Introduction
Summary of the book Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. Before moving forward, let’s briefly explore the core idea of the book. Before you begin, imagine standing at the edge of a vast forest, the trees stretching out into a dim mystery. You have heard whispers that somewhere within lies a secret: a tale of faith, visions, ancient texts, and tragic violence. You sense that unraveling this story may demand courage and open-mindedness, for it is not a simple crime drama nor a tidy history lesson. It is a complex, unsettling account of how a fervent belief system, born from hopeful revelations, could twist into acts that defy understanding. As you step into these pages, you will encounter the birth of a religion in the American frontier, feel the rising tensions of an embattled community, and see how certain doctrines paved the way for extremist ideas. This introduction invites you not to fear the unknown, but to look beneath familiar stories and discover how faith can be both a guiding light—and a haunting shadow.
Chapter 1: Where Heavenly Messages Turn Dark and a Family’s Faith Collides With Death.
In the spring of 1984, in a quiet Utah community, a set of brothers claiming special divine guidance faced a decision that would chill the blood of anyone who heard their story. Ron and Dan Lafferty, who considered themselves chosen by God to carry out His will on Earth, gathered with a small group of like-minded believers. These were men who had once worshipped together in secretive circles, calling themselves prophets and saints. Yet something had changed. Ron Lafferty had received what he called a removal revelation, a message he believed came straight from heaven. This supposed command named certain individuals who, in Ron’s eyes, stood in the way of God’s grand plan. Among those targets were his own sister-in-law, Brenda, and her tiny baby daughter, Erica. The other believers balked at this shocking order, but Ron and Dan stood firm, convinced they were guided by righteous power that soared above any human law.
As days turned to weeks, tension thickened around the Lafferty family. Brenda was no stranger to their intense religious conversations. She knew her brothers-in-law had peculiar beliefs. Brenda, a bright and courageous young woman, had dared to speak her mind against the darker turns in their faith. She believed in standing up for herself and for others, refusing to be intimidated by strange doctrines or the idea that a woman’s voice did not matter. Her husband, Alan Lafferty, tried to shield her from the brewing storm. He warned his brothers that he would protect his family at all costs. Yet the brothers Ron and Dan felt utterly convinced that God’s instruction outweighed family loyalty. They discussed their grim plan in their mother’s dining room, openly and calmly. No one truly intervened. To them, refusing God’s command might mean risking divine wrath. They were ready to do the unthinkable.
Inside the Lafferty clan, this frightening situation was not born from simple anger or family disputes alone. It sprang from a much deeper well: a belief system twisted into something unrecognizable. Ron and Dan’s view of faith had traveled far beyond the mainstream teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While modern Mormon leaders distanced themselves from extreme practices, Ron and Dan clung to older, more radical interpretations. They believed they were restoring an ancient purity, purging all who stood in their way. When their trusted friends turned away, horrified by the murder plot, Ron and Dan saw only the weak falling away. In their minds, they stood as God’s chosen soldiers, loyal and fearless. The brothers understood this path would bring violence, blood, and terror—yet they imagined themselves heroes in a grand cosmic drama that ordinary believers could never understand.
By the time July arrived, the brothers could no longer contain their murderous intent. They targeted Brenda and Erica as if completing a sacred chore. On a warm Pioneer Day, a holiday cherished by Utah’s faithful, they arrived at the family’s home, pretending it was just another day. But they carried knives and determination in their hearts. Their transformation from faithful servants into ruthless killers was now complete. The idea that God had chosen them for this deed had become an unshakable truth in their minds. Faith, once intended to guide people toward kindness and understanding, had turned into a terrifying weapon. The shocking events that followed would not only shatter one family but also shine a harsh light on the darkest corners of religious fanaticism. In the wake of the tragedy, the quiet neighborhood would never be the same, and neither would those who dared to ask why.
Chapter 2: An Ancient Scripture Unearthed, Mysterious Golden Plates, and a Young Prophet’s Burden.
To grasp how faith could twist into brutality, it helps to step back into the 19th century and follow a young man named Joseph Smith. Long before the Lafferty brothers, Smith claimed to have been guided by an angel named Moroni to a set of golden plates buried on a hillside in upstate New York. The story he told was unlike anything his neighbors had heard: plates inscribed with sacred words in an unknown language, waiting quietly underground for centuries, just so he could reveal them to the world. Many found his claims ridiculous, but to his early followers, he was the mouthpiece of heaven. He declared that these plates contained a scripture that traced the migration of ancient Hebrews to the Americas, explaining that these lost tribes shaped the early history of the New World. It was a grand and risky claim that would change American religion forever.
Acquiring these golden plates was no simple matter. According to Smith, the angel Moroni promised he would only gain possession of them once he matured enough and married the right woman. Smith courted Emma Hale and, despite her father’s deep suspicion and outright opposition, they eventually married. Together, they returned to the hill each year until the conditions were met. At last, in 1827, Smith held the plates. Yet the words engraved on them were not in English but in an odd Egyptian-like script. To translate them, Smith used special stones and unusual methods. Sometimes he peered into a hat containing a seer stone, shutting out all light, and reading aloud what he claimed were heavenly words. His scribes listened closely and wrote down every sentence, trusting he was relaying God’s truth. It was a strange and secretive process that tested the faith of everyone involved.
