Rating: 
Summary: A hodge podge of gruesome stories. Waste of time.
Review: The historical information is grossly inaccurate. Not a single footnote on numerous items completely out of step with all the professional historical work on the subject, but stated as facts. The narrative jumps back and forth to different stories and centuries with no apparent logic or flow. excessively lurid details of the murders. He is apparently trying to say religion causes violence, but never compares the quantity of religious violence vs violence caused by other things. His argument is absurd and not at all supported by this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Everyone needs to read this book.
Review: Where to begin? One could focus on the the horrific murders themselves; or, the mind-bogglingly illogical beliefs of Mormondom (Garden of Eden in Missouri?!?); or the blatant short-coming of the so-called prophets (J. Smith was a sex-addict who simply wanted to side-step guilt over bedding 40+ women and silence his outraged wife by telling her it was a revelation, and more, that only men pay partake...Puh-leeze!); or how about those golden plates and the 'fact' that 500 years before Christ caucasians lived in North America AND the 'bad' ones had their skin turned brown by a displeased god (Hello? Is no one out there as offended by this as I am? Is no one else going to raise their voice in protest of the RACIST roots of this so-called religion??? "Blacks are God's most intelligent animals, for they have the gift of speech, but are beasts that belong in the fields" (I'm paraphrasing) This religion can be discredited on so many fronts, and while the fundamentalists are the nuttiest of the lot, mainstream Mormons really need to examine the roots of their history, ask themselves some basic questions and use a touch of logic. Faith might be a fine thing, but at what point does one draw the line? Most disturbing for me is the fact that girls are still being forced into plural marriages at tender ages of 13, 14, 15...how is this ok? Are we saying, as a society, that a girl of 13 has enough knowledge and wisdom for sexual consent? If so, then our nation's laws about sex with minors need a dramatic overhaul. If not, then those who perpetrate such atrocities need to go to prison. Those fundamentalists who claim it is religious freedom are mistaken in one very important aspect: these girls are not old enough and know NOTHING of the world beyond their proected boundaries to make a choice. Absent of choice, how can this be called freedom, religious or otherwise? Seems to me the fundamentalist mormons are trying to build a man's heaven: endless young nubile girls with whom to have sex, to wait on him, be subservient, uneducated and utterly dependent. Practice your religious freedom if you must, but stop taking ignorant girls straight from the cradle and claiming it's God's will--educated them, let them see the world, let them evaluate their choice, and THEN, give them the 'freedom' to chose that way of life. I ask law enforcement of Utah, Arizona, British columbia and other places to do their job and put those who rape and coerce young girls into sexual submission into jail NOW. It isn't just a spot on your history, mormons, it is happening now.
Rating: 
Summary: A balanced view of a tragic event
Review: This is a balanced view of a tragic event - how often we forget that all religions have violence in them, even though the founders were against it (take the opposition of Jesus to violence, on which he was very clear, and contrast that to the murderous Crusades when professing Christians ignored everything that Christ taught....) A sober book upon which we ought all therefore to reflect CHRISTOPHER CATHERWOOD, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)
Rating:
Summary: were a Mormon for most of my life until I escaped the cult t
Review: I was forced into Mormonism as a young child and it took to mid life to get out of this cult. My great grandfather, Hatch family name was a polygamist. My great grandmother was Native American and his wives and children were used teribly by him. Until adult like I was shown and TOLD he was married only 3x. When I did my own search it was 5 times. He had 30 children, not only 13. He married the last wife when she was 15, he was 57 and escaped to Mex to avoid jail when polygamy was outlawed. I have never had regrets about leaving. It was difficult, my father was a bishop who sexually abused me. My mother died when I was born and thank God my mother's parents kept me from him until I was 10. That was the end of my childhood with his second wife and their daughter. It was horrible, I am 74 now so you know there was no one to help me out of it. I was brainwashed for many years by this cult. Thank God for Karkhour and his boo, Fawn Brodie and others who helped me get the courage to leave. I am grateful to Krakour for doing this book of truth as far as I am concerned. We still must be wary of the mormon cult in todays world. The Smart case is typical of abuses still going on and secret temple marriages so the priesthood can gain more wives even in death. I was married in the Oakland temple, I KNOW by experience lots that goes on in the temples that our society would find shocking even in these times. I hope the general public will realize the murders, tortures, horrible crimes against women perpetuated to this day within the Mprmon church, and not only the fundamental Mormons. I know this for fact and the sexual abuse is rampant and current pres. Hinkley, complains about the court costs, never mind the abused and damaged children. Sexual abuse is a lifetime scar that never leaves because I know having lived it. Do not be fooled that this a made up story,
it is my life. The current spousal abuse is worse than any other group because women are told to "obey the priesthood under all circumstances. Believe me I know because I lived that too and no help from the church in either
instance. I was told to go home and pray and read the scriptures when there was physical, mental, spiritual abuse and the emotional abuse will never leave me being. I did not tell until I was an adult and that is why I call it a cult, there
is no recourse and leaders hold extreme power. If any member disagrees with the priesthood they are threatened with dis fellowhsip, shunning and ex communication and that was the threat to me as well, for tellling truths. I have no regrests for leaving this cult and thankful for this book to add to my collection of Mormon atrocities over the years. I thank Krakour for his research and believe it totally. Thank God for authors who write facts and make awareness their goal. I am grateful forever for those who helped me get the courage to leave the Mormon church.
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for every American--and every Mormon
Review: As an individual raised in the Mormon church who was repeatedly exposed to various Fundamentalist groups operating in and out of the mainstream LDS church I found this book to be invaluable and deeply vindicating. Mormons are wonderful people with a strong and deep committment to the universal ideals of Christianity. However, they are often reluctant to be self-critical, especially about the more controversial aspects of our history. The reason Fundamentalist groups have continuously splintered from the mainstream LDS church is the simple fact (as beautifully illustrated by Krakauer) that the modern LDS church bears little resemblance to it's radical, theocratic and chaotic origins. This fact should be embraced and celebrated by mainstream Mormons, not rejected and villified. The mainstream church was wise and prescient to change it's position on many of the controversial teachings of it's early leaders. Just as most modern Christian faiths have done to balance their responsibility to society and the spiritual needs of it's members. The goal of the Fundamentalists is to return the mainstream church to it's less than noble roots. This is why they are successful at recruiting otherwise devout Saints into their ranks. They preach a twisted, politicized, radical doctrine which (contrary to the vehement protestations of Mormons) are entirely consistent with many of the less-known but nevertheless regretably true ideas of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and others. It is this literalist interpretation, along with the mindset that all things must remain unchanged no matter how much society and the role of the church has changed, that breeds Fundamentalism. If Mormons want to rid themselves of these parasites and malcontents, they need to come to terms with the realities of early Church history and the necessary evolution of the faith from those early years. Just as devout Muslims have watched in horror as their faith has been infested and bastardized by Fundamentalist parasites who would return Islam to the decadence of some of it's early leaders, Mormons must recognize that these groups are trying to do the same with their beloved Church. Just as Christian Terrorists like The Army of God have done it to other Protestant Faiths. Its time to recognize Fundamentalism for what it is. Part of that realization is recognizing the ugly aspects of our past and present. Fundamentalism has no place in Mormonism nor any other religious faith. It is an afront that must be vigorously opposed and clearly identified. That cannot happen if Mormons continue to refuse to recognize scandals of the past nor the coddling of such groups in the present. Even as we speak, I know young men and women in the mainstream Chruch who are being preyed upon by Fundamentalist groups. This is not fiction, it is a dire warning to be heeded.
Rating:
Summary: Well Researched and a BIG Eye-Opener!
Review: Pandora's box anyone? This book is not for the faint of heart, nor for the closed-minded. Everyone has a past, and no matter how hard a society tries, it re-surfaces on occasion. This is such an occasion, albeit a bloody and violent one. As to the comments about the Mormon faith claiming to end polygamy when Utah wanted statehood, that IS mentioned in the book. However, history has proven otherwise, and providing you read the book, you will also find that its practice was continued for some time afterward "in the name of God." I had no idea the early Mormon leaders had taken 13-year-olds to be multiple wives just a bit over 100 years ago (which is recorded fact, even within the Mormon church). I learned this and a great deal more about Mormons, fundamentalists, and fanaticism in general. For those who wish to understand BOTH sides of Mormon history, this book is for you. For those who wish only to hear the good things to be said about Mormon history, and that they did nothing to provoke anyone, this book will open your eyes, provided you read it.
