Mormons...why??

Question

ok, I come from a mormon family (i'm not thank goodness) and I am in a mormon town, and everyone here has refused to answer why the mormons were persecuted. What did the mormons do to become hated? Anywho, I was just curious. Also, what is your opinion of the mormons. Personally I think they are way to self-centered and arrogant saying they have the only true church.

Answer 1

As I understand it, "persecution" was not the original reason for the migration from at least Ohio.

The main reasons Smith left Ohio was the failure of the "anti-Bank-ing" venture, and he could not be prosecuted in Missouri. It was not a religious persecution, but lenders wanting their investment returned.

In Missouri, the issues became more religiously centered, as Smith had declared that the lands would belong to the saints before the millennium, which was expected shortly. This set off a series of scuffles that culminated in the Haun's Mill Massacre. The government of Missouri wasn't particularly fond of Smith, and to avoid prosecution in Missouri for inciting unrest and other minor offenses, Smith moved once again, this time eastward to Illinois.

Missouri attempted many times to extradite Smith, and each time he avoided capture (there was little 'due process'). However, when Smith ordered the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor printing press, he was arrested - but initially fled to avoid capture, but returned.

By this time, there was an incredible uneasiness between the mormons and the gentile populations based in part by the surfacing of polygamy and the masonic temple rites, partly because of the economic success of the church/state of Nauvoo, and partly because of Smith's notoriety as published by the newspapers. Unfortunately he and his brother were killed in the Carthage Jail when the state governor failed to protect him, and the Nauvoo Legion failed to rescue him.

By this time the mormons were considered more troublemakers than a religious, and were fearful that they may succeed in Smiths plan for a church-run government. Brigham Young agreed to move the saints out of the state into Indian territory.

The religion, while a flash point of discussion, was second to the economic stress and misunderstandings that arose from Smiths guidance. Brigham carried on as Smith might have in Utah until the polygamy issue surfaced. Whether this is a religious concept or societal issue, it was another contentious point with the general public and was condemned while the church supported it.

It is a complete reversal of teachings now as the church desires to be acceptable to modern Christianity.

Answer 2

Anyone who is in a church should claim theirs is the only church. Otherwise, why are they part of it? It should be designed to get them closer to God.

Anyhow, a lot of the persecution came from accusations whether true or false. Most of these came about because Joseph Smith (the first prophet) claimed to have seen God the Father and Jesus in a grove in New York. Also, he claimed to have plates he translated the Book of Mormon from which were made of gold but only a few ever actually saw them.

Mormons generally believe that they were persecuted for the same reasons the ancient churches were persecuted: because it is true and the devil knows it. The devil will do anything to stop the work of God.

Answer 3

People back in the 1800's hated the mormons, because Joseph started a religion that was contrary to Christian beliefs at that time. And the very thought of sending men away, and then "encouraging" woman in the name of god, to be sealed to Joseph, and then "lay with him" to have children smacked of pure sex. I too live in "The City", where "The Church" has its head quarters. You are absolutely correct, that the LDS are self centered, and arrogant. Try borderline a state run by LDS voted in politicians, who give you a choice for many things --as long as it sounds good or the church counsels as good. What good is it to close down government run swimming pools on Sunday, just because of religious "community" reasons? And to make clubs have private memberships? The LDS don't even go to clubs---or do they......And if it is not allowed to gamble with the "lords money" why do you have to hide from your bishop at the casinos in Wendover, NV? We could use that money here in our state, so why does "The Church", oh, I mean, "The State Politicians" not allow gambling....I mean is that freedom of choice? By the way folks, if BYU is playing, it is sacrilegious not to get your butt to "The Game".
Heck yeah it is that bad. It is the talk of the state....they are arrogant.

By the way, after all these years, and all the money, and all the smart Ph.D. the mormons have, why hasn't the bible been translated correctly yet? Seems like Joseph made a bunch of errors that still embarrass them about the ficticious book of mormon. Where the heck is Zerahemla any way????

Answer 4

I'm LDS (thank goodness) I would be lost with out it. I'm not sure why they were persecuted exactly but I know nobody liked them. I think you are very wrong about us being self-centered. if they are it's not totally the LDS religions fault that just may be their personality. They don't mean to sound arrogant they want you to understand that we believe in the book of Mormon and the bible as far as it is translated correctly. meaning some other churches have miss interrpeted the bible the wrong way. look in ACTS 7:55 and tell me what you think of it.

Answer 5

You must live in Utah. So do I. I understand what your saying I too was mormon once but I saw the error of my ways. Try asking a mormon anything controversial about their religion and they either don't answer it or make a flat out stupid reason as to why it is. They can't answer these questions because they do not know. They do not know because nobody ever told them. The way I view the whole Joseph Smith thing seeing god and him tell him that Mormonisim was the only true church must be because Joseph Smith ate a funky mushroom went into the mountains and hallucinated that he saw god. Thats the only good explanation I can come up with.

Answer 6

If you want to know why they were so persecuted, you would have to ask those who persecuted them.

I don't find Mormons to be any more self-centered than a lot of Christians, who like to shove their faith down your throat and have no problem telling you that, if you don't believe as they do, you're gonna BURN IN HELL! At least Mormons do NOT say THAT.

Answer 7

Every religion says they are the only true church.

They were persecuted because their founder was a con man and racist. Their early churchgoers were also racist. You should know this, but the mormon church considered black people to be bad up until 1978. There are other reasons but that should give you an idea.

Answer 8

They went against regular Christian society of that day. Plus, they believe John Smith is a prophet, which to this day, is just considered egotistical and mentally ill. Plus, in the beginning, they did have the multiple wives thing which just angered people even more.

So, they moved out to Utah.

Did you know, Missouri repealed some 200 year old law that said people were allowed to shoot a Mormon on sight? And they repealed it like in 2000!

Answer 9

Mr Peepers said it all, you would have to goto the websites you Mormons are not suppoe to goto as well for the other side of the story, because mormons have one side and the world has the otherside to decide were the truth lies:
Here's a few that I use:
http://mormoncoffee.blogspot.com/...
http://www.irr.org/mit/default.html...
http://www.bornagainmormon.com/...
http://www.lifeafter.org/
http://www.mrm.org/
http://www.mormoncurtain.com/
http://www.mormoninfo.org/index.php?id=1...
http://www.bcmmin.org/

Answer 10

Well, in a society with a Christian majority, any religion that begins to grow is going to be persecuted by the majority(Christians).

In the religions' eye, religion is a game. That's why people go door to door and pay for TV ads slanging their faith. It's ridiculous. If God does exist, he/she has to be ashamed of the manner in which religion operate today.