Rating: 
Summary: The first real book on LDS, meant for widespread readership
Review: By way of introduction, I would like to say that I had interviewed for a position in Salt Lake City in 1998 and then went on to study what LDS is. My actual introduction to specifics about the church was when I was set up on a blind date with someone who was described as a "Mormon." From there, I have gone through a rather long and still-continuing phase of fascination with LDS history, mostly for the reason that it is so incredibly bound up to the opening of the American West. Krakauer is one person who fully allows us Easterners to see the West as a romantic, mythical place inhabited by people on the colorful fringe. I think it is hard to deny--and this is something that I have been on the lookout a long time for, someone writing a book about these issues--that LDS has a lot of extremely unsavory elements. The fact that it wasn't until 1978 that blacks were allowed in--this fact alone--for me completely breaks the spell of LDS that one gets from reading the extremely interesting history of the pioneers from the mid-1800s. The opposition to homosexuals, the opposition to scholars, the constant excommunications, the unhealthy schisms--all of this somehting the church has two reactions to: either it holds out against common opinion until it is forced to change, as in the case with blacks in the priesthood; or it expects people to simply shrug their shoulders and dismiss people as "Hey, they're going to hell, we're just the special ones." Essentially, this book is about stubborn, obstinate people. The Lafferty's made my blood boil, and I frequently had to set the book down and let myself fantasize about all the stuff I'd say to them if I were a judge sentencing them to prison. At one point one of them is quoted as saying he had written "an important document--a *very* important document--on the government blah blah blah." In general, he is overeager to talk about himself. I think these Laffertys simply like to imagine themselves as important. It's funny how, after 20 years, one of them finally starts to think, "gee, maybe I'm just full of sh**." Oh, really?? Welcome to Planet Earth, you slimeball. Over and over, we are presented with men who present themselves as humble servants of God, who are constantly being convinced that they are chosen, constantly splintering with their friends and family as more and more men get convinced they alone are some kind of saviour. To the distant observer, they are simply acting out on fantasies of murder, pedophilia, and domination. This book really does paint a very negative portrayal of LDS, although, as someone who has been familiar with every single episode described here--through my own interest stemming from my date--it is all LDS doing, seeing as how they can't even bring themselves to admit anything is wrong, and so it simply compounds the problems. LDS faithful will resent it, but I think it's telling that both the Catholic church and the LDS church refuse to join the ecumenical World Council of Churches, and both suffer from an unhealthy secrecy as well as an absurd unresponsiveness to the spiritual needs of their flock. You want a real religion? Try mainline Protestantism, tried and true, respectable. You want a LDS faith? Try the RLDS, which Emma and Joseph III were in, and where it was proved that if Joseph III had taken over instead of Brigham, LDS really would be the great religion it's members claim unconvincingly to be. He ruled them with the stability and wisdom that makes think that if I ever really want to convert, it will be to them.
Rating: 
Summary: An important book
Review: This book weaves the stories of Fundamentalist Latter Day Saint criminals with the stories of the mainstream LDS founders and the violence from which the modern church was born. I found this book compelling. It reads like a novel but is disturbing in the fact that it is indeed real. I especially found myself moved by the chapter "Elizabeth and Ruby" where the author delves into the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart and other girls her age who are forced into plural marriage.
My only concern is that Krakauer has no apparent sympathy for any person of faith, and comes from a background of Atheism. So in a strange way, he comes off as "holier than thou." Nonetheless, his research is impeccable and the voices of those he interviewed are strong.
I highly recommend this book to fans of American history, true crime and religious study books, categories I can count myself in.
Rating:
Summary: Well balanced, interesting read
Review: This book does an excellent job of describing and investigating the motivations behind the murders that occurred in 1984. Even though the book delves into church doctrines, one does not need to know much about the Mormon faith to easily follow along. Mr. Krakauer touches on many topics that many of the Mormon faithful would like to see erased from history as they are either quite damaging to their public relations campaign or are just too difficult to explain.
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly Researched
Review: It's great to see Jon Krakauer stepping outside of his comfort zone with the publication of Under the Banner of Heaven. Krakauer has a great gift for weaving multiple story threads and this book does not disappoint. The book is not ostensibly anti-Mormon, and he has tried hard to be impartial. Unfortunately, though, Karkauer is neither a theologan nor a historian, and it shows in this poorly researched and unscholarly work.. This book falls short is in its complete disregard of official mormon perspective, it's extensive use of secondary and mostly amateur sources, and a general lack of footnoting to subtantiate some of the more outragious claims. If one were to write a book on baseball, surely they would want to talk to the the folks at MLB. Unfortunately, Krakauer has chosen to write a book about Mormonism without talking to a single mainstream LDS general authority. Such dialogue could have perhaps prevented errors resonating like fingernails on a blackboard. His interpretation of D&C 132 as a revelation on polygamy misses the entire point of the revelation. It almost seems as if he hasn't even read it. While polygamy is mentioned (almost as an afterthought) in D&C 132, the revelation is better known to all mormons as THE revelation on eternal marriage, introducing the radical concept of a monogomous marriage that is in full force after this life. While Karkauer has aligned himself well with solid historians like Michael Quinn and Juanita Brooks, his bibliograpy relies too heavily on sources like Fawn Brodie's No Man Knows My History, which is full of apocryphal heresay regarding the roots of early mormonism, and equally as unscholarly as Krakauer's work. To have taken a more scholarly approach and footnoted what sources he has, would have been extremely helpful.
Basic facts like that there are more Mormons than Jews are just plain wrong, and not footnoted, but perhaps the greatest footnoting miss is Karauer's assertion that Joseph Smith visited prositutes. It is such a bold claim, it deserves footnoting. This is sensitive material. By taking more into account the theology of the 11 million Latter-Day Saints, and not simply a small number of fundamentalists, by using more primary sources, and by footnoting what sources he does have, Krakauer could have written a defining work. Instead, Under The Banner of Heaven is simply an amateurish, derivative, albeit entertaining read.
Rating: 
Summary: The power of finding out for yourself
Review: Whether we agree that what is written in this book is the truth or not, we all have the ability to find out for ourselves what is the truth and what is embellishment. Controversary always stirs curiosity, and brings about questions. We have read one man's opinions based on a few statments from others. There are thousands of journals, books, and records that tell the story of the early mormon church. Find out the whole story, not just portions. What really happened? Will you believe the statement of one or of many? Use your power to find out the truth and ask questions! Then the true power of writing will come to pass.
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Summary: The persecution complex abides . . .
Review: The vocal, unfavorable response to this book by many LDS people (I exclude the LDS Church, which had a pretty fair response) is unfortunate. What this reaction reveals is that as a people we continue to be very thin-skinned when it comes to any hint of an unfavorable review. In short, we have a persecution complex. LDS people would do well to remember that there are other groups out there (Catholics, for one) with far more serious press issues who are dealing with these problems with far more honesty and grace. The previous reviewers are correct about some of this book's faults. It does have some errors of fact, but to be fair, it does a far better job than most non-LDS examinations of this kind. Krakauer has a fair grasp of LDS history and culture. A faux-pas like calling Mark E. Peterson a prophet should not be grounds for dismissing the book altogether. One must also remember that Krakauer is examining people who belong to the fringe of Mormon culture and placing them in the context of Mormon history. Though he should have been more careful about distinguishing between members of the LDS church and so called "fundamentalist Mormons" (this is, after all, a name taken from the name of one polygamist group), many LDS readers react as though he aimed criticism at the contemporary LDS Church. Were I about to read this book for the first time, I would treat it as a "true crime" story that benefits from better than average writing and interesting (though somewhat sensationalist) historical treatment. The book is not history; it is a poignant reminder that religious fanaticism, be it Muslim (Usama bin Laden), Christian (David Koresh), or Mormon (Lafferty brothers), is potentially, and sometimes actually, deadly.
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Summary: Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves
Review: How does one write a book about religion, faith, and fundamentalism for the general public without agitating the same said religious fundamentalists? An objective, secure writer or historian shouldn't worry too much about offending the very subjects they may be writing about. Go where the story takes you, and find the kernels of truth along the way. Yet many times we see writers, biographers, and historians marginalize their quest for "the truth" with apologetic sentiments. Jon Krakauer is no exception to this with regard to this book, but I give him points for trying to make some sort of point. I think most (not all) folks can agree that Colorado City, AZ represents a freakish, hellish, inbred cesspool of the narrowest of minds which gives the Taliban a run for its money in the arena of zealous fundamentalism. Americans are quick to look down upon other cultures without giving a second glance inward to the fundamentalist crackpots among us. Truly, we are a nation of hypocrites in this sense.
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Summary: Why people criticize this book ...
Review: This is a great book, well-researched and well-written. Please note that the negative reviews are written by those who, understandably, wish to defend their own religion: Mormonism. A close read of the book will show that it is, in fact, VERY balanced in its approach to reporting on the topic. The fact that the LDS and FLDS religious traditions appear in a poor light is a factual reflection of the destructive, dehumanizing flaws in those religions. Take a look at the evidence, and what has happened to REAL human beings as a result of LDS/FLDS teachings and practices. Sorry, but it's true.
Rating:
Summary: Very very true, even if it's uncomfortable for Mormons.
Review: Krakauer's new book is quite accurate, actually. This is a great book. A tell-all of the real history behind Mormonism, even if it is embarrassing of uncomfortable for mainstream Mormons to talk about. There is a reason this is on the New York Times best-seller list! The book is riveting. Me and my colleagues are now reading it for the 4th time. There is so much in this book to digest.. from fundamentalism in general, to the story of Elizabeth Smart and the Lafferty brothers. It connects and intertwines their stories with a very un-biased viewpoint. Unfortunately, most Mormons today will view this book as "anti" or "sensationalistic" (providing they will acutally buy the book, crack the cover, and look at the historical past instead of the spiritually biased side the have known). I am a Mormon, and a worthy, full-time student at BYU and the sources the author qoutes are real, factual, and irrefutable.
Rating:
Summary: Go to the church of your choice, but go to church?
Review: For years I listened to the cheery voice of the public service message reader saying, "Go to the church of your choice, but go to church." I found the message disturbing. Did the sponsors of the message believe that any religion was better than no religion at all? Had they considered the possibility that a lot of people were choosing religions that promoted snake handling, voodoo hexes, blood sacrifices, violent prejudice, wife and child beating, and the idea that anything that came into a true believer's head was likely to be a message directly from God Almighty. Now with Osama bin Laden at large, Jon Krakauer is asking similar questions. It's about time someone did, and I doubt that anyone could do it more eloquently than Krakauer.
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