Rating: 
Summary: UNDER THE BANNER OF HEARSAY
Review: If you are interested in the lives and eccentricities of religious fundamentalists, fanatics and polygamists, their bizarre behavior and their propensity to violence in defending their beliefs then this book will offer some interest and enlightenment. I read the book specifically to find out more about Dan Lafferty and the murder of his sister-in-law and niece. I wanted to read the interviews that Krakauer had had with Lafferty and to get a better understanding as to how such heinous crimes could be perpetrated against members of the Lafferty family--Dan's own extended family-- in the name of religion. The book was informative from that standpoint. But if you think that this book will give you the supposed inside story of a possible dark side of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) you are sadly mistaken. Krakauer's approach to this book goes markedly against the grain of responsible journalism. Are their two sides to this story? Absolutely! But Krakauer is careful to tell only a limited, one-sided version that is totally misleading. Had Krakauer been fair enough to give both sides of the account I would be writing a very different review. Instead what you have is a hard cover tabloid. In the first place, none of the fundamentalists interviewed by Krakauer are members of the LDS Church. Since the late 1800's all individuals practicing polygamy and, more importantly, given to views and teachings that are inflammatory and contrary to those accepted by the LDS Church are summarily excommunicated. Moreover, Dan Lafferty--even in the Krakauer interviews--admits that he is not a member of the LDS Church and that his beliefs depart dramatically from anything the LDS Church teaches. In the second place, Krakauer's supposed research is extremely limited and riddled with references to the works of individuals like Fawn Brodie--an self avowed nonobjective enemy of the LDS faith who wasted her life away writing unbelievable drivel about the LDS Church's origins. Mind you, she didn't stop with unsupportable rubbish about Mormonism. She also wrote a "landmark" series of books about America's Founding Fathers that painted them as nothing more than a lecherous bunch of womanizers who just got lucky when it came to democracy. Those familiar with Brodie's writings recognize that her reverse chauvinism is as transparent as water and the chip on her shoulder all too evident. If you are sincerely and fairly interested in historic facts regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints read Leonard Arrington's excellent biography of Brigham Young, American Moses. It provides a fair narrative of many of the events included in Krakauer's book--information terribly twisted and misrepresented, I might add. If you want to read this book in order to look at radical religious fundamentalism, especially the tragic events centering on Dan Lafferty and his brother, Ron, then do so. But take Krakauer's supposed "facts" about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints as what they are--nothing more than mean-spirited, small-minded hearsay. Douglas McAllister
Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling Story
Review: When I was a college student from the east coast, back in the summer of '69, my cousin and I worked in a nat'l park in southern Utah for the season. Here we met and worked with a large number of Mormons, who for the most part were friendly, industrious, peaceful people. I remember tho, hearing the name Uncle Roy being mentioned by a cabin maid from farther south. She didn't tell me exactly who this obviously important individual was at the time. He is mentioned in Under the Banner of Heaven as one of patriarchs who wielded absolute power in Colorado City, on the Utah - Arizona border. That town was, and is, a haven of Fundamentalist Mormons who follow Prophet Joseph Smiths Section 132 in the book of Doctrine and Covenants advocating plural marriage for men in the Church.
After that summer, I became so interested in the Mormons and their settlement of Utah, that I did some term papers on these topics in college, and read fairly extensively on the subject after graduating. So I was familiar with most of the historical background that Krakauer gives concerning the founding of the religion. His descriptions of the more radical off-shoots of the LDS Church were, however, for the most part new information for me. The extent of violence, and the extreme oppression of women and children as detailed by him was chilling. Before reading the book, I had been inclined to regard the practices of renegade Mormons as their business. Now I can see that there are too many unwilling, innocent victims involved to take a laissez faire attitude to the situation these people find themselves in.
At any rate, I highly recommend the book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the author's admittedly biased view toward all religion. He's perfectly entitled to his agnostic beliefs, but by stating them outright in his book, he may cause some would-be readers to doubt his objectivity. Nevertheless, once again, I would urge everyone interested not only in religious extremism, but in human rights in general to read this fascinating narrative. It will be time well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent expsoure of extremism
Review: The Mormon reviewers who are panning this book on Amazon.com are missing the point. Krakauer did not set out to embarass or harass Mormons. His book illustrates what happens when a few crackpots and extremists pervert a belief system. The Lafferties and the other extremists whom he describes in this book could just as easily have been Islamic fundamentalists hiding in caves in Afghanistan, snake handlers in Cocke County TN, or Catholic inquisitors burning heretics at the stake. Of course, Krakauer does an excellent job of describing, without comment, the roots of the Mormon faith -- Joseph Smith and his golden plates. Anyone reading that fairy tale can come to only one conclusion -- and perhaps it's this revelation that the Mormon reviewers do not like. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing yet fascinating read
Review: To be honest, I bought the book after reading an article about its controversial nature and wasn't expecting much. I wound up having quite a bit of trouble putting the book down at night!! Krakauer takes the story of the Lafferty brothers and the horrible murders they commited and uses it as a springboard to discuss the evolution of Mormon fundamantalism in the US and Canada. He mingles past history with current events in a way that keeps the reader engaged. Krakauer also does an excellent job of not tying the bliefs of mainstream mormons to the delusional and dangerous ideas of the fundamantalists. He discusses mainstream mormonism with respect and dignity thropughout - in my opinion. His writing style makes it an easy read, despite the disturbing relevations. I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to others. I hope you find this as interesting a read as I did.
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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.
Rating:
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.
Rating: 
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."
Rating:
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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