Under the Banner of Heaven

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Summary: Mormon reviewers hate this book, so it must be great! it is!
Review: Great book about a strange religion. All religions are pretty bizarre and Mormonism (spelling? who cares?) makes a great case study because it's so new and well documented. Krakauer doesn't claim that LDS is the only religion with a shameful past and present, it's just his example. Read it for yourself and judge for yourself.

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Summary: Well Researched
Review: As a female that worked in the state of Utah for 13 years, I well relate to the subject matter. If you are a non-mormon, you will not fit in well. As stated, either you are with them or against them. Too bad they have no tolerance for other religions. I will never forget the day I started my new job as a COBOL computer programmer for the Department of Defense. My male mormon colleagues did not hesitate to tell me that I was taking a job from the men in Utah and that I should be home pregnant in the kitchen. That was my resolve to work harder and be the best programmer I could be. It wasn't much longer that the mormon church wanted to build a church on the government installation where I worked. Of course, the government can not show bias to one religion and stated no. Shortly, thereafter the church was somehow able to buy public land 1/4 mile from the gate of the installation and built an enormous building. This building was located in the middle of no where and was an obvious message to the government and non-mormons that we will prevail. Unfortunately the mormon church did everything it could to turn me away from their religion and in hind sight it was a good thing. Especially being female. So I am for one a rock solid fan of Jon Krakauer and his writings. Well done, Jon, and yes the book appears to be unbelieveable, however, it is very true, well researched, and has an extensive bibliography. It just too bad that Jon doesn't post an email address through his employers. I would love to send along some kudos for speaking out. Watch your back. By the way another good book to read "The God Makers" by Ed Decker and Dave Hunt, although not as extensive as UnderThe Banner from Heaven.

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Summary: Robert L. Millet, Richard L. Evans Prefessor of Religious...
Review: A Partial Review by Robert L. Millet, Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University
For a complete review go [online.]

Jon Krakauer just may be one of the most well-known writers to address origins and developments within Mormonism. His books Into the Wild and IntoThin Air are fascinating studies of human behavior during unusually stressful and even life-threatening situations. He has proven his excellent ability as a storyteller of those few who had the courage, tenacity and near neurotic drive to reach the top of Mount Everest.

In discussing Mormonism, however, Krakauer faces a climb up a different mountain. Despite having grown up in Oregon and having many Latter-day Saint friends and acquaintances, he does not bring the same background, preparation or perspective to his treatment of violence among 'Mormon Fundamentalists' that he brought to his mountain-climbing sagas. While he acknowledges that he is not a historian, his 372-page work is indeed a historical study, and thus Krakauer is out of his element. One does not attempt a meaningful treatment of a phenomenon as complex as Mormonism without the kind of background that would lend itself to a more evenhanded study. On the one hand, Under the Banner of Heaven is an intriguing story, a fascinating but depressing account of religion run amuck ' of abuse, presumption and religious fanaticism. The story of Ron and Dan Lafferty is a story that should be told, but told in a way that emphasizes repeatedly the vital distinctions between mainline Latter-day Saint believers and those who have gone beyond the mark, been severed from the faith, and violated the standards of both church and state'

A few simple questions suggest themselves: If one really wants to better understand present-day Mormonism, why study those who have distorted and perverted the tenets of the faith? Why make repetitive use of the misleading phrase 'Mormon Fundamentalists' to describe apostates from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?'

One wonders just what the author hoped to accomplish in writing this book. Was it really to help others better understand the Latter-day Saints? to offer a glimpse of a violent and malicious side of Mormonism that few in today's world know? Was it to study a vicious act of 1984 and to look for root causes? Or was it to demonstrate the author's major thesis that to practice one's religion, to be involved seriously in one's faith, is to act irrationally? (68, 162, 306).

Under the Banner of Heaven suffers from an extremely unhealthy and unworkable overgeneralization. Notice the following statement early in the book: 'To comprehend Brian David Mitchell [the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart] ' or to comprehend Dan Lafferty, or Tom Green, or the polygamous inhabitants of Bountiful and Colorado City ' one must first understand the faith these people have in common, a faith that gives shape and purpose to every facet of their lives. And any such understanding must begin with the aforementioned Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' (53, emphasis added).

This is like asking someone: 'Would you like to understand Catholicism today? Then study carefully the atrocities of the Crusades and the horrors of the Inquisition.' Or: 'Would you like to gain a better insight into the minds and feelings of German people today? Then read Mein Kampf and become a serious student of Adolph Hitler.' Or: 'Would you like a deeper glimpse into the hearts of Lutherans today? Then be certain to study the anti-Semitic writings of Martin Luther.' Or: 'Would you care to better understand where Southern Baptists are coming from? Then simply read the many sermons of Baptist preachers in the Civil War who utilized biblical passages to justify the practice of slavery.'

I agree wholeheartedly with Lee Benson of Salt Lake City's Deseret News: 'Throughout history,' he wrote, 'perfectly respectable religions have been used as the jumping-off spot for hundreds and thousands of people aiming for an orbit outside of what's right. From Henry VIII when he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn to Osama bin Laden when he wanted to topple the Twin Towers to Cain killing Abel, it is a practice as old as mankind itself. Blaming religions for these unauthorized, self-serving spinoffs is like blaming Philo Farnsworth for MTV' (Deseret News, 21 July, 2003)'

Under the Banner of Heaven is not only a slap in the face of modern Latter-day Saints but also a misrepresentation of religion in general. It is an insult to those 'unreasonable' beings out there who rely upon the 'murky sectors of the heart and head that prompt most of us to believe in God ' and compel an impassioned few, predictably, to carry that irrational belief to its logical end' (xxi). We should not be surprised that an author who begins his work with the statement that 'faith is the very antithesis of reason' (xxiii) should thereafter proceed to grossly stereotype and thereby marginalize Mormonism. As Stephen Carter pointed out a decade ago, there is a worrisome trend in our culture 'toward treating religious beliefs as arbitrary and unimportant, a trend supported by a rhetoric that implies there is something wrong with religious devotion. More and more, our culture seems to take the position that believing deeply in the tenets of one's faith represents a kind of mystical irrationality, something that thoughtful, public-spirited American citizens would do better to avoid' (The Culture of Disbelief, New York, Basic Books, 1993, 6'7). In that sense, this book is an unfortunate endeavor, for it fosters unnecessary suspicion and exclusion in a world that desperately needs openness and understanding.

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Summary: Mike Otterson, director of Media Relations, LDS Church
Review: Response from Mike Otterson, director of Media Relations, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as shared with the Associated Press. This is his personal reaction, as a convert of 35 years and as someone who has seen the Church in operation around the world, from the smallest branch to the highest levels.

"Krakauer's portrayal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is utterly at odds with what I ' and millions like me ' have come to know of the Church, its goodness, and the decency of its people. This book is an attempt to tell the story of the so-called fundamentalist or polygamous groups in Utah, and to tie their beliefs to the doctrines and the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The result is a full-frontal assault on the veracity of the modern Church.

"This book is not history, and Krakauer is no historian. He is a storyteller who cuts corners to make the story sound good. His basic thesis appears to be that people who are religious are irrational, and that irrational people do strange things. He does a huge disservice to his readers by promulgating old stereotypes. He finds sufficient zealots and extremists in the past 150 years to help him tell his story, and by extrapolation tars every Mormon with the same brush. The exceptions are the rule by his standards. One could be forgiven for concluding that every Latter-day Saint, including your friendly Mormon neighbor, has a tendency to violence. And so Krakauer unwittingly puts himself in the same camp as those who believe every German is a Nazi, every Japanese a fanatic, and every Arab a terrorist.

"It is evident from the adulation that Krakauer heaps on three or four historians who are unsympathetic to the Church that they have heavily influenced him. On the other hand, there is such a paucity of quotes attributed to modern Church leaders or ranking members that one wonders who the 'dozens of Mormons' were whom Krakauer is supposed to have interviewed for his research.

"Krakauer writes a great deal about Joseph Smith, who organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. Joseph Smith surely disturbed the status quo in religion in his day, and does so even now. Furthermore, he lived out his days 'on stage' for all to observe ' some to criticize and some to venerate. He was God's conduit for bringing back bold doctrines concerning the nature of God, the nature of man, the nature of the human experience, the purpose of life and even the nature of the universe. His legacy is that millions of people today throughout the world accept him as the Prophet of the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ."

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Summary: nonobjective
Review: I repect Mr. Krakauer as a writer, however, he has taken on a subject here that is ill served under his biased view.

Thesis-antithesis-synthesis. He provides the first steps well, but admittedly is incapable of providing a synthesis to his work due to his anti-religious worldview.

Until he has honed his skills to the level of scholarship and the ability to suspend his own prejudice to an acceptable level, he should avoid such controversial themes.

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Summary: All-American Extremism
Review: In this contentious book Jon Krakauer takes aim at Mormon Fundamentalism, an often bizarre and extreme belief system that has led to much bloodshed right here in America. We have our religious fanatics and extremists too. Critics will accuse Krakauer of belittling the Mormon faith altogether, possibly out of personal spite. At times he gets uncomfortably close to doing just that, especially when describing the order's history. For example, he contends that Joseph Smith concocted the infamous plural marriage (polygamy) doctrine as a divinely ordained excuse to cheat on his first wife, and subsequent "true believers" have spread all sorts of suffering in order to uphold what is basically a religious red herring. The evidence is pretty strong but will surely lead to controversy. Also, in his historical study Krakauer doesn't always succeed in separating the extremists from mainstream Mormons, although making that distinction in the present is the main point of the book. But aside from that underlying difficulty, Krakauer certainly focuses on modern extremists, as the Mormon faith is especially prone to increasingly extreme factions who are not afraid to spread murder and mayhem in the name of their peculiar belief system, including the polygamy doctrine. All of this leads to the case of the Lafferty brothers who claim that their brutal murder of a young mother and her baby, within their extended family, was justified by their religious beliefs and commanded by God himself. While Krakauer can't always stay impartial about the basic Mormon belief system, he does illustrate how religious extremism truly works, with spectacular and terrifying results. This is possible in any religion and any society. [~doomsdayer520~]

