# Did you acutally read the book? ("whats up with Mormonism) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 6, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-acutally-read-the-book-whats-up-with-mormonism/298121 "2005-04-06T23:43:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![darcybeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@darcybeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darcybeth)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-acutally-read-the-book-whats-up-with-mormonism/298121/1 "2005-04-06T23:43:38Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-acutally-read-the-book-whats-up-with-mormonism/298121/2 "2005-04-07T00:22:20Z")
Just so everyone is on the same page [What’s up with Mormonism?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmormon.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-acutally-read-the-book-whats-up-with-mormonism/298121/3 "2005-04-07T00:46:16Z")
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): > [@](#): > > On June 26, just two weeks before the release of “Under the Banner of Heaven,” church spokesman Mike Otterson issued a statement charging that Krakauer was “promoting old stereotypes” and “tars every Mormon with the same brush.” > > “Krakauer’s portrayal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is utterly at odds with what I – and millions like me – have come to know of the church, its goodness and the decency of its people,” Otterson writes. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Megatool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Megatool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Megatool)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-acutally-read-the-book-whats-up-with-mormonism/298121/4 "2005-04-07T00:50:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-acutally-read-the-book-whats-up-with-mormonism/298121/5 "2005-04-07T04:05:18Z")
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? > [@](#): > > According to Smith, on September 21, 1823 he was visited by an angel named Moroni (more-OH-nigh), who told him about a book of gold plates hidden by former inhabitants of the American continent. Moroni said it was Smith’s duty to translate the plates using a special breastplate with “two stones fastened to a silver bow” called the Urim and Thummin and reveal their message to the world. > > I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. 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.