Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (Paperback)

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.

Let me briefly sum up this book, then explain why I enjoyed it so much. Krakauer tackles the messy world of religious extremism by focusing on two ex-Mormons, brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty. The Lafferty's were active Mormons who fell away from their faith when they embraced ultra-conservatism and "Mormon fundamentalism", aka, polygamy. They became part of a group called "The School of the Prophets". After the Lafferty brothers began refusing to pay taxes, register their vehicles, and even force their wives to churn their own butter, Ron Lafferty's wife abandoned him and took their children to Florida.

Shortly thereafter, Ron received a "revelation" from God commanding him to kill Brenda Lafferty and her infant daughter, Erica. (Ron blamed Brenda, his sister-in-law, for helping his wife leave him.)

Nothing in this book is as chilling as reading about Ron and Dan Lafferty methodically killing Brenda and Erica, all the while claiming to have been led by God. Throughout the book, Krakauer includes chapters discussing violent episodes from Mormon history as a way to help explain where the Lafferty's got some of their ideas.

Why did I love this book? First, I never saw this as an attack on the Mormon faith. In fact, Krakauer doesn't discuss today's Mormon church all that much. He focuses primarily on those on the fringes of Mormonism - particularly "fundamentalists" who practice plural marriage. There are plenty of positive examples of Mormons in Krakauer's book. For starters, two of the people on Ron Lafferty's "removal" revelation were his Stake President (the head of a Mormon diocese), and his bishop's (a congregational leader) wife. These were two people he also blamed for helping his wife leave him. These people had the sense to help Ron's wife escape, and who recognized that the Lafferty's were nuts. And they were not only Mormon, they were Mormon leaders.

I was especially grateful for the natural questions Krakauer raised that might make some uncomfortable. This book forces all religious people to ask the question, "What makes one person's claim of revelation from God valid, and another's nonsense?" Some might argue that God wouldn't command someone to kill a woman and her daughter. Unfortunately, there are dozens of examples from the Bible and Mormon scripture of God commanding someone to commit acts of violence. The question remains, "Why is the Lafferty's claim that God commanded them to kill Brenda Lafferty crazy, while God's commmandment to Abraham and others to kill valid?"

I'm in no way trying to defend the Lafferty's - I believe they are crazy and that in no way did God command them to kill anyone. But Krakauer raises some very important questions that most religious people have probably ignored.

Krakauer also makes it abundantly clear throughout the book that the Lafferty's were on the fringes of Mormonism and had been kicked out of the LDS Church.

I think there are a variety of reasons why most Mormons despise this book. First, it is more accurate than they may have anticipated. Had Krakauer botched several things, they could have simply dismissed it as nonsense. In fact, dozens of "anti-Mormon" books are published every year. Why is this one raising so much ire? Krakauer has clearly touched a nerve. Second, I think people misunderstand Krakauer's intent. This is not meant to be a comprehensive history of Mormonism. Krakauer uses selective history to prove his point that faith can lead to violence.

When Mormons try and pretend that the Lafferty's, or Brian David Mitchell (Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper) have no connection to the LDS Church, who are they trying to kid? Mitchell kidnapped Elizabeth Smart so she could be one of his "plural wives." Mitchell got his ideas for polygamy from one place and one place only - his Mormon heritage. Does this make the Mormon church responsible for his crime? Of course not! But you can't pretend that the Mormon church doesn't have ties to polygamy.

Third, I believe Mormons dislike this book because we are so focused on public relations. Mormons desperately want to be seen as "normal." We see ourselves as normal, and we wonder why others don't see us that way. When Mormons read Krakauer's book, they see someone on the outside seeing them differently than they see themselves. It's as if Mormons want to shout from the rooftops, "We're just like you! We're normal!" But the reality is Mormons have beliefs that ARE different. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it isn't fair to fault Krakauer when he points them out and we don't like the way they come across.

Lastly, I believe Mormons are still in a "persecution" mentality. After enduring years of physical then cultural persecution, the Mormon church is finally gaining the respect it deserves. However, too many Mormons seem unable to accept criticism of their faith without automatically labeling it, "anti-Mormon." It's as if anyone who disagrees with us automatically earns the label. Yet most Mormons wouldn't consider themselves anti-Catholic, just because they don't always agree with certain tenets of Catholocism. We Mormons need to get out of our persecution complex and accept valid criticism and try and learn from it.

Krakauer has done a masterful job in tackling religious violence and and extremism. There are a handful of errors only an "outsider" of Mormonism would make. But these aside, the book is an especially insightful look at the fringes of Mormonism. Highly recommended.

My own experience with Mormons has been unfailingly positive. As a small Gentile (non-Mormon) child in Ogden, Utah, I noticed no difference between our neighbors and anyone else in the world. While visiting my daughter when she was in school in Utah, I found Mormons cheerful and hard-working. The Mormons I have met in my professional life have invariably been serious, capable individuals. Until reading this book, I knew nothing about the history of the faith outside of vague ideas about Joseph Smith, the emigration to Utah, and Brigham Young saying, "We will make this valley blossom like a rose."

To say I was flabbergasted to learn the details of the history is a gross understatement. Joseph Smith emerges as a charlatan and a con-man, Brigham Young as a ruthless manipulator, and the Mormon pioneers as bloodthirsty villains who massacred over a hundred members of a passing wagon train. Polygamy is revealed to be little more than ill-disguised lechery (frequently incestuous), and a technique for keeping women under the thumb of a male-dominated theocracy.

The book entertwines a history of the church with the story of a recent murder of a woman and her infant child by two Mormon fundamentalist brothers. Sprinkled through the pages are interviews with various people who shed light on the inner workings of the fundamentalist sects. Reading the account of the murders, and hearing the statements of the brothers who did it, I was strongly reminded of another book that examines the relationship of crime to religion: Terror in the Mind of God, by Mark Juergensmeyer. Like Under the Banner of Heaven, this book chronicles what human beings can do when convinced they are on a "mission from God."

In many ways, however, this book is about all religions. If we know that the Book of Mormon is a demonstrably false story seemingly concocted by a charismatic fanatic because it was written in historical times, what does it say about the Koran and the New Testament that were written prior to the invention of the printing press? There are no unflattering newspaper stories about Mohammed or Jesus that can be accessed by modern historians. In fact, what does it say about all of us, including myself, who believe in God?