Under the Banner of Heaven

A Story of Violent Faith

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Scott Brick

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities. • Now an acclaimed FX limited series streaming on HULU.

“Fantastic.... Right up there with In Cold Blood and The Executioner’s Song.” —San Francisco Chronicle

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; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities.

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.

©2003 Jon Krakauer (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc., Published by arrangement with Random House Audio Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Scrupulously reported and written with Krakauer’s usual exacting flair, Under the Banner of Heaven is both illuminating and thrilling. It is also the creepiest book anyone has written in a long time—and that’s meant as the highest possible praise.” —Newsweek

“Powerfully illuminating. . . . Almost every section of the book is fascinating in its own right, and together the chapters make a rich picture. . . . An arresting portrait of depravity.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Illuminating . . . provocative. . . . Krakauer is an adept chronicler of extremists [and] the tour guide of choice for secular quests.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review

Books like this are why I prefer non-fiction!

I like a really good novel or literature for relaxation and escape. But real life stories like this are far more interesting. Everyone looking for truth in religion should read this book. The details about the short history of such a popular and fast-growing sect are fascinating, and you find yourself wondering how anyone can buy into the beliefs of the LDS faith, and questioning the basis of any religion, for that matter. The blood-curdling description of the murders done in the name of God are gripping. The long history of child-rape, incest, and brutality is incredible. The description in the killer's own words of the murder of a helpless child were almost more than I could take. I chose this book because Scott Brick is my favorite narrarator. It will be on my list of favorites for a very long time.

true crime & true history!

This is the very best way to learn your history lessons: take it with a fascinating story that spawns no end of twists, characterological and otherwise. An extraordinary tale that leaves you no easy place to stand and, like every important story, forces you to examine your own ideas about all the big things, God included.

Important info about Mormonism

The book provides important information about the Mormon church, its history and its offshoots. Essentially it tells of how much absurdity, hypocrisy, and violence there has been in Mormonism ever since Joseph Smith. It's good that this knowledge reaches a wider audience. I had two criticisms of the book: a) I thought the way it moved between present and past a bit pointless-- a case of the writer being arch; b) eventually the catalogue of crime, craziness, and hypocrisy becomes somewhat numbing.

Interesting, but...

I found this book interesting, but it was a bit of slog to get through. The reader is a bit monotonous, but then the book is as well. I enjoyed the history of the Mormon church and now appreciate that it is as plagued by fundamentalist splinter groups as every other religion. However, if you are expecting the book to flow as a novel in the manner of Krakauer's other books, you may be disappointed.

You can't make this up!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes!! I'm not a religious person but this story about the mormons is like reading science fiction!

What did you like best about this story?

Jon Krakauer states facts, tells a true story, interjects true history,... and makes reading about Mormons like watching Star Wars.

Interesting book.

If you want a breathtaking listen and learn about Mormonism at the same time, this is a good one. It is thrilling, well written and gives insight into the following that call themselves Mormons. I am always on the look-out for something new with depth and this book ranks high on my list of recent listens that gave me what I what I look for. Other reviews give the necessary details.

on point from a girl how got out

brings back alot of memories. man your point on. so wired after so many years. this is still ingrained in your mind. never gose away. love the fact it's no longer quite. evil has come to light. paryers to all still fighting to get out. weird to listen have to stop because some names have been changed. very good

Getting away with murder in the name of God

This book left me disgusted and disappointed in the human race. It chronicles the history of a religion founded by a known con artist, and led by power-hungry men who think nothing of murdering both "Gentiles" and fellow LDS members for their own personal gain, and who loudly proclaim their God-given right to rape children and forcibly subjugate women in plural marriage.

This book illustrates how otherwise honest and upstanding people can be brainwashed and trained to lie and commit heinous acts in the name of faith, and how that faith can be shamelessly manipulated by corrupt religious leaders. The book focuses on the LDS church, but the history of nearly every other religion on earth has similar stories.

One thing I was curious about that the book did not touch upon was whether or not there was a shortage of women to go around to provide multiple wives for every man in the LDS church. The book talks about LDS church leaders and other prominent men in the community taking 20 or more wives each. Unless Mormons are somehow giving birth to 80% more female than male babies, the math just doesn't work.

Mr Krakauer has tackled a very complex and interesting subject, but I found his writing style very disjointed. He doesn't seem to be able to write in a straight timeline, and the way the narration jumped around left me confused about the progression of the historical events

Scott Brick does a fantastic job with the narration of this book, he is one of my top three favorite narrators to listen to.

Listening to this book has only convinced me that I made the right decision in taking responsibility for my own spiritual path instead of following an organized church group. I definitely believe that there is a higher power in the universe, but organized religion is just a legal form of slavery and mind control. Everyone is ultimately responsible for their own actions, and no mere human can profess to know the will of the Almighty. If you give other people the power to control your thoughts and actions, you offer yourself up to exploitation. For me, the moral of this story is "think for yourself, and question authority"

Perfect balance

We planned a 6000 km road trip from Alberta Canada to San Francisco to visit our son. We included many stops and side trips along the way. Some days we were in our vehicle for 12 hours. We would get a fresh cup of coffee then set aside a certain amount of time to listen to this wonderful story as well as a superb history lesson. We listened in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia. The story and characters were captivating and compelling. As the saying goes " Time flew by". We have recommended this book to fellow travellers.

Good history of LDS and insight to fundamentalism

I like Scott Bricks narration, but it can be over the top sometimes. A good perspective on how fundamentalism can take hold of an otherwise benign religion.