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At a glance
- Condition
- New
- Listening Length
- 12 hours and 29 minutes
- Author
- Jon Krakauer
- Narrator
- Scott Brick
- Publication date
- December 11, 2003
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- Random House Audio
Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities. Now an acclaimed FX limited series streaming on HULU. “Fantastic.... Right up there with In Cold Blood and The Executioner’s Song.” —San Francisco Chronicle Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities. At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief. Read more
Specs 8
| Listening Length | 12 hours and 29 minutes |
|---|---|
| Author | Jon Krakauer |
| Narrator | Scott Brick |
| Publication date | December 11, 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Random House Audio |
| Version | Unabridged |
| Program Type | Audiobook |
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Top Amazon Reviews
Polygamy, Fundamentalists, and the history of the west
Format: Hardcover
Well-known author Jon Krakauer (Into Thin Air, Into the Wild) originally wanted to write a book titled History and Belief that would focus "on the uneasy, highly charged relationship between the LDS Church and its past." In this not-yet-written book, he planned to see "how does a critical mind reconcile scientific and historical truth with religious doctrine? How does one sustain belief when confronted with facts that appear to refute it?" Instead of writing this book, though, Krakauer's research led him to write about the dual July 24, 1984 murders committed by the infamous Lafferty brothers (Ron and Dan) in American Fork, Utah. The story told in Under the Banner of Heaven (paperback comes out July 2004) is both intriguing and revealing. In fact, Krakauer makes it very evident that the Laffertys not only held fast to Mormon fundamentalism and a deep-seeded belief in polygamy, but they were also closely aligned with the thinking of numerous early Mormon leaders, especially Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, the first two LDS prophets. Krakauer opens the book by giving background information on the night when the actual murders that occurred. Ron and Dan brutally ambushed their younger brother Allan's infant daughter and his wife, Brenda, whom they blamed for causing Ron's wife to leave for Florida. The murders are not exactly described until the latter part of the book, but it should be understood that graphic details are given...and it's not a pretty sight. However, this is more than just a tale centering on the Laffertys. Throughout the book, as the account is unfurled describing how the Laffertys got to the point of cold-blooded murder and thinking their actions were God-ordained, Krakauer weaves in the basic history of the LDS Church, starting with LDS founder Joseph Smith in chapter 5. Events such as Carthage, Mountain Meadow (he points out that only later was it called "Meadows"), and the Manifesto are detailed. Krakauer intersperses the historical aspects of Mormonism with the different interpretations of this religion as explained by numerous leaders. Since many fundamentalists place special emphasis on polygamy, Krakauer highlights the more well-known polygamous individuals such as LeRoy Johnson, Brian David Mitchell (who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart), Tom Green, and the LeBarons. Displayed are the many problems associated with polygamy including incest, spousal abuse, septuagenarians marrying teenagers, and the stealing from the government. Although the general history is accurate and can be easily supported, this book is not meant to be a historical work. In fact, Krakauer utilizes other researchers such as Fawn Brodie (No Man Knows My History), Will Bagley (Blood of the Prophets), and D. Michael Quinn. Thus, anyone hoping for new historical nuggets may be disappointed (though I did learn a few new things). Truly this book is tailor-made for the person who doesn't have a deep understanding of Mormonism's roots. One thing that Krakauer does not provide is the in-text citations of his sources. Instead, he merely uses asterisks and provides the footnoted information at the bottom of the page. No resource/page number addresses are provided, meaning that the reader has to take the author's word for it. While there may be a place for these kinds of books, this type of documentation drives researchers who thrive on specific source/page information crazy. At the same time, Krakauer makes some very astute observations that show how he understands the many inconsistencies in Joseph Smith's philosophical system. Under the Banner of Heaven, which hit the presses in July 2003, has infuriated many Mormons who consider this tome as an affront to their faith. After all, how dare the author insinuate that these Mormon Fundamentalists are even faintly related to the only true church on earth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Yet this thinking is quite flawed. As the author insinuates, if Smith and Young were to return to the earth today, certainly they would recognize the Fundamentalist churches as being more authentic than the LDS Church and its structure. Why should we think so poorly of these modern-day polygamists when their attitude is certainly shared by those who guided the church in the early years? He has a point, though Mormons have flooded the Internet with their ranting protests. For instance, many of the more than 300+ reviews of this book on Amazon.com are LDS critics complaining that Krakauer is somehow anti-Mormon and therefore must have a vendetta against the Church. Thus, many of these reviewers give the book a "one star" rating and display their ignorance with archaic reviews, which clearly show they never read the book. This proves that there are many Mormons who are more concerned with their religion's public relations image rather than history