Under the Banner of Heaven

Rating:
Summary: Read in addition to Stegner and Denton's books
Review: Combines american religious history, the great awakening, with modern crime into a fast read. You'll be shocked, chilled, warned, and educated.

Rating:
Summary: Not at all what I expected.
Review: Krakauer is an exceptional storyteller, with keen insights and an ability to flesh out only the most intriguing details by way of clean, well paced prose. Unfortunately, though, I bought this book expecting something entirely different from what was ultimately delivered. My fault or the author's? Who knows.

I've been on a true crime kick of late, and couldn't wait to dive into what I believed was Krakauer's first dabbling in the genre. However, instead of a focused, hands-on look at the Lafferty brothers and their crimes, what I got was an extensive historical account of the Mormon faith and its more devious offshoots. Maybe my frustrations are a result of bad timing: I read this book on the heels of Mailer's The Executioner's Song, which effortlessly weaves together the lives and stories of Gary Gilmore, his family, his victims, and anyone else who is relevant to an ultimate understanding of the man and his crimes. My point here is that the book never loses focus. You always know where you are and why you're there, whereas Under the Banner of Heaven often times left me wondering when we were getting back to more specific details about the Lafferty ordeal.

While I absolutely feel that a certain amount of historical background is essential for readers to better understand the Lafferty brothers' point of view (however distorted it may be), I didn't quite understand why well over half the book was devoted to this account. Detail by painful detail.

Again, maybe it was my fault for assuming. So if you're after an exhaustive journey through the annals of Mormon history, from its very beginnings to present day preachings, than this book is for you. But for those true crime buffs out there, I'd let this one pass.

Rating:
Summary: Comic, frightening, unbelievable, and highly instructive
Review: If for no other reason, this book is invaluable as a candid history of the Mormon Church, which before reading this book I knew just general tidbits about. While not condemning the religion per se, the book should make anyone who reads it seriously question what is going on out in Utah and similar confines and question some of the general policies of that church.
It's also a frightening example of religious extremism pervading our own backyard; these fundamentalist communities described in this book pose a much more direct and cognizable threat to our country than anyone in the Middle East could ever hope to.
The book is well written and easy to stay hooked on - it was actually rather impressive investigative work and easily surpasses what was a good (albeit overblown) Everest book.

Rating:
Summary: Another home run from Krakauer
Review: Jon Krakauer is an extremely talented reporter and writer, and "Under the Banner ..." is another home run. If you haven't read any Krakauer before, "Into the Wild" is a good start, a shorter piece to whet the appetite.

A disclaimer: I know some Mormons. I have been aware of the religion since the late 1980s, when I worked one summer alongside a tiler who was a Mormon and loaned me reading material. I completed Basic Combat Training with a Mormon. There is a highly respected Mormon ranching family in our county who set an example to aspire to in terms of human conduct. Bottom line, every Mormon I have ever met I have respected. Having said that, "Under the Banner ..." presents a disturbing picture of the religion in general and fundamentalism in particular.

There is much to like in this compelling non-fiction book. It seems Krakauer is steadily marching through different genres (the outdoors, youth psychology, true crime) and demonstrating a mastery of each. His writing often reminds me of John McPhee, and I like it as well, which is saying a lot.

The book is true crime, fascinating history and a thought-provoking discussion of fundamentalism. The book is strong both in its main narrative and in its digressions, such as the true story behind the Elizabeth Smart case, which for some reason seems to have been neglected by the media, who have been far more focused on the crime than on the religious issues at its roots.

The book does raise disturbing questions about the LDS church, but it's mainly focused on fundamentalism, and since the mainstream church has gone to great lengths to separate itself from the fundamentalists, it seems a little strange that some adherents find this book so threatening. It is no doubt challenging, but that ought to be an important part of any faith, being challenged and finding it true or false. Blind faith seems undesirable and the main problem documented in this book.

