

That is from which the 'horn' thing originated. Of course, it's crazy. Those poor lost souls will not be given horns in the physical world.

Answer 9

Could it possibly be from those old bible-toting, fire and brimstone preachers who thought Mormons were devils because they had more than one wife, when the bible preaches monogamy? Actually, didn't some back in the Old Testament have more than one wife?

Answer 10

Probably from the same imaginative folks that claim Wiccans sacrifice kids. No accounting for some acts of human stupidity.

Nice rack, by the way. ;D