or, egad, the truth. While Krakauer is an agnostic/atheist and is certainly no friend to Christianity, I believe that he holds no bigoted bent against the LDS Church. Overall, I recommend this book, especially for those who would like to better understand the polygamist mindset that can be found throughout the western United States. Since I personally know polygamists from Utah, I commend Krakauer for accurately displaying the mentality that characterizes many of these sincere folk (i.e. "it's us against the world"). The only caution I would give is that the book is quite graphic when it comes to the description of the murders and the language used by the Lafferty boys. Finally, though I certainly disagree with Krakauer on theology, I would like to encourage Krakauer to pursue the book he originally set out to write. Of course, Mormons will once again color him with that dirty "anti-Mormon" label, but I for one would be an interested observer should he ever complete that book. And one last thing. More than 30 people have given this review negative ratings. I'm thinking this is so because you disagree with my point of view. However, you should not rate books based on whether or not you agree with the reviewer. Did I provide information that helped you decide whether or not you ought to buy this book? I think I have. Please be fair in your feedback...thanks.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2004 by E. Johnson
Fascinating book, but not without flaws
Format: Paperback
Under the Banner of Heaven / 1-4000-3280-6 I read "Under the Banner of Heaven" in the same weekend as "Escape" and "Stolen Innocence", and found it an interesting contrast to the two memoirs. Where "Escape" and "Stolen Innocence" both provide a woman's view of the community and how difficult escape is from the abusive institution of FLDS plural marriages, Krakauer attempts to provide a scholarly overview, with brief zooms into individual lives. The result is a fascinating book but, on reflection, I wish it had been edited a little differently. The format of this book is slightly problematic for me. Krakauer initiates with a relatively 'current' event - the 1984 Lafferty killings - and uses that as a launching board to discuss the beginnings of the Mormon religion, the life (and faults) of founder Joseph Smith, and some of the more bloody incidents in the history of the religion. In theory, there is nothing wrong with the format, but the disjointed narrative makes it difficult to follow at times. I think that probably Krakauer made the best of a difficult subject - if he had simply started with Joseph Smith and worked chronologically towards the Lafferty brothers, the reader interest might not have been hooked; if he had dealt completely with the Lafferty brothers without the occasional sidetracks into the history of the religion, a lot of important pieces would have been lost on the reader in the case of the Lafferty killings. So if I do not care for the layout of "Under the Banner", I cannot suggest a different one - I *do* suggest tackling "Escape" or "Stolen Innocence" prior to reading Krakauer's scholarly approach, as I believe these memoirs will clarify why so many women feel powerless to leave these abusers. Krakauer tries to underscore this issue, by explaining that most of the women are unskilled, uneducated, unaware of their rights, and unwilling to abandon their children to abuse, but the memoirs bring these issues home more closely. Krakauer also touches on the physical abuse of women rampant in the religion - he mentions the "spankings" one woman receives (in full view of her children), as well as the rampant sexual abuse of women and children alike, and I would like to see a later edition of this book take time to note that FLDS women are subjected to high rates of physical abuse - a fact that might explain why so many women are afraid to attempt to leave. And, of course, the whole book centers around a case where a woman and her child are brutally *murdered* in retaliation for helping a sister-in-law escape an abusive marriage. If Krakauer's excellent book has a failing, I would suggest that failing becomes apparent in his dealing with faith in general. Krakauer makes some statements that some will find problematic - in his initial introduction, he intimates that the Lafferty murders are the result of an "irrational belief [in God] [carried] to its logical end". In the later chapters, he scoffs at a court decision that the Lafferty case was mishandled by rushing to the judgment that the Laffertys were sane and orders the lower courts to revisit the issue of insanity before retrying the Laffertys - Krakauer makes light of this decision by conflating "belief that God talks to people" with "belief that God talks to people and orders them to kill their sister-in-law and her baby" and then states that if belief in God is a priori insane, then 90% of America should be institutionalized. Yet in a rather clear case of Strawman Has a Point, I couldn't help but feel that the higher courts were doing the right thing to determine whether or not the men were sane before rushing them off to the (literal) firing squad. Whether the Laffertys are sane or not I personally cannot say, and indeed Krakauer is in a much better position to claim an opinion on the subject, due to his research on the subject, but I am proud to live in a country with a robust justice system that thoroughly investigates the state of mind of our most disturbed killers, so that the societal response is the best possible one. Having said all that, as a religious person myself, I greatly recommend this book. There is a good deal of important scholarly research and important criticism available here, and I would urge any person, regardless of religious preference, to read this as a cautionary tale. No religion is served well by secrecy or covert covering of any flaws; no society is served by the systematic abuse of its most vulnerable members. ~ Ana Mardoll
