Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

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✝️ Book Review: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Come for the true crime, stay for the wild ride through Mormon history.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning:

This review includes major spoilers about the book’s events, including the real-life murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty, as well as historical revelations about the origins of Mormonism. Proceed with caution—or curiosity.

🙋‍♀️ What I Thought

Okay. So I went into this book expecting straight-up true crime. You know, a gripping, gritty murder story, courtroom drama, psychological dive—the usual.

What I got was part true crime, part deep dive into the founding and evolution of the Mormon religion, and part “Am I reading a college textbook right now?”

And honestly? I didn’t hate it. But let’s just say I wasn’t prepared for this to be half history lecture, half murder story. That said, I learned a TON. The history of Mormonism is absolutely wild—and frankly, kind of unbelievable. Like… how is anyone okay with this origin story??

So, because of how well-researched and well-written it is (even if the pacing is textbook-adjacent at times), I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars.

📕 Overview of Under the Banner of Heaven

Originally published in 2003, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is Krakauer’s deep investigation into religious extremism in America, focusing on a brutal double murder committed by two brothers who believed they were acting on a divine command.

And while yes, this is true crime, it’s also a deep, disturbing, and fascinating history lesson about the origins and offshoots of Mormonism, from Joseph Smith’s revelations to the violent and polygamy-obsessed world of fundamentalist sects.

🔪 Full Plot Summary (Yes, With Spoilers)

The core of the book revolves around the 1984 murders of Brenda Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, by her brothers-in-law, Ron and Dan Lafferty. They believed God told them to commit a blood atonement—basically a “righteous killing”—because Brenda had encouraged Ron’s wife to leave him and was, in their minds, interfering with “God’s plan.”

👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 The Lafferty Brothers

The Lafferty family was deeply religious, and their upbringing was, well… strict. There was abuse, control, and a lot of emphasis on obedience to authority—especially religious authority. When Dan started reading early Mormon texts and became obsessed with Mormon fundamentalism, he pulled Ron into his delusions. Ron was vulnerable after his wife left him (on Brenda’s advice), and Dan offered a theology that gave his suffering a “higher purpose.”

From there, things spiraled. Dan started preparing to take his stepdaughter as a second wife (yikes), and Ron received what he believed was a revelation from God instructing him to kill Brenda and Erica. Dan happily supported the mission.

And on Pioneer Day (July 24th, an important Mormon holiday), they carried out the murders. They brutally killed Brenda and slit baby Erica’s throat—all in the name of their twisted, extremist interpretation of faith.

📚 A Deep Dive into Mormon History

(AKA the part where I said “wait, WHAT?” every other page)

Now here’s the part I didn’t expect: Krakauer spends a large portion of the book tracing the origins and evolution of Mormonism—and let me tell you, it’s wild.

🔹 Joseph Smith and the Origins

Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1820s after claiming to receive direct revelations from God. He translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates he supposedly dug up after being directed by an angel named Moroni. Smith’s teachings quickly gained followers—and critics.

Soon, Smith introduced polygamy, claiming it was a divine principle. He kept this secret for a while (even from his wife), but eventually admitted he had dozens of wives—some as young as 14.

🔹 Violence and the Early Saints

Mormons faced heavy persecution and were pushed out of multiple states. In response, they developed a siege mentality, occasionally resorting to violence. The most infamous event was the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre, where Mormon militia members (with the help of Paiute allies) slaughtered an entire wagon train of settlers, believing them to be government spies.

🔹 The Split: LDS vs. Fundamentalists

Eventually, the mainstream LDS Church publicly renounced polygamy in order to gain statehood for Utah. But some groups—like the Lafferty brothers’ sect—believed this was apostasy. These fundamentalist Mormon groups continued practicing polygamy and embraced early teachings like blood atonement and personal revelation—meaning God could speak directly to individuals and give them orders.

Which… is what Ron and Dan Lafferty claimed happened.

💭 Final Thoughts

Here’s the big question I kept asking myself while reading:
“How can anyone still be a Mormon if they know the actual history?”

Because honestly… so many of the early church figures just seem mentally unwell. Like delusions, paranoia, narcissism—there’s a LOT going on.

Of course, Krakauer makes clear that mainstream Mormons reject the violent and extreme interpretations of the faith, and he tries to walk the line between fair reporting and critical analysis. But still—once you’ve read about Smith, Brigham Young, and the polygamist compounds? It’s hard not to raise an eyebrow (or two).

⚠️ Trigger Warnings

This book contains:

  • Murder and violence against women and children

  • Religious extremism and cult behavior

  • Child sexual abuse (discussed in historical contexts)

  • Polygamy and forced marriage

  • Psychological abuse

  • Sexism, racism, and religious discrimination

🛒 Buy the Book

👉 Buy Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer on Amazon (affiliate link)

📖 You Might Also Like:

  • 🔪 Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi – True crime meets cult ideology.

  • 🧕 Educated by Tara Westover – A memoir about growing up in a Mormon survivalist family.

  • 👁️ Going Clear by Lawrence Wright – A deep dive into Scientology with eerily similar cult-ish vibes.

  • ✝️ The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn – Another cautionary tale of charismatic religious leaders gone very wrong.

🗓️ Bonus Fact: Pioneer Day

The Lafferty murders happened on Pioneer Day, July 24th—the day this blog post goes live, and also the day Mormon settlers first entered Utah in 1847. (Not by any intentional planning on my part.) Coincidence?

💬 Final Word

If you like your true crime with a heaping side of historical context, Under the Banner of Heaven will blow your mind. It’s smart, gripping, and disturbing—just be prepared for a few detours into theology class.

And maybe don’t read it before bed. Especially the parts with baby Erica. 😞

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