429:, managing director of public affairs for the LDS Church, condemned Krakauer's example of religious "zealots" to draw conclusions about all Mormons and any propensity for violence. Otterson said that, after reading the book, "One could be forgiven for concluding that every Latter-day Saint, including your friendly Mormon neighbor, has a tendency to violence. And so Krakauer unwittingly puts himself in the same camp as those who believe every German is a Nazi, every Japanese a fanatic, and every Arab a terrorist."
238:
is a core belief of fundamentalist
Mormonism, as well as the mainstream LDS Church. Ron showed the members of the School of Prophets a written "removal revelation" that allegedly called for the killing of Brenda and her baby. After other members of the School failed to honor Ron's removal revelation,
422:
of the LDS Church, argued that the book contained historical errors and incorrect assertions, and showed "unfamiliarity with basic aspects" of the Church's history, theology and administrative structure, and criticized the work for lacking a "scientific methodology". He accused
Krakauer of "condemn
246:
After the murders, the police found the written "revelation" concerning Brenda and Erica. The press widely reported that Ron had received a revelation to kill the mother and child. Afterward, the
Lafferty brothers conducted a recorded press conference at which Ron said that the "revelation" was not
229:
The book opens with news accounts of the 1984 murder of Brenda
Lafferty and her infant daughter Erica. Brenda was married to Allen Lafferty, the youngest of the Lafferty brothers. His older brothers Dan and Ron disapproved of their sister-in-law Brenda because they believed she was the reason Dan's
369:
of emigrants passing through their territory. These early
Mormons went to great lengths to conceal their part in the massacre (including dressing as the Paiute and painting their faces in similar fashion). The Civil War interrupted investigations of the events, and no one was indicted until 1874,
410:
listed the book in his top ten true crime books, and described
Krakauer as "a master journalist and storyteller who is unfettered and unafraid of the true crime mantle. pries open the golden doors to one of the newest and fastest-growing religions in America to set the stage for the non-fiction
377:
Krakauer cites information gleaned from several interviews with Dan
Lafferty and former and current members of the Crossfield School of the Prophets, as well as other fundamentalist Mormons. He refers to several histories about the formation of Mormonism to tie the origins of the religion to the
423:
religion generally". In his 2004 paperback edition of the book, Krakauer responded to these allegations, noting that Turley's pre-emptive "response" preceded the book's release, and that LDS leaders had explicitly advocated the whitewashing of LDS history, amongst other points.
247:
addressed to him, but to "Todd" and that the revelation called only for "removal" of Brenda and her baby, and did not use the word "kill". The jury at Ron's trial was shown these remarks of Ron denying he had received a revelation to kill Brenda and Erica.
347:
After the
Manifesto, some members broke away from the mainstream church to form what eventually became the FLDS Church, the most popular group of fundamentalist Mormonism. The FLDS Church continues to encourage polygamy, as do some other breakaway groups.
275:
and ongoing revelation from God through living prophets. In addition they tended to conduct business and personal relations only with other members of their community. There were violent clashes between
Mormons and non-Mormons, culminating in
242:
Dan claimed that he slit both of the victims' throats. But, at the 2001 trial, Chip Carnes, who was riding in the getaway car, testified that Ron said that he had killed Brenda, and that Ron had thanked his brother for "doing the baby".
497:, sentenced to life for polygamy and abuse of minors. Krakauer participated in this film and appears on camera, as he continued his own investigation of sects that practiced polygamy. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, both working on the
271:. While violence seemed to accompany the Mormons, Krakauer notes that they did not necessarily initiate it. Early Mormons faced religious persecution from mainstream Protestant Christians, due to their unorthodox beliefs, including
394:
God is greater than the United States, and when the
Government conflicts with heaven, we will be ranged under the banner of heaven against the Government. The United States says we cannot marry more than one wife. God says
356:
Krakauer examines events in Latter Day Saint history and compares them to modern-day FLDS doctrine (and other minority versions of Mormonism, such as the Crossfield School of the Prophets). He examines the 1857
230:
wife left him (after refusing to allow him to marry a plural/second wifeâhis stepdaughters). Both men's extremism reached new heights when they became members of the School of the Prophets, founded and led by
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202:
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284:, where he was awaiting trial for inciting a riot after ordering, as Nauvoo's mayor, in conjunction with the City Council, the destruction of the printing press of the
370:
when nine men were charged. For nearly two decades the falsehood held that the massacre was due solely to the Paiute. The only person ever convicted in the affair was
171:
309:, many Mormons believed they would be left alone by the United States government, as the territory was then part of Mexico. Soon after their arrival, the
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Cole, Bradford and Williams Kenneth ed. "Utah's Road to Statehood." Salt Lake City: Utah State Division of Archives and Record Service, 1995.
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189:(also known by his prophet name Onias). The group accepts many beliefs of the original LDS church at the time when it ceased the practice of
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led by Brigham Young as Governor, where polygamy continued to be practiced for 43 years. Finally, on September 23, 1890,
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writing the screenplay. In June 2021, it was announced that the book was being redeveloped as a limited series for
374:, a former member of the LDS Church. He was convicted and executed by the state in 1877 for his role in the crime.
255:
After opening with the Lafferty case, Krakauer explores the history of Mormonism, starting with the early life of
419:
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Smith's highly controversial revelation of plural marriage threatened to split apart followers of the faith. The
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170:, first published in July 2003. He investigated and juxtaposed two histories: the origin and evolution of
707:"Warner Bros Acquiring Jon Krakauer's 'Under The Banner Of Heaven' For Ron Howard And Dustin Lance Black"
565:"Chapter XXI: The Destruction of the "Nauvoo Expositor"âProceedings of the Nauvoo City Council and Mayor"
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The Laffertys were formerly members of a very small splinter group called the School of Prophets, led by
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Krakauer, Chapter 20, p. 250 (quoting John Taylor, address, Jan. 4, 1880, Great Salt Lake City).
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I availed myself of this rich history by draining my bank account in bookstores near and far.
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234:. After joining this group, Ron claimed that God had sent him revelations about Brenda.
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Manohla Dargis, "Review: âProphetâs Prey,â a Documentary About Mormon Fundamentalists"
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263:. He follows his life from a criminal fraud trial to leading the first followers to
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344:) which officially banned polygamy. Six years later, Utah was granted statehood.
174:(LDS Church) and a modern double murder committed in the name of God by brothers
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of the book as producers, were also executive producers of the documentary.
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of the Church, claimed to have received a revelation from God (known as the
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signed on February 2, 1848, this land and the rest of what would become the
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123:
493:, about fundamentalist Mormons practicing polygamy, based on the case of
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in the 1890s, but it does not identify with those who call themselves
800:
The Controversy between the Laffertys and the School of the Prophets
753:"How to Watch 'Under the Banner of Heaven' Starring Andrew Garfield"
197:. The book examines the ideologies of both the LDS Church and the
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Indians rounded up and murdered approximately 120 members of the
290:, a local publication which had been declared a public nuisance.
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http://archives.utah.gov/research/exhibits/Statehood/setroad.htm
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811:
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669:"Church Response to Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven"
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modern iterations of both the church and the fundamentalists.
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on June 27, 1844, when a mob shot him after attacking him in
117:
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Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
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In 2015, Amy Berg released her independent documentary,
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From Nauvoo, the Mormons trekked westward to modern-day
902:
Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town
386:
The title of the book is drawn from an 1880 address by
251:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints history
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during the Utah War, in which Mormons and some local
605:
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
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313:occurred, with Mexico's eventual defeat. Under the
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970:History books about the Latter Day Saint movement
178:, who subscribed to a fundamentalist version of
886:Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman
172:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
854:Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains
823:
475:to star. The series debuted in April 2022 on
8:
447:purchased the film rights to the book, with
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741:17 September 2015; accessed 7 December 2016
646:"Charles Graeber's top 10 true crime books"
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816:
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414:In advance of the book's release in 2003,
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28:
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459:, with Black still attached as writer,
439:Under the Banner of Heaven (miniseries)
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7:
538:20 P.3d 342 (2001) UT 19, para. 118.
550:20 P.3d 342 (2001) UT 19, para. 99.
259:, founder and first prophet of the
212:that began airing in April 2022 on
19:For the television adaptation, see
751:Creahan, Danica (April 21, 2022).
14:
1000:Works about polygamy in Mormonism
990:Works about Mormon fundamentalism
321:were ceded to the United States.
305:). Arriving in what they called
923:Into Thin Air: Death on Everest
780:Official Doubleday Website for
210:limited series of the same name
201:polygamous groups, such as the
239:the brothers quit the School.
1:
789:Bookbrowse.com Reading Guides
686:Krakauer, Jon (3 July 2003).
705:Fleming, Mike (2011-07-19).
688:"A Response from the Author"
573:, Salt Lake City: LDS Church
995:Books critical of Mormonism
418:, managing director of the
315:Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
297:, led by Smith's successor
30:Under the Banner of Heaven
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878:Under the Banner of Heaven
782:Under the Banner of Heaven
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526:, Brigham Young University
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208:The book was adapted as a
22:Under the Banner of Heaven
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980:Mountain Meadows Massacre
463:serving as director, and
420:Church History Department
359:Mountain Meadows massacre
261:Latter Day Saint movement
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16:2003 book by Jon Krakauer
608:. Anchor Books. p.
265:Jackson County, Missouri
985:Non-fiction crime books
382:Derivation of the title
975:2003 non-fiction books
785:(Retrieved 22-2-2008).
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236:Communication with God
195:fundamentalist Mormons
795:New York Times Review
757:Entertainment Tonight
570:History of the Church
499:television adaptation
433:Television adaptation
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199:fundamentalist Mormon
894:Three Cups of Deceit
311:MexicanâAmerican War
232:Robert C. Crossfield
187:Robert C. Crossfield
176:Ron and Dan Lafferty
913:Film and television
483:Related documentary
404:Charles Graeber of
367:BakerâFancher party
148:Where Men Win Glory
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712:Deadline Hollywood
599:"Author's Remarks"
522:2012-06-04 at the
453:Dustin Lance Black
319:American Southwest
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654:. 2 October 2013.
548:Utah v. Lafferty,
536:Utah v. Lafferty,
473:Daisy Edgar-Jones
416:Richard E. Turley
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388:John Taylor
372:John D. Lee
352:Comparisons
303:controversy
964:Categories
718:2011-07-26
505:References
477:FX on Hulu
449:Ron Howard
395:different.
214:FX on Hulu
164:nonfiction
73:Nonfiction
65:LDS Church
762:April 30,
400:Reception
338:president
180:Mormonism
124:842901458
83:July 2003
673:Newsroom
520:Archived
411:drama."
273:polygamy
220:Synopsis
191:polygamy
54:Language
939:Everest
307:Deseret
225:Murders
62:Subject
57:English
950:(2022)
942:(2015)
934:(2007)
926:(1997)
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857:(1990)
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363:Paiute
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267:, and
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