The most disturbing experience I ever have reading these reviews in this wonderful forum that amazon.com created is when people seem to hysterically condemn books or music because it challenges them. It ought to be possible, it seems to me, to separate the point of view of a book from the craft of the book. In other words, it seems to me it would be a sign of maturity to be able to say, "I don't agree with a word this book says, but it is brilliantly done" or "I find this book's subject matter offensive, but it is brilliantly written." There is less of this approach than one might like.

Personally, I want to be challenged. I want to be offended. I want to be made to think. I want my beliefs questioned. I want my opinions criticized. I want my paradigms held up to scrutiny. That is why I read.

Regardless of how unpleasant an experience it might be for some people, this is a brilliant book and well worth reading. It builds beautifully, it is wonderfully executed, and it is just an outstanding piece of craftsmanship. I was not quite the same when I finished it, and my view of both fundamentalism and the LDS church was changed by it. That does not mean I hold individual Mormons I know in any less respect, and surely the manner in which religious followers live says the most about their religion. This book documents the appalling behavior of some -- a problem common to all religions, whether displayed by Christian inquisitors/crusaders or Muslim terrorists or the Mormon Lafferty brothers. It is this problem Krakauer bravely explores, to great effect -- and it's a terribly important topic.

Rating:
Summary: God tells these people what they want to hear
Review: Ostensibly a history of zealots in the Mormon and Fundamentalist Mormon sects, this book does much more. For me it lays out in harrowing terms the danger posed by those who believe God speaks directly to them. Amazingly, in the Mormon Church, the Fundamentalist Mormon Church and even in the case of individuals like Ron and Dan Lafferty, God has an uncanny knack for telling them precisely what they want to hear. In other words, what these people are "hearing" are the voices in their own heads; by attributing these bizarre commands to God, they can get the gullible to go along with otherwise unthinkable acts (Ron Lafferty was not only "told by God" that his four most dire enemies in life should be killed, but that his brother Dan was to carry out the murders. How convenient is that?).

God also told the Mormons to knock off the whole polygamy thing at the exact moment that it became politically necessary to do so. Oh and of course in the 1970's God finally got around to telling the Mormons that people of color are okay after all ("Oops", one can almost hear God saying, "I forgot to tell the Mormons about the blacks!").

This is a very well-researched and informative book, no matter what your religious views are. I do urge the reader to dismiss the one-star reviews contained here, most of which are from religious zealots whose only agenda is to discredit the idea that anyone could ever do anything evil in the name of God (my favorite is the guy who says he "personally knows some Mormons!" and they are "awesome!" How insightful to know that a thoroughly documented historical account of Mormonism can be dismissed by one person's anecdotal experience. His love of Mormons seems to be surpassed only by his love of exclamation marks).

From the faithful to atheists, everyone can gain some insight into the dangers of zealotry from this book.

Rating:
Summary: Suspension of disbelief
Review: 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?

Rating:
Summary: interesting insight on the effects of polygamy
Review: This book centered around two terrible murders commited by two Mormon Fundamentists in 1984 whose belief centered around the practice of polygamy. The author skillfully tries to understand how two men could have committed such murders under God as they see it and what mind set such thoughts evolved from. He does this by tracing the history of polygamy within the Mormon church and how such practice created a cause and effect within the church that still lies deep within itself today. I won't considered this book to be "anti-Mormon" or anything like that since the author does not go around bashing Mormons. But the history of the Mormon church is not perfect and much imperfection of that history can usually be traced back to their practice of polygamy during much of the 19th century (that imperfection usually began with Joseph Smith himself who founded the church) and how that practice remains one of the controversial issues even today - especially among the Mormon Fundamentalists who seem to pick and choose their callings from God.

I thought this was a well-written book, nicely researched and it doesn't bogged the reader down with petty details. Its may be considered as a clear condemnation of the Mormon Fundamentalists whose belief the author clearly believes to be in the wrong.