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Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2009 by Ana Mardoll
Great primer on two issues sure to be explored in the 2008 elections
Format: Paperback
There are several themes explored in Krakauer's book that demand attention: Krakauer provides the reader insight into what modern patriarchal societies are like, who are the benefactors and who, if any, are the victims. Groups that oppose equal protection for gays threaten that if gay marriage is legalized, polygamy restrictions would fall next. Assuming this is true, and I don't believe it necessarily is, what is the experience of people affected by polygamy and should America legalize this practice? Krakauer explores the victims' stories: women, children, including boys and men who aren't allowed a "harem", and even some of the patriarchs if they get on the wrong side of their leaders. Krakauer implies a strong polemic case that polygamy would deprive many people of their individual rights if legally sanctioned, and that there is no consenting arrangement like a two person marriage possesses. I purchased this book after seeing the TV reports regarding the arrest of Warren Jeffs piqued my curiosity in these sects, Jeffs is the leader of one of the communities studied in this book. I was shocked by the video showing whole polygamist communities existing right here in America that were out in the open where most of these Americans weren't afforded their individual rights and this deprivation of rights was enforced by local law enforcement, even as massive, systemic fraud took place against the government. Krakauer's book explores how these communities came into existence, how they are allowed to thrive (they are currently experiencing a population boom), and how they defraud the American government and taxpayer. The percentage of people in these communities participating in these ongoing criminal enterprises is astonishing and I believe unprecedented in modern American history. The American mafia never had the type of community support these Mormon patriarchs get in their towns. Most enlightened Americans believe religious fundamentalism threatens the wellbeing of our country and this threat is increasing. This book provides several examples that if this brand of fundamentalism thrived beyond its current scale, those fears are justified. Today in these areas, a form of fascism exists now where cults of personality lead the adherents into corruptions of even their own faith, let alone what most Americans see as the difference between smart and stupid, and/or good and evil. Mr. Krakauer notes how children are indoctrinated rather than educated. Children, including boys are forced into sexual slavery and forced marriages, wives are discarded and swapped, some boys are thrown out of town by the local police to keep the ratio of patriarchs to wives at a level acceptable to church leadership, and defrauding the government is justified because "God" comes before what they consider a heretical government due to its secularist basis. Women are trained to collect welfare to subsidize the inability of the patriarchs to financially support multiple wives and their children - yes, the American taxpayer is subsidizing the ability of these polygamist arrangements and towns to exist. People here are sexually abused and die in the name of God, today, in these towns, in America. Krakauer provides an introductory history of Mormonism, which is fascinating in itself; he ably ties the founding precepts of this sect into what we have today existing in Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, and a few other isolated areas of the American West. While Krakauer repeatedly notes that the current institution that is more pervasive, the Latter Day Saints, have excommunicated their fundamentalists, its not difficult to imagine that as the political capital of the LDS adherents increases as their populations rise, the natural pressure to be more of a true believer a' la the polygamist fundamentalist will occur - history teaches us this repeatedly and we are currently experiencing this today as Republicans attack science and base policy decisions on superstitions or political expediency rather than science (see Chris Mooney book "The Republican War on Science"). Another example of why we should monitor the mainstream sect relative to the extremist sect is that we also have the former Gov. of MA, Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon running for President in 2008. Unlike previous Christians and Mormons (like MI Gov. Romney, his father) who were Americans first and Christians second when executing their duties, today's modern politician is clearly prioritizing their religious prejudices and ignoring our founding civic ideals (e.g., George W. Bush, with thousands of examples, the latest being his appointing a deputy assistant secretary of population affairs, responsible for federal family planning policy who doesn't believe in the practice of birth control, even for married couples, along with promoting a number of fallacies, like condoms don't help prevent the spread of AIDS, and premarital sex prevents subsequent happy marriages). Krakauer is a darn good writer who allows us to enter a different and fascinating world. At 334 pages, this book provides the right scope to understand Mormonism, fundamentalist Mormonism, modern day polygamy and its affects on all of us without skimming the top or getting bogged down in the details. I believe it'd be a tough to come up with a better author to tackle this fascinating and concerning topic. As an anthropological study - this is first-rate stuff, and I still have trouble believing these communities actually exist in the 21st century, let alone are thriving.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2006 by Michael Heath
How Much Religious Freedom is Too Much?