After the initial work was done, disaster struck when a portion of the manuscript disappeared. Martin Harris, a key supporter, had borrowed these precious pages to show his doubting wife, only to see them vanish. This event rocked their small circle. Could they redo the translation? What if the revelation changed the second time around? Smith insisted that God would not allow him to recreate the exact text. Instead, a different portion of the plates would be translated. By mid-1829, a new manuscript took shape, and by 1830, the first copies of the Book of Mormon were printed. Harris mortgaged his farm to cover the printing costs, a gamble that threatened his family’s well-being but, in his view, served a divine mission. The foundation of a new faith—the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—was thus laid, and Joseph Smith’s once-laughable claims began attracting devoted followers.
Early converts and curious onlookers were stunned by this new scripture. The Book of Mormon told an epic tale: ancient migrations of believers, battles between good and evil tribes, and a visit from the resurrected Jesus to the Americas. For believers, this text was a sign that God’s word was alive and still unfolding. They gathered around Joseph Smith, who continued to receive revelations about how to organize a new church. With each divine communication, he introduced doctrines that guided his flock: rules for worship, the structure of leadership, and moral principles that stretched beyond traditional Christian teachings. Many ridiculed him as a fraud, but his followers saw themselves as chosen people, guided by a prophet in a world that had lost its connection to pure truth. In time, their numbers swelled, and their faith would carry them into new lands and even greater conflicts.
Chapter 3: The Epic Journey to Zion, Unrest in New Lands, and Rising Tensions.
As Joseph Smith’s followers grew in number, they began to feel the weight of their neighbors’ suspicion. They believed they were building Zion—God’s kingdom on Earth—and that the American landscape held special promise. Their prophet directed them first to Ohio, then to Missouri, each time searching for the place where they would flourish without interference. Yet the local populations often saw these newcomers as arrogant intruders. The Saints tended to vote as a single bloc, making their collective will strongly felt in elections. They bought large tracts of land, conducted business primarily among themselves, and their increasingly confident talk of divine missions made others uneasy. They opposed slavery, a stance that enraged many in slaveholding regions. Before long, disputes flared into open hostility.
In Jackson County, Missouri, tensions exploded. Mobs attacked Mormon settlements, and the Saints, as they called themselves, fought back. Both sides shed blood. Houses burned, crops were destroyed, and fear took hold. The Saints’ dreams of building a peaceful city of God seemed to dissolve in violent clashes. Local authorities saw the Mormons as a destabilizing force, and the Mormons saw their persecutors as instruments of evil trying to crush God’s chosen community. Amid the chaos, Joseph Smith himself faced threats and arrests. He tried to negotiate, to reason, and at times even offered himself up to restore peace. Yet no simple solution presented itself, and hostilities dragged on. The Saints yearned for a new place to settle, somewhere they could finally practice their faith without harassment.
Eventually, the Saints fled Missouri and took refuge in Illinois, founding a new city called Nauvoo. For a time, Nauvoo thrived. They built homes, farms, shops, and even a temple, hoping this place would be different. Smith’s reputation grew more complex. Some admired him as a man of vision, while others whispered about strange teachings. In Nauvoo, rumors spread that Joseph Smith was introducing mysterious new doctrines and practices behind closed doors. Even loyal followers grew uncertain. At the same time, the larger community around them grew wary. Once again, the friction of differing values and beliefs produced sparks. Nauvoo promised a bright future, but old patterns of suspicion and conflict lurked in the background, waiting to ignite.
As tensions mounted, Smith’s leadership entered a more dangerous phase. Dissident voices emerged from within his circle, men who once trusted him but now believed he had strayed from the right path. Some accused him of mixing political power, business schemes, and secret teachings that unsettled both Saints and outsiders. Meanwhile, local residents in Illinois felt threatened by the influence the Mormons wielded. Conflicts intensified, and Smith, holding titles like prophet, mayor, and military commander, found himself wrestling with complex responsibilities. He hoped that once the Saints could live in peace, the fullness of divine truth would guide them toward a grand destiny. But history took a darker turn, paving the way for upheavals and revelations that would set the stage for even more controversial beliefs—beliefs that, in later generations, would inspire extremist actions by people like the Lafferty brothers.
Chapter 4: Secret Marriages, Celestial Unions, Quietly Whispered Truths, and the Seeds of Polygamous Revolution.
One of the most unsettling turns in early Mormon history emerged quietly: the practice of plural marriage, or polygamy. Joseph Smith claimed he received a revelation from God instructing that men should take multiple wives to raise up righteous children and fill the Earth with believers. Yet he understood this would shock the world, and even his beloved wife, Emma, recoiled in horror when she discovered the truth. At first, polygamy remained hidden, known only to a select group of trusted followers. Women and men sometimes struggled to understand its purpose: Was it truly divine will or the willful desire of their prophet-leader? Within this secretive world, Smith married numerous women, believing these celestial unions would ensure eternal glory. But the cost was high, and tensions simmered beneath the surface.