Rating:
Summary: Where Do You Draw the Line?
Review: My review is admittedly only partial, because I'm not completely through the book yet (about 2/3), though there are some things to say:

1) I agree with other reviews that criticize the historical information as boring. When he deviates from the story of the Laffertys, the book basically just turns into a synopsis of several other books about Mormon history that really don't serve much purpose in the overall scheme of the book. Dwelling on the negative points of Mormon history doesn't get us any closer to understanding the Laffertys and why they believe what they believe. It basically just serves to paint all Mormons as blood soaked criminals and suggest that killing is the "default" setting for the Mormon mind. A stronger focus on Smith's and Young's beliefs and words would be more valuable, as these are central to the Laffertys' beliefs.

2) Another criticism I've read is that the author is basically painting all believers (regardless of religious affiliation) with the same brush, suggesting that anyone who believes in God is one creepy dream away from becoming a murdering for his or her faith. In a lot of ways, I would agree with both the criticism and the view it is criticizing. I think the broader question is, how many steps away from becoming a murderer IS the average believer? More importantly, where does one draw the line?

Millions of people believe that God speaks to them in innumerable ways to help the poor, to honor their parents. But the Bible is not always about loving thy neighbor, and in some places there is violence condoned in the name of the Lord.

Is Abraham considered more or less admirable for being willing to sacrifice Isaac? What if Jesus had explicitly preached polygamy (as Joseph Smith held he did) or said that sometimes sins are so great the sinner should be killed? Would Christians who practice such things today be considered fanatical fundamentalists? Would the death penalty be questioned at all by mainstream religious groups? How far does the average believer go for the sake of belief, and where does one draw the line and say simply "This is crazy?" More important, if your faith is so strong, why draw the line at all?

So the overriding question is exactly that: What does separate the believer from the fundamentalist? The author doesn't answer this, but then neither do his critics. They simply criticize asking the question at all.

3) And finally, I think from a strictly Mormon/anti-Mormon standpoint, the book poses one final question that Mormons might have a hard time answering:
What would Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (confessed practitioners of polygamy and advocates of blood atonement) think of the Laffertys (confessed practitioners of polygamy and confessed practitioners of blood atonement)?

There's a reason the Laffertys are called "fundamentalists." Their beliefs were "fundamental" beliefs of the faith's founders, regardless of the church's overall position today.

Rating:
Summary: Factual, but boring.
Review: Anyone interested in learning about the Mormon faith and it's origins may find this book tolerable. I think I found it boring because the cover and other sources made such a big deal about a pair of murders in the book, that I thought that was what the book would focus on. The actual part about the murders was very well written and extremely interesting, but it isn't as if murders don't happen in the name of religion and God every day. Most notable about this book would be the correlation one could make between our current situation with the Taleban and the Mormon faith a long time ago. I also got the impression that just about anyone in the Mormon faith can call themselves a prophet. It's a strange book and I got bored quickly and had to push myself to finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Unadventurous and Barely Interesting
Review: I purchased this book hoping for the same taunt energy I found in Into Thin Air combined with a thoughtful criticism of the Ladder Day Saints. I got neither. Mr. Krakauer, bolstered by his worldwide success and confident that he can write about whatever he wants, has written a disjointed book with a few pearls of storytelling. The author is very ambitious. He writes of a gruesome killing, the founding of an American religion, and his own reflections on religion in America. What he fails to do is bring the three together into some sort of coherent whole. Instead he ruminates about the nature and purpose of religious fervor, in a way far better executed by past writers.
The most disappointing thing about the book is that it contains nothing new or compelling. The story of the crime would be interesting if the slaying had been conducted by fanatical and calculating religious devotees. Instead, it is the work of a bunch of drunk white trash in Utah, whose use of a religious pretext for their crimes is hardly convincing or even interesting. The account of Mormonism in America - intended to parallel the Lafferty slayings - provides nothing new for a reader with a rudimentary knowledge of Mormonism. There is nothing to keep the reader reading.
Those seeking the same palpable energy of Into Thin Air will be disappointed. I suppose that for those with an interest in true crime or religious fervor in America this book will have some redeeming value, if so improper a pun may be used.