Format: Paperback
Can religious beliefs be taken too far? Looking at examples from history, the answer is a resounding yes, and while acts of religious violence are less common today than in the past, atrocities continue to take place in the name of religion all the way up to the current day. One such event that happened in the 1980s involved two brothers who claim that they were divinely ordered to kill their sister- in- law and her baby. The details of this event and the history of the religion that inspired the brothers is the subject of Under the Banner of Heaven. Dan and Ron Lafferty are the two brothers responsible for these gruesome deaths and their actions can be traced to the fundamentalist Mormon church. The two had become increasingly engrossed in their religious beliefs and are convinced that the decision to commit these murders was a direct order from god, and that meant it had to be carried out, no questions asked. They carried out the deed, were eventually arrested, and sent directly to prison. They showed absolutely no remorse for what they did and continued to show no remorse even after years behind bars. This book covers the background of the Lafferty brothers and some of their relatives well, offering the reader a glimpse inside of the minds of divinely- inspired killers. But the book is more than that. The author also includes a good deal of history on the Mormon faith, showing what the early Mormons did to combat the persecution they often faced, everywhere they went. These early Mormons were often harassed, yes, but they responded with vengeance and revenge, doing what they could to ‘get even’ whenever possible. The trials of the two brothers are bizarre to read about and the book includes many direct quotes from Dan and Ron, both in the court room and from prison. The book raises many questions and that is probably its strongest point. How far should religious freedom be allowed to go? Should polygamy be legal if one’s religion calls for it? What defines insanity? Dan and Ron Lafferty obviously had off- the- wall ideas, but is that insanity? And what about kids who are raised as fundamentalist latter- day saints? Is what they go through a form of child abuse, or should parents be allowed to raise their kids any way they choose? Under the Banner of Heaven is a chilling book that is written in a direct, no- nonsense way. It’s an excellent book for understanding more, not just about the fundamentalist latter day saints church, but also about the founding of the Mormon church. The edition of the book I read even includes criticisms of the book’s accuracy, and I really like the author’s responses to these LDS criticisms, as he really puts these critics in their place. It’s a worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in the subject and it succeeds at getting the reader to think long and hard about religious freedom and what it should entail.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2023 by Bryan Carey
A Profoundly Discomforting Endeavor With an Inconsistent Narrative
Format: Paperback
This book reads like something that was started, finished, and then started again. At times, it is difficult to figure out whether Krakauer is trying to write a concise, impartial history of Mormonism or trying to draw some kind of connection between mainstream Mormonism and fundamentalist Mormonism. Finishing the book, I had trouble figuring out just what exactly Krakauer's message was. Should we be suspicious of this whole religious system that is Mormonism? Should we disagree with the tenants of plural marriage as practiced by FLDS (and other associated) groups? Was Joseph Smith a capricious dictator? I got what I needed out of the book, but I'm not sure if it was what was intended. Oh well. Unfortunately, it will probably *mostly* appeal to the same type of person that often finds themselves saying things like "well, not all Muslims are terrorists" or "not every Christian believes that the world is 6000 years old or that homosexuality should be illegal." For some odd reason, Mormonism is one of the few religions that isn't immune from left-wing attacks. I often find myself on car rides or at bars where people are lambasting Mormonism as a crazy faith where people believe they will inherit their own planets and that horses lived in pre-Columbian America. I always think to myself: "That sounds just about as sensible as every other goddamned religion out there." As a left-wing thinker, I don't typically like to get involved in such dead-horse-beating. And this isn't meant to be political - there are just as many (if not more) people on the right who laugh and taunt Mormons. I, for one, have known a lot of Mormons whom I've liked and those I haven't liked. They are human beings, after all. Krakauer's argument seems to rest on three pillars: Joseph Smith's revelation of plural marriage and the subsequent schisms in the church vis-a-vis this revelation, the massacre at Mountain Meadows, and the double murder by the fundamentalist Mormon Lafferty brothers (connected to their other brother's wifes refusal to embrace plural marriage). Intertwined within all these points is a short history of Mormonism as Krakauer describes it. This part of the book is fantastic. I knew nothing of the Mormon religion aside from a few terse descriptions from Mormon friends prior to reading this - now I am feeling compelled to read more of their trials and tribulations. In fact, if Krakauer had just stuck to this and not gotten tied up with making connections between violence and the nature of faith, the book would have fared much better. I mean, come on, every religion has fanatics who are all-to-ready to take things too far. What is so special about Mormonism? Nothing, really. I will thus summarize: this book deserves five stars as a concise explanation (to a non-Mormon) of the history of Mormonism and some core Mormon beliefs. As a book about the philosophy of faith and the irrationality of fanatics, it deserves two stars. For me, that strands the entirety of the book somewhere around three stars. I'm very happy I read it, but I wish Krakauer was more clear about how exactly he feels about the Mormon religion. My impression is that he is vehemently anti-Mormon but doesn't want to come across as asinine and, rather ironically, bigoted himself. There, I said it.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2011 by Kojo Douglas La Rose
Mormonism Explained, Religious Fanaticism Explored
Format: Hardcover
Under the Banner of Heaven is a two-part book in this departure story for adventure writer Jon Krakauer. Krakauer focuses on the murderous brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty who felt called by a god known only to them to brutally kill their sister-in-law and niece. The Lafferty's are excommunicated Latter Day Saints, thrown out from the church because of their insistence on taking founder Joseph Smith at his word and accepting such disavowed commandments as polygamy and blood atonement. Their crime was real and brutal. Krakauer was able to interview Dan Lafferty at length from his prison cell in Utah where he is serving two life sentences for his acts. Even years later, this man is externally at peace with himself in believing he answered the call of his lord to remove two who stood in the way of The Plan. In order to explain, or give background to the Lafferty's religiously inspired killings, Krakauer explores the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) at length. He describes Mormonism from its founding by Joseph Smith in upstate New York, through their bloody emigration west through Illinois and Missouri to Utah, and the establishment of what the early believers hoped would be a nation apart from the rest of the world. The bloody trials at the hands of suspicious neighbors in the American mid-west are detailed (confrontations that cost the life of their founder Smith and gave rise to Brigham Young). So is Young's establishment of the Mormon state of Utah (Deseret at the time) in an attempt to separate the Saints from America. The Mountain Meadows Massacre and the killing three of John Wesley Powell's Grand Canyon explorers are detailed. These last two violent chapters -- perpetrated by Mormons and possibly with the knowledge of Young in the case of Mountain Meadows (according to the author) -- bear witness to Mormonism at its most insular and reactionary. These killings were related at least in part to the original Mormon doctrine of blood atonement, a tenet revealed by Smith that called for the spilling of blood for "crimes" (or religious failings) serious enough that only death was judged a proper set off. Polygamy, or plural or celestial marriage, the taking of multiple wives as commanded by Joseph Smith and popularized by Brigham Young, is explored in depth. It was many things -- a distinguishing characteristic of Mormonism, the practice that caused non-Mormons to react in horror and disgust, the percipitator of Congressional laws and the tenet that kept Utah out of the embrace of the larger Union in the late 1800's. Although the church decided to abandon polygamy around 1890 as a price for gaining statehood and acceptance, it remained a sharp dividing line among Mormons. This abandonment of one of the Church's founding testaments has caused schisms in the church, excommunications and the creation of fundamentalist outposts throughout the American West of communities of practicing polygamists who while officially removed as LDS members by the mainstream church, consider themselves the true Mormon's and keepers of God's commandments as revealed through Smith. These Mormon fundamentalists have given rise to perpetrators of murder, statutory rape, female brutalization and other crimes in the last several decades. As true believers who are convinced that only they are living right with God and that they face an ungodly hostile world (counting LDS leadership), many turn to god-talking for revelations on how to deal with the challenges and frustrations that lay in their paths. These types of revelations have produced the Lafferty's -- convinced that God told them to take the lives of a young lady and her eighteen month old daughter, as well as the kidnappers of Samantha Smart. Krakauer does a good job of weaving the history of Mormonism, the religious split within the faith between accommodationists and fundamentalists and the fringe fundamentalist groups that have given rise to violent