Under the Banner of Heaven

Celine Wright

1/10/11

AP Comp

Under the Banner of Heaven

By Jon Krakauer

It’s the fastest growing religion in the country. U.S. News and Report recorded that if the growth continued at this rate, by 2080 there would be 265 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon church). Still, Mormonism isn’t usually held in the highest of regards. Few know its history, but the fundamentalist sect and its ties to polygamy, still remain the dark cloud over Mormonism’s general image.

Jon Krakauer’s book seeks to examine the history of Mormonism, and in doing so, reveals striking realities about its fundamentalist branch. The first thing Krakauer does, is root his reader in a story. In the summer of 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty murdered their brother Allen’s wife and infant daughter. The murders were results of a revelation they received from god telling them to do so. It’s a recurrent theme: revelations from “god” inspiring bold, often completely delusional men to take action because of guidance.

An ethereal light awakened Joseph Smith in his bedroom in 1823, when he was only 17. The angel called himself Moroni and was there to tell Smith about an ancient text written on gold plates that were buried 1400 years earlier. He unburied the plates (the location would later become the sacred Mormon landmark the Hill Cumorah). Smith’s translation of the plates later became The Book of Mormon.

The Hill Cumorah is most easily likened to Mecca and the Kaaba, in a sense: The holiest of holy places in the two religions, respectively. The annual Hill Cumorah Pageant is a hollywood-ized version of a religious festival, complete with light shows, special effects and thousands of cheap plastic chairs. “Families sprawl on blankets alongside the edge of a meadow, eating fried chicken and Jell-O salad from plastic coolers,” (65) as it, says in the book.

It’s apparent that the Mormon religion is cast in an exceedingly negative light. Not only is it apparently the destined “white trash” religion of America, but also is filled with crimes of a completely insane nature. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is when Krakauer delves deep into places like Colorado City where polygamy is rampant. Tales of pedophilia, girls being forced to marry men as much as forty years older, being raped and getting pregnant all because the “prophet” has been told by god to arrange the marriage. Krakauer recounts the story of fourteen year-old Elizabeth Smart who was abducted by Brian David Mitchell, an ex-communicated Mormon fundamentalist. Dan Lafferty just happened to follow the story and surmise (before it was proven true) that Mitchell was a fundamentalist Mormon.

Is being a fundamentalist Mormon so visible? I mean, is the sect of the religion really so screwed up that one can distinguish the behavior of the other? People have likened the plight of fundamentalist Mormons to the Taliban and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Actually written on the tails of 9/11, in a sort of round-a-bout way Under the Banner of Heaven can kind of help us answer questions about the basis of fundamentalism and what moves these people to commit such crimes.

The book flips between current anecdotes, to the historical sub-plot. The Mormon journey across the country, eventually ending up in the land of Deseret (Salt Lake City). The rule of Brigham Young, successor to Joseph Smith, and the subsequent massacres that resulted from consistent opposition by the so-called “gentiles.” Polygamy has long been banned by the Mormon church, but with media representation through television shows (Big Love, Sister Wives, etc..) it’s often hard to distinguish between a fundamentalist Mormon and a normal Mormon.

The book is a compelling read, especially in the beginning with the horrifying accounts of polygamy and the inner-workings of Colorado City, and the like. However, by the end, I was thoroughly fed up by the historical component. Part of me thinks that Krakauer needed to insert more of his own personal opinion. It is a work of modern journalism, but it reads like an empty shell. Sure the material is relevant to the time period, but why is it relevant to me, as a person?