Under the Banner of Heaven - Staff Favorite

TITLE: Under the Banner of Heaven

AUTHOR: Jon Krakauer

CALL NO.: 289.33 KRA

Jon Krakauer’s book details the formation of an extremist Mormon Fundamentalist religion against a true crime background. In July 1984, her brothers murdered a young woman and her baby. The book attempts to explain how these men could feel that this murder was justified and committed at God’s request.

The history of the Mormon Church is chronicled from its beginning in New York, through relocations to Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah. The charismatic Joseph Smith, founder of the church, became its first President, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. Among the things revealed by God to Smith was the covenant of plural marriage, or polygamy. As the Church grew in influence, it became necessary to revoke plural marriage due to the aversion of the United States government to that idea. This occurred in the 1880’s, and many fundamentalist Mormon splinter groups formed throughout North America in reaction. These groups flourished with an active underground population faithful to plural marriage.

This book attempts to explain how a history of violence and persecution, coupled with a faith in which the prophet exercises absolute control over its followers can lead to murder in the name of God. The Mormon Fundamentalists described felt that God’s law superseded man’s law (or government law). The unfortunate woman who challenged her husband’s right to multiple wives lost her life when her brother in law felt a command from God to remove her.

This book is a very interesting history of the Mormon Fundamentalist movement, but does seem to paint the Mormon faith in a negative light. The issue of polygamy and its effect on young teenage girls married to much older men is explored, also. Parallels between these Fundamentalist religions and other world religions advocating terrorism are brought to light by the author.

Reviewed by: Anne Render