h2odva 's review for:

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

4.0

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Krakauer is again an excellent story teller. The book is comprised of four parts. Too much of the book is about Dan and Ron Lafferty (for my interests). The book opens with (and returns with chilling detail) the brutal 1984 murder of Brenda (Dan and Ron’s sister-in-law) and her 15-month-old daughter (Erica) in the name of a divine revelation. A lot of content is focused on FLDS (fundamentalists and excommunicated off shoots from LDS). I found myself disturbed and rather upset that this book is non-fiction. I was gripped by the history of the LDS/ Mormon church. Prior this book, I knew little about Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois, and the Mountain Meadows Massacre in Utah. Starting in upstate New York to the Midwest and finally with Brigham Young to Utah. Learning about this slice of history that makes the American West what it is. I’ve driven past many sections of the Mormon trail and landmarks, and toured a LDS temple in Fort Collins and visited the SLC temple square. My hometown founded by Mormons fleeing persecution.

I don’t think the violence presented herein is unique to one specific religion.. but it certainly isn’t something to make me want to rejoin active participation in an organized version of a white males control of women.