Did you acutally read the book? ("whats up with Mormonism)

According to the article answering the “Whats up with Mormonism” question the book “Under the Banner of Heaven” is classified as having a distainful view of the LDS or LdS (depending how you read the post on that subject), but this is just not true. I found the book enlightening and having a very caring and almost affectionate tone towards Mormons. The author, in the afterward even revers the Mormon community in many ways. Though the subject matter, written mostly about the murder of a Mormon woman and her infant daughter by her brother-in-law, is grisly and disturbing, the author deals very delicately with the connection between the murders and the LdS/LDS church, and he clearly illustrates that they where not part of the mainstream LDS/LdS church, and thus their actions in no way reflect on the views of the majority of Mormon culture. I wonder if the author of the response really read the book, or just reviews there of. Theres my two cents. I wonder if anyone else out there has read it and what they think. Thanks!

Just so everyone is on the same page

What’s up with Mormonism?

I did read it, darcybeth. I borrowed a friend’s copy when it first came out.

I’m not sure whether I should agree with your view or not. On one hand, Krakauer tries to distance the current mainstream LDS church from the splinter fundamentalist groups. But he still puts the blame for these violent and tragic happenings on the early leadership of the LDS, especially Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

This from the San Francisco Chronicle, (July 13, 2003):

Hence my statement. The church officials did not like the book. I thought it was a good read. You thought it was caring and affectionate. Which is it? I went with the church’s statement, seeing as they were the one affected.

Thank you for your views. They are appreciated.

I agree completely. I had very little knowledge of Mormonism before reading the book and di not come away thinking it was anti-Mormon. Certainly some parts were not flattering, but as said previously, the author seemed to go out of the way to explain how those responsible for the murder were not even close to mainstream Mormons.

Well, Krakauer’s book was fascinating. I thought he did subtly connect the lifestyles and crimes committed by the crackpots to a natural outgrowth of mainstream Mormon thinking, which probably was not really fair. I mean, you can find nutcases in any group that don’t represent the whole bunch.

But speaking of mainstream LDS church dogma, what’s hard to believe about any of this?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard of plenty of normal people who’ve had experiences like this. I’ve never been invited to join in, though.