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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith |  | Author: Jon Krakauer
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
Buy Used: $1.22
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Seller: snowlionbooks
Rating:  769 reviews
Sales Rank: 1343
Media: Paperback
Edition: Later printing
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 1400032806
Dewey Decimal Number: 289.33
EAN: 9781400032808
ASIN: 1400032806
Publication Date: June 8, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
In 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty murdered the wife and infant daughter of their younger brother Allen. The crimes were noteworthy not merely for their brutality but for the brothers' claim that they were acting on direct orders from God. In Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer tells the story of the killers and their crime but also explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism from which the two emerged. The Mormon Church was founded, in part, on the idea that true believers could speak directly with God. But while the mainstream church attempted to be more palatable to the general public by rejecting the controversial tenet of polygamy, fundamentalist splinter groups saw this as apostasy and took to the hills to live what they believed to be a righteous life. When their beliefs are challenged or their patriarchal, cult-like order defied, these still-active groups, according to Krakauer, are capable of fighting back with tremendous violence. While Krakauer's research into the history of the church is admirably extensive, the real power of the book comes from present-day information, notably jailhouse interviews with Dan Lafferty. Far from being the brooding maniac one might expect, Lafferty is chillingly coherent, still insisting that his motive was merely to obey God's command. Krakauer's accounts of the actual murders are graphic and disturbing, but such detail makes the brothers' claim of divine instruction all the more horrifying. In an age where Westerners have trouble comprehending what drives Islamic fundamentalists to kill, Jon Krakauer advises us to look within America's own borders. --John Moe
Product Description
Jon Krakauer’s literary reputation rests on insightful chronicles of lives conducted at the outer limits. He now shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious belief within our own borders, taking readers inside isolated American communities where some 40,000 Mormon Fundamentalists 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.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 769
Under the banner of heaven November 17, 2009
Dale R. Beatty (Chicagoland area)
Very interesting book that moves between a modern day murder and the basic tennants of the Mormon church. Well writen, keeps the reader interested in the subject. I borrowed the book and read it some time ago. I recently bought the book for my wife. She also enjoyed the book.
Worth the read October 17, 2009
K. Hutchings (Talkeetna, Alaska)
Having already been a Krakauer fan, I really enjoyed reading this version of historical commentary on the origin of the Mormon church. True to his previous style, and in a similar vein as Truman Capote, Krakauer bases his premise on a brutal murder by a few fanatical fundamentalists believing in the righteousness of their cause. In a somewhat journalistic style, similar to "Into the Wild" and "Into Thin Air", he explains the notion of "blood atonement", a common ritual among the persecuted Mormons as they strived to maintain their church against all odds. It is an informative look at the conception of the doctorine, as received by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, his embrace of Polygamy, the avenging angels, defending their right to plural marriage at any cost, the severing of the church from polygamy, and the different sects that chose to remain followers of the "principle". Most of the focus of the book is on the violence, both past and present, in relation to the faith, which is both gory and lacks remorse. This book is an entertaining account of a bizaar slice of American religious history and the bloody repercussions of unwavering devotion. Both shocking and objective, it is well worth the read.
 Truly frightening October 8, 2009
Sarah Trachtenberg (Brookline, MA)
Assuming this book is accurate, and I do, we should be deeply concerned about extreme Mormons. I knew little about this side of Mormonism until I read this book (I assumed that extreme behavior such as polygamy was no longer acceptable in Mormonism). Part of what is truly frightening about these compounds is that the members are sheltered from the outside world. They are only exposed to their own media and many are completely ignorant about anything else.
I have a lot of questions about these people: for example, how can adults in these compounds get away with raping children and polygamy? Particularly if they go on talk shows to brag about such "achievements," why do the authorities not apprehend them?
I realized reading this, though this should have occurred to me before, that Mormons now outnumber Jews. This is even more disturbing when one knows that Mormons are much, much more fertile and their numbers are only bound to go up. While I have not seen any stats about Jewish fertility, I am guessing our numbers are going down. Jews are largely pretty secular and don't rape children in compounds, so think about that.
RIP Brenda and Erica October 6, 2009
Bette B. Prater (okc,ok,usa)
note-Dan Lafferty read this book in July 2003 and gives it rave
reviews. There is an interview with him on Google. He still has
no remorse.
**********
Jon K says is took 3 years to research this book and 1
year to write it. This is a good book but I found it a little
confusing going back and forth from the murder, to past
Mormon history then to the present day.
I expected more about the Lafferty's. I did no want to see
pictures of Brenda and the baby but I wish their had been
pictures of the Lafferty brothers. There were NO pictures.
Not even one of the author. (there are pictures of them
on the net.)
The Mormons are very very touchy about their history.
They want to pretend certain things never happened.
I do not think Jon K picked on them. All religions have
skeletons in their closets.
Dan comes off in a more favorable light than Ron but they
are still cold blooded insane killers. Their misguided love of
GOD took them down a bloody path. Read this book to find
out WHY they killed Brenda and her baby.
RIP Brenda and Erica.....how brave Brenda was to think
she could handle these SICK men by herself. How sad she
did not RUN. SHAME on her husband & mother- in- law.
The mother in law sat knitting and listening while her sons
planned the murder in her dining room.
++++++++++
I'd like to suggest several other true UTAH crime books
for you to read:
1. Mark Hofmann---The Mormon Murders-Steve Naifeh.
..........................Dan Lafferty's is Mark's prison room mate.
2. Ervil LeBaron----The 4 o'clock Murders-Scott Anderson.
3. Frances S--------At Mothers Request--J Coleman.
BOOKS ON POLYGAMY:
Irene LeBaron Spencer, Dorothy Allred Solomon,Susan
LeBaron Schmidt, Kim Taylor, Elissa Wall & Carolyn Jessop.
A fast paced story of religion and murder in modern day America October 5, 2009
K. Perkins (Great Britain)
This is an excellently written book - fast paced and engaging. Jon Krakauer is adept at interweaving the history of the LDS Church with a present day story of "violent faith".
Based on a "revelation" he received from God, Ron Lafferty and his brother Dan brutally murdered Brenda Lafferty (their sister-in-law) and her 15-month old daughter, Erica. The two brothers never spoke of having remorse for what they did. In fact, Dan openly admits to the murder, claiming God wanted him to do it. It is a haunting notion: that someone's thoughts could be so twisted as to let them believe that by killing another human being they were doing the work of God. Krakauer latches onto this idea and examines exactly what would lead a person to commit murder in present day America because of religious believe.
Though the topic is fascinating, it is important to keep in mind that Krakauer only focuses on the extreme parts of Mormonism. He talks about Fundamentalists who openly practice polygamy and the physical and sexual abuse that goes on in those communities. Not all Mormon's are polygamists and not all Mormon's actively seek "blood atonement" against their enemies; it is only a small percentage that is so extreme. Before judging all Mormons too harshly remember, every religion has its radicals. Therefore if you do decide to pick up "Under the Banner of Heaven", read it with a grain of salt.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 769
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