Under the Banner of Heaven

A Story of Violent Faith

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Jon Krakauer

Jon Krakauer’s literary reputation rests on insightful chronicles of lives conducted at the outer limits. In Under the Banner of Heaven, he shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious belief within our own borders.

At the core of his audiobook is an appalling double murder committed by two Mormon Fundamentalist brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a revelation from God commanding them to kill their blameless victims. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this "divinely inspired" crime, Krakauer constructs a multilayered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, savage violence, polygamy, 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.

Krakauer takes listeners inside isolated communities in the American West, Canada, and Mexico, where some 40,000 Mormon Fundamentalists believe the mainstream Mormon Church went unforgivably astray when it renounced polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the leaders of these outlaw sects are zealots who answer only to God. Marrying prodigiously and with virtual impunity (the leader of the largest fundamentalist church took seventy-five "plural wives," several of whom were wed to him when they were fourteen or fifteen and he was in his eighties), fundamentalist prophets exercise absolute control over the lives of their followers, and preach that any day now the world will be swept clean in a hurricane of fire, sparing only their most obedient adherents.

Weaving the story of the Lafferty brothers and their fanatical brethren with a clear-eyed look at Mormonism's violent past, Krakauer examines the underbelly of the most successful homegrown faith in the United States, and finds a distinctly American brand of religious extremism. The result is vintage Krakauer, an utterly compelling work of nonfiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behavior.

©2003 Jon Krakauer (P)2003 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Krakauer lays the portent on beautifully, building his tales carefully from the ground up until they irresistibly, spookily combust." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Krakauer presents details that indeed sound stranger than fiction." (The New York Times)

NOT FOR MORMON READERS

ANY ONE WHO RATES THIS BOOK LESS THAN FOUR STARS IS A MORMON. ANYONE WHO GIVES IT FIVE STARS IS, AT THE VERY LEAST. AN AGNOSTIC AND PROBABLY AN ATHIEST. THE WRITER COULD HAVE PICKED ANY OF THE HUNDREDS OF RELIGIONS PRACTICED IN THIS COUNTRY AND THEY WOULD ALL SOUND AS SILLY AS THIS ONE. CALVIN AND THE METHODIST, CAMPBEL AND THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. JIM JONES AND COOLAID,FATHER DIVINE,DAVID KORESH, JIM BAAKER. ALL CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH. ALL UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN. THE MORMON CHURCH IS THE FASTEST GROWING OF THEM ALL, THAT IS A SOBERING THOUGHT. HIGHLY RECOMENDED READING TO ADD TO YOUR DATA BASE ON RELIGON

Great Book, But May Upset Some People...

I liked this book. Krakauer weaves the current timeline of recent events of the Lafferty killings, the Elizabeth Smart case and polygamist fundamentalist sects with a historical perspective of the LDS church. He attempts to show the motivations of religious fundamentalism and what grievous acts people will committ in the name of god.

Some people who are LDS members may be upset with some of Krakauer's historical accounts, especially regarding polygamy. I do not think Krakauer does this to attack LDS members, but to attempt to show the source of these fundamentalists' beliefs.

It is a great book and should receive a higher score, but some people have some moral problems with the book and are very harsh. I have read all of Krakauer's books and trust that he put a good amount of research forward.

Compulsary Reading in Schools?

I would love to see this book compulsary reading in schools. My second Audio book and just couldn't stop listening until it all finished. Before this book I hardly knew anything about the Morman faith but this book is much more than that. It really helps give an understanding how some people go to extremes within thier respective faiths. A great book to read/listen and opens doors to many a debate.
I will definatley look out for more books from this Author.

Probably too true for the God fearing

As an individual with solid Mormon ancestry on both sides, I believe that this is first book that seamlessly combines a starkly realistic and accurate account of Mormon history and militant Mormon fundamentalism. In the process, it demonstrates the relationship between the two and exposes the inevitable consequences of strongly held religious beliefs, consequences that are strewn through out history, but are here etched into dramatic relief by a religion conjured up only 170 years ago.

Oops. I Take it Back.

I wrote my first review after listening to an hour of the unabridged version of this audiobook. At that point, I made a snap judgement that the author, who was new to me, was simply presenting a shallow analysis of religious faith, and trying to sell books on the back of a lurid double murder and the titillation of describing the tawdry details of polygamist sects. But I had listened to all my other titles, so I stayed with the book. To my suprise, I got caught up with the fascinating history of the Mormons, presented with what seemed to be admirable objectivity. But when the author described the retrial of Ron Lafferty, the book's true payoff became clear. Through the words of the psychiatrists and psychologists mustered by the defense and prosecution, a devastating portrait of the puzzling, infuriating double murderer was painted. The real question is this: what is the difference between the defendant and personalities like Joseph Smith, described by William James as a "religious genius?" I found the answer provocative and compelling. I have never understood the workings of minds that conceive and carry out seemingly senseless actions like those described here. For the first time, this book gave me a glimmer of such an understanding. It also convinced me of the justice of the death sentence handed down in this case. I'm glad I kept listening!

Only one regret...

I only regret that I settled for the abridged audio version of the book (hence, a rating of four instead of five). Krakauer's rendition of the foundations of Mormonism and of a modern case of fundamentalism gone awry are equally compelling. It would be worth reading the complete, unabridged novel.

Krakauer's question is not one of the legitimacy of all religious faith but of how religious faith is often twisted to justify heinous actions. Fundamental Mormonism provides an intriguing case to study because of the religion's relatively modern roots. Certainly, any conclusions the reader draws could be applied to any set of values taken to an extreme end. The combination of the fascinating history of a religion (albeit a brief and possibly biased one) combined with an interesting set of moral questions makes for a very entertaining and thoughtful read (or listen). Highly recommended.

Under the Banner of Heaven

Gave the reader a new perspective and understanding of Mormons. As a non-mormon I had no real understanding of Mormon history. Tying current events (Smart abduction) with past events in the Mormon church was interesting. Interesting the manner in which the author goes back and forth in time.

On target...frightening...and slow paced.

Krakauer is a good author and certainly has done his research for this one. I have studied the Mormon faith - as I have many others - and find that his research is right on target and thorough. I recommend this book for it's research and documentary merits but have to reserve unqualified praise because it sometimes misses the mark and slowly meanders from its theme leaving one waiting for the point to be made, or, waiting for the point to STOP being made! I wasn't drawn into the characters' lives as I expected, nor was I made to feel any compelling empathy for the victims here. Certainly I felt moral outrage with the Mormon hierarchy and its apparent hypocrisy as well as with the perpetrators of a truly despicable crime. I felt frightened by the moral certitude that the brothers felt and with the parallels with "jihad" in our world. What I did not find was a compelling listen. So, in summary, this is worth the listen - definitely - for its subject matter, but it does have some limitations in its presentation. Recommended with qualification.

Imperative

A must read -his education on the mormon faith and it's history is necessary for any reader. Good narration by the author.

Religious fanatics....

Gives a good picture on how religion may turn individuals into monsters. Religious belief is a human right, but some people moves past the outer limit of acceptance. A good book telling us not to turn the other cheek, but try to do something to stop these crazy people before they ruin somebodys life.
Childmolesters living in a pedophilia heaven(godgiven right to polygamy and to marry children. Murder committed on direct orders from God. Hey, you dont have to go to the middle-east to see religious fanatics, take a look in your neighbourhood.....