Rating:
Summary: Unbiased Truth
Review: First, I am a student attending BYU. Me and some colleages have read and studied this book, and even referenced some of the bibliography. It's factual. We know the difference between anti-mormon-sensationalism and factual, hardcore, historical fact. The latter, of course, is hard to swallow, especially for most Mormons regarding this book. The book has brought to light a lot of things most Mormons today do not wish to talk about. Secondly, the book is written VERY VERY WELL. This is a book everyone should read who is interested in knowing more about the factual history of the Mormon faith, how it links to the Lafferty murders and Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, and how religion can promote finaticism and obsession in any faith. All of us here at BYU really enjoyed this book. We recommend it to anyone with an open mind. By the way, this has been a New York Bestseller for over 2 months now. I believe that says something!
Rating:
Summary: Well done
Review: I find it humorous that there is so much bashing of this book by Mormons stating that it is bashing them, when most likely they haven't even read it, wouldn't be "allowed" to. This is a well-researched, well-told story about a religion begat by criminals and liars. Any person with half a brain can differentiate the LDS mainstream (which is nuttier than a fruitcake to begin with) from the fundamentalists (even nuttier) who have become disenfranchised from the main "church", actually a cult, because of their constant change in position. How can a faith hold up their prophet, Joseph Smith, and not his teaching? The mainstream LDS have waffled on his basic premise so many times it is ridiculous and usually because of financial ramifications if they didn't!
This is a good book to begin the dialogue about what nuts live amongst us. Try to engage a Mormon in some of these topics and you will find that not only will they not talk to you about them, but they will feign ignorance and/or will rest on that age-old religious premise that it is for those who have received faith and without that you will not have the ears to hear or the eyes to see. BEWARE! What they really want is in your wallet. Thank you Mr. Kraukauer for this expose of the Utah clan. Now go read Stephen White's novel Higher Authority which exposes a little bit of their achilles as well.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent....really. Buy this book.
Review: This is a book about religious fundamentalism gone terribly wrong, resulting in two horrific murders. How society bred these murderers and turned a blind eye and ear to their violent threats is a fascinating, intriguing, well written, even suspenseful story. And yes, controversial. Religion tends to be a highly emotional subject, along with sex and politics. This book has all three!
Joseph Smith doesn't come out smelling like a rose, nor does Brigham Young. Does that offend some people? Yes. Does that make the research incorrect or invalidate the book? No. The bibliography looked pretty impressive to this reader.
Enjoy reading and learning.
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Summary: Don't pay attention to the negative reviews on this page!!!
Review: This is a fascinating and easy to read book--I could barely put it down after I started. However, there are people out there who want to criticize it simply because they feel it shows their religion in a negative light. I have respect for Mormons and the Mormon church, but I realize that the early days fo the church had many violent and negative moments. See these negative reviewers do not tell you that the LDS church has come out against the book--members have been told to not read the book, and they have been told to attack the book. So the negative reviews are not really honest. The LDS church has a heavy history in promoting revisionist views. Porter Rockwell is generally taught as a godly hero to children; the Meadows Mountain Massacre is completely removed from Mormon history--ask any Mormon about it and they will never have heard about the incident. Mormons only know a favorable view of their history. Nevertheless, at no point did I feel the book was attacking the current LDS church. The author always pointed out that the current church has nothing to do with the fundementalists. In fact, the author was actually quite kind to the current church. The reason that early church history is presented is to show its influence on current events. I felt it was quite balanced in presenting the past. Some reviewers state that the author refered to anti-LDS writers from the past, but he also refered to positive LDS writers and the words of the prophets themselves. Also, the author took fairly scholarly and respected texts that criticized the church--he did not take overly anti- and false sources like the Godmakers. The author at no time seemed to want to attack the church--those with a negative take are those who romanticize the early days and cannot accept that the early church has some dubious issues--does that mean the church is not true? No, and the writer never does that. So take off the rose-colored glasses and read the excellent work for what it is. As a professor, non-fiction reader and writer, and former member of the church, I found this book fascinating, well-written, and very well-researched. It was also extremely objective.
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