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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

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'Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith' by Jon Krakauer is a nonfiction account that delves into the fanatical history of the Mormons, focusing on a murder in the 1980s that sheds light on the dark side of the religion. The book provides a detailed exploration of Mormonism, from its origins to its modern-day fundamentalist practices, intertwining historical events with a contemporary crime to give readers a comprehensive look at the religion's evolution. Krakauer's writing style is captivating, blending true crime elements with religious history to create a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Writing/Prose:

Krakauer's writing style is compelling and accessible, blending thorough research with an engaging narrative that makes complex topics understandable to a broad audience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intricately weaves together the history of Mormonism with the true crimes committed by members of its fundamentalist sect, particularly focusing on the Lafferty brothers' murders and the implications of those beliefs.

Setting:

The setting shifts between modern-day Utah and historical locations significant to the narrative of Mormonism, effectively grounding the events in a rich cultural and historical context.

Pacing:

The pacing is variable, with some sections racing through gripping true crime elements while others move slowly through historical detail, which can affect reader engagement.
And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal wor...

Notes:

Jon Krakauer wrote the book to explore the contradictions in the LDS Church's family-oriented image and its history of violence.
The book investigates two contemporary crimes committed by members of the LDS Church: the murder of Brenda and Erica Lafferty in 1984 and the abduction of Elizabeth Smart in 2002.
Krakauer interweaves the historical background of Mormonism with the events surrounding these crimes.
The Lafferty brothers believed they were commanded by God to kill Brenda and Erica due to their religious fanaticism.
Brenda Lafferty was brutally murdered alongside her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, in a crime that shocked the nation.
The book examines how the historical context of the LDS Church helped shape the extreme beliefs of some of its followers.
Krakauer compares the narrative style of his investigation to his previous work on mountaineering, emphasizing a personal connection to the events he discusses.
The narrative includes insights into the legitimacy of religious beliefs and the fine line between faith and fanaticism.
Krakauer highlights the disturbing practices of modern-day polygamist sects that break away from mainstream Mormonism, emphasizing issues of power and control over women.
The book critiques how religious fundamentalism can lead to violence, manipulation, and deeply ingrained misogyny.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes graphic violence, themes of murder, discussions of religious extremism, and child abuse.

From The Publisher:

This extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America's isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities, where some 40,000 people still practice polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God.

At the core of Krakauer's book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America's fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.

Ratings (53)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (23)
Liked It (13)
It Was OK (8)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (115):

Read It (57)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (36)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (17)

2 comment(s)

It Was OK
1 month

This was fine, although there are MUCH a better books out here if you're interested in books about the effects and roots of modern day polygamy and the FLDS. I would recommend Prophet's Prey the most highly. Is book definitely had an agenda and the author was absolutely skewed against those who are deeply religious in any way, not simply the Mormons or FLDS. I felt that he could have done a MUCH better job of delineating the differences between the early church under the leadership of Joseph Smith and the FLDS today. The way this book is written, one would think that all Mormons are blood thirsty zealots who blindly follow their leaders without questioning and are willing to kill at the slightest hint that that is what is required of us. I would also venture to point out the fact that the history of the early LDS church is no more violent than that of any other faith practiced by people across the globe (especially the major religions) and it is CERTAINLY less so than many of those practicing today. It would also bear noting that most if not all of the violence perpetrated by the early church was retaliatory and defensive in nature rather than offensive as is so often the case in the histories of other religions. That was not portrayed accurately in this book and as such paints a very damaging portrait of the church as a whole and a dishonest one at that.

 

This was an interesting read about the Mormon religion and the murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty. I did watch the show on Hulu before reading this but there was much more information in the book. I was not expecting this to cover the Mormon religion from when it started to where it was when this book was written. I wish this book covered more about the Lafferty family, especially Ron and Dan. I wanted to know their whole backstory and how they were raised. I wish we got to see how Ron and Dan transitioned into such extremists. I don't rate nonfiction but if I did this would probably be 2.75 stars.

 

About the Author:

Jon Krakauer is the author of eight books and has received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. According to the award citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of…

 
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