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Summary: Unbelievable But True
Review: This is a review of Jon Krakauers' book Under the Banner of Heaven, in which he covers the murder of a mother and infant, and more importantly, the history of the Mormon religion and the events and beliefs that lead up to the murders. In my opinion this book is well researched and penetrating. In an age where suicide bombers are in the news almost daily this book seems timely and important. It explores how religious fanatics come to believe that even murder is okay. Krakauer is courageous in bringing commonly held myths and mysticism into the daylight for examination. My opinion is that truth is built on evidence and reason, but faith is built on fiction or dogma. Much of this story confirms that. The prechapter paragraphs are profound quotations that were well chosen. I found Krakauer's book excellent, objective reporting. He does add some opinion in the "Author's remarks" at the end of the book. There are notes on sources for each chapter and an extensive bibliography. Footnotes are frequent and detailed. I was captivated. Just when you think the story couldn't get more bizarre you turn the page and it does, all the way through the book. Seemingly unbelievable, but true. Maps and an index are included. Read it in the spirit of inquiry.

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Summary: Riveting look at Religious Fanaticism
Review: I have always enjoyed Krakauer's work, especially Into the Wild, which is the tragic story about a young man who loses himself in trying to become another Thoreau, another Tolstoy. Krakauer takes on a much more vast subject area: Religious fanaticism in general, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints specifically. Krakauer brings his usual writing prowess to the story to make it an engrossing study of America's homegrown religion with disturbing parallels between the religion's past and present and ultimately makes it plainly obvious that the Fundamentalist offshoots of Mormonism are closer to Joseph Smith's own dream for the religion. This granted, where does that leave the current Mormon church?

Some Mormons might flinch at the parallels that are drawn here. But Krakauer repeatedly states that he is not a Christian with a vendetta, but an agnostic who studied historical documents and drew parallels in a journalistic manner. His book is evenhanded in the sense that he seems to think that Mormons are good people, the 'salt of the earth', but he has uncovered some very unsettling information that must be heard. I can understand why a Mormon would cringe after reading some of the book, but nevertheless Krakauer is supported by plenty of documentation.

Basically, the narrative is told in three intersecting stories. The first has to to with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the lives they lead inside large cities dominated by patriarchs who usually have in excess of seventy wives. Next is the story of the violent formation of the Mormon Church in the mid-nineteenth century, where we are introduced to such Mormon immortals as Joseph Smith and his first wife, Emma, Brigham Young, John Taylor, and others who formed the church. This part is meticulously researched and has a few facts that throw doubt onto some church doctrines, notably the infamous prophecy that authorized polygamy by noting that Smith was a womanizer that had been accused of having illicit affairs with pubescent girls. This is also the tale of a scorned group of misfits who were attacked at nearly every place they settled, people who come across as very sympathetic. Finally, the third is about two brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who embraced the Fundamentalist values preached by Joseph Smith but deprecated by the modern LDS church. Especially haunting are the interviews with Dan Lafferty, a very rational man who has no remorse for what he has done. When Ron thinks that God tells him to kill his sister-in-law and Dan goes along with it, they end up showing the depths that such fanaticism can go. In a world that seems to be filling up with these kinds of people, it is important to note how this sort or mind works.

In short, this is a multilayered, complex look at the country's fastest-growing religion. It is also a harrowing journey into the darkest depths of the human soul. Regardless of your religion, this is a cautionary tale of what happens when ideas like Fundamentalism can take over someone's mind.

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Summary: Must Read Book Two in the Series - it gets better!
Review: If you enjoyed reading book one in the "Under the Banner of Heaven" Series you'll love book two in the series entitled "Glass Houses and their Rock-Throwing Residents." In it Mr. Krakauer conclusively exposes biblical christianity as the violent faith that it really is. From the many thousands of people killed in the murderous crusades to the present-day acts of violence in the torching and bombing of abortion clinics you won't be able to put it down.

Read how many who have murdered abortion clinic workers were propeled into their actions by biblical teachings. In an especially compelling look at a former church pastor you'll see how his religion taught him that by klling innocent people he will go on to glory.

Stay tuned for book three when the author changes gears just a bit and goes after those rich evil republicans who want to destroy the poorest among us: the children! He carefully documents how their policies will starve them and any children left over will be poisoned as the republicans go on their wild and crazy environmental destruction spree.

Each book is equally well-written, fair, and balanced.

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Summary: Incredible insight!!
Review: Amazing insight into a popular religon in the American West. A must read for the curious. Sheds light onto a lifestyle under your very nose.