men like the Lafferty's. The author does point out that the vast Majority of Mormons -- and even the majority of Mormon fundamentalists -- are non-violent people living lives filled with close families, spirituality and wholesomeness. The religion has produced -- as have all religions -- seekers who establish at least in their own minds direct links to the almighty or revelations of the "true" plan of God that lead them to acts abhorred by their fellow travelers. These aberrants are the focus of the author. He does a good job of explaining the particular mind-set of Dan and Ron Lafferty and the background of America's only home-grown large religious denomination. Krakauer shows how this history spawned the doctrine, disagreements, schisms and personalities that gave voice and meaning to the terrible impulses that produced Dan and Ron Lafferty. This is a very interesting book. The history of Mormonism is fascinating and I think Krakauer does a good job of exploring the religion as it unfolded. I am sure LDS will accuse him of focusing on errors and omissions of the past instead of the millions of hard working and clean living LDS who are by very many measures the epitome of a stable, productive and happy people. This is true, but Krakauer is specifically hunting for the why that has enabled excommunicated Mormons who self style themselves as fundamentalists to produce religiously inspired perpetrators of ghastly violent acts. His exploration of some of these perpetrators, including the Laffertys, paints a disturbingly interesting portrait of some of the lunatic fringe who cloak themselves in what they see as the "true" image of Mormonism. A very intersting non-fiction book.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2003 by Wayne A. Smith
Fascinating
Format: Paperback
Under the Banner of Heaven is a nonfiction novel written by acclaimed author, Jon Krakauer that focuses on the dark side of the Mormon faith. Krakauer’s main theme in this novel is that religion is based upon the idea that people are able to use the “will” of God in order to exercise control over others and religion only inspires fear and not virtues. Jon Krakauer is an avid explorer of America and has a very negative view of religion and the way that it controls the lives of those who are simply trying to live “according to God”. The title of the novel, Under the Banner of Heaven, relates to the communities of devout fundamentalist Latter Day Saints and how they consistently violate the law and the values of society in order to follow the righteous path. These communities throughout North America do not live under American government, but solely under God. Under the Banner of Heaven takes place in the context of the 1984 murder and subsequent trial of two brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who murdered a woman and her daughter simply because they believed it was what God wanted. Ron is currently on death row while Dan is currently serving a life sentence. Krakauer’s main point he is making in this novel is that religion is based upon the idea that people are able to use the “will” of God in order to exercise control over others and religion only inspires fear and not virtues in followers. This book provides an extremely riveting point of view on religion in America and Krakauer’s style of investigative writing offers insightful revelations about the way people in modern day America still live under a theocracy and poses the question: does religion have a place in society at all? This book begins by detailing the murder before going into the hierarchy of society on a town in Arizona called Colorado City. One man, who is believed to have been chosen by God, to translate God’s word to the town. The book also covered multiple stories of girls who were kidnapped by fellow Mormons, and were held without struggle due to their belief that women must submit. In these polygamous communities, girls who are viewed as rebellious are often married off to relatives of the parent or are sent to marry a man in another fundamentalist community in Bountiful, Canada. The end of the book detailed how the Lafferty brothers, once in jail, individually came to believe that the other was evil and was in relations with the Devil. The two brothers are both currently being held in a Utah prison. Under the Banner of Heaven also describes the founding of the Mormon religion by John Smith and how he was able to travel to Salt Lake City and establish what would become one of the most dangerous fundamentalist religions. Today over half of Utah’s population is of the Mormon faith. One very interesting aspect of this book is that at the end, it includes the statement released by the Mormon church in response to Under the Banner of Heaven. This was a large help to the author's ethos as Krakauer included what the group he was criticizing thought about what he was saying. Throughout the novel, the author uses a series of anecdotes in order to establish reasoning for the mentality of the people featured in the book and why they behave and worship in the ways that they do. For example, Mormonism, the fastest growing religion in America convinces its members that if they do not obey the words of the council in charge of the religion, they will go to Hell. This, to many, justified practices such as polygamy and rape. I found this fascinating that people were able to view ways of life that are taboo and illegal in America as the morally just and righteous way to live. A family can have as many as two-hundred children in these polygamous communities and a man is able to marry dozens of women (including his teenage daughters) or assign a man to marry them. These patriarchs are also able to marry their wives to other men if they try to escape. There are countless stories such as this throughout Under the Banner of Heaven. Through unsettling tales such as these, the reader is able to realize that although Mormonism may have been designed by John Smith to deliver salvation to its followers, it has become an isolationist and theocratic way of life. In conclusion, this non-fiction book clearly demonstrates that religion only serves to give power to a small group of people who are able to manipulate and control large groups of people who are simply looking to like a moral and virtuous life. Under the Banner of Heaven gives the everyday person a glimpse into how people in isolated areas are able to control the land and its people through a fear of God. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in religion and the different ways of life across America.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2016 by Amazon Customer
"Behold, and it came to pass ..." Extraordinaire
Format: Hardcover
Jon Krakauer has a special talent. He is able to write non-fiction, that reads like fiction. While he did have a little help with that, as every time I do read something that relates to Mormon history, it does seem like it is fiction, even the "Book of Mormon" itself, reads like fiction. While I will not make any commentary on the "Book of Mormon," as I do not like to comment on other people's beliefs, Jon Krakauer's book, is just extraordinary and explains a goodly piece of Mormon history. Jon does this, because it is necessary in order for the reader to understand the mindset that would allow someone to actually murder another, with no remorse or regret, because they truly believed that God had personally told them to do that. The Mormon faith is unique in its concept, that all "Saints" which are good and right minded members of the Mormon Church, can communicate directly with God. Also, Jon explicitly describes, defines and illustrates the difference between members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which is distinctly different from members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Before reading Jon's book, I did not really understand HOW different are the two sects. But they are extremely different, even though they use the same theological material. In his book, Jon does succeed in helping the reader actually internalize this feeling of "Murder By God's Command." His truly wonderful and clear, but not at all gory, description of the murders is excellent. And the many personalities that Jon uses to describe the mindset is wondrous. But one of the other things that Jon does, is to introduce each chapter with a quotation from some related piece of work. This one is particularly of note: "Both revelation and delusion are attempts at the solution of porblems. Artists and scientists realize that no solution is ever final, but that each new creative step points the way to the next artistic or scientific problem. In contrast, those who embrace religious revelations and delusional systems tend to see them as unshakeable and permanent... Religious faith is the answer to the problem of life ... The majority of mankind want or need some all-embracing belief system which purports to provide an answer to life's mysteries, and are not necessarily dismayed by the discovery that their belief system, which they proclaim as "the truth," is incompatible with the beliefs of other people. One man's faith is another man's delusion ... Whether a belief is considered to be a delusion or not depends partly upon the intensity with which it is defended, and partly upon the numbers of people subscribing to it." Anthony Storr, "Feet of Clay" That in fact is what Jon Krakauer shows us in his magnificent book. That a belief is a delusion, until many people accept it, and then it becomes an accepted belief, and no longer delusional in that present time. There are between 10 to 11 million Mormons globally today. That number seems significant enough to consider the mindset of the original doctrines and theology a belief. Yet their seem always within almost all religions, groups of people who start to believe that the accepted beliefs, are not a precisely proper interpretation, for whatever reason. This inevitably causes schisms within that religion, and so, new religions are either born, or die if abandoned by their followers. The murders of Brenda Lafferty and her 18 month old daughter in 1984 are inexorably linked to religious belief. And in addition, perhaps, to the subconscious desires of one of the murderers. This book is almost a must read for anyone who wishes to understand the total sociology of American Religions.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2003 by Jon Linden