By the time Joseph Smith’s life ended violently in 1844, polygamy had already become a carefully guarded secret. After his death, Brigham Young stepped forward to lead the Saints. He boldly proclaimed that plural marriage was not just a hidden experiment but a key doctrine. In the remote valleys of Utah, far from the laws and judgment of other Americans, polygamy blossomed into a defining feature of the Mormon faith. Families grew complex, with multiple wives and a web of children. Men like Young saw this as fulfilling God’s command, proving their devotion and sealing their eternal family links. Many outside observers found it bizarre and immoral, but for those who embraced it, polygamy represented a courageous step toward divine perfection.
Over time, however, pressures from the United States government and the wider public forced the mainstream LDS Church to reconsider. In 1890, the church officially abandoned plural marriage to avoid fierce crackdowns and the loss of their hard-won homeland in Utah. This decision disappointed many who had staked their faith on the purity of original teachings. Some believers felt the church had abandoned God’s law to appease human governments. This fracture created room for breakaway groups—fundamentalist sects—who clung to polygamy as the sacred heart of their religion. They believed the mainstream church had strayed and that they were the only ones keeping alive the true flame of Joseph Smith’s revelations.
These fundamentalist offshoots existed quietly for decades, often on the fringes of society. They formed closed communities in rural areas and sometimes across international borders, maintaining practices the mainstream church had long since renounced. To them, secret marriages and old doctrines remained holy obligations. As the 20th century passed, these groups often encountered legal troubles, raids, and public scorn. Still, they pressed on, confident that their interpretation of God’s word was correct. Out of this complicated spiritual landscape emerged individuals like Ron and Dan Lafferty, who saw themselves as champions of a true faith, untainted by compromise. It is within this unsettled realm—where official teachings, secret revelations, and personal convictions clashed—that the seeds of the Lafferty brothers’ violent acts would eventually grow into terrifying reality.
Chapter 5: Fractured Faith, Breakaway Sect Leaders, and a Family’s Profound Descent into Extremism.
When the Lafferty brothers stumbled upon fundamentalist Mormon communities, they found what they thought was a more authentic faith. Ron and Dan already felt disillusioned by the mainstream church’s willingness to adapt to modern society. Why should the true church of God discard polygamy or allow all races into its priesthood if the earliest prophets had taught otherwise? To them, this seemed like a betrayal. They turned to small circles of believers, often led by self-proclaimed prophets who promised that they, like Joseph Smith, had divine authority to restore the old ways. In these secretive gatherings, Ron and Dan felt their doubts lifted. They discovered that the uncompromising, old-fashioned belief system these groups embraced matched the convictions forming in their own hearts.
The Laffertys immersed themselves in literature and teachings that glorified the early Saints and condemned the modern world. In these texts, they saw heroes who would stop at nothing to follow God’s word—even if that meant breaking earthly laws. Slowly, their minds took a dark turn. They began to think of themselves as instruments of divine justice. If their wives disagreed with polygamy, maybe their wives lacked the proper faith. If the mainstream church abandoned certain doctrines, perhaps those leaders were enemies of the truth. Suspicion bred anger, and anger bred fantasies of righteous vengeance against anyone who stood in their way, including members of their own family who resisted their extremist views.
Within the Lafferty household, tension mounted. Brenda, a strong-willed and educated woman who married into the family, challenged their extreme ideas. She encouraged other women not to submit blindly. She questioned the wild claims Ron and Dan made, urging moderation and common sense. Her outspokenness irritated them. They believed she was undermining God’s work. Ron’s personal life spiraled downward too. He lost his job, defied traffic laws as a statement against earthly authorities, and drifted further into a world where only divine rules mattered. The brothers grew convinced that Brenda’s influence was a sinful barrier, blocking their path to fulfilling God’s wishes. This conviction, fed by their isolation and the echo chamber of radical belief, prepared the ground for the terrible acts that would follow.
The brothers’ eyes turned to what they called a removal revelation. They believed God had pointed out certain individuals who must be eliminated. Brenda’s name, tragically, was first on the list. Also condemned was her baby daughter, Erica, and others who had supported the Lafferty wives against the brothers’ extremist plans. By now, they had severed ties with moderating voices, labeling anyone who disagreed as children of the devil. This narrative provided them with a twisted form of comfort. They were no longer just misguided men; they were warriors for truth, stepping into a shadowy realm where violent acts could be excused as holy service. With each passing day, their faith drifted further from compassion and closer to cruelty, setting the stage for an irreversible crime.
Chapter 6: Bloody Deeds, Chilling Doctrine of Blood Atonement, and Murders on a Summer Day.
On July 24, 1984—Pioneer Day, a sacred occasion marking the arrival of Mormon settlers into Utah—the Lafferty brothers acted. They arrived at their brother Alan’s home, determined to carry out the removal revelation. Brenda, unaware of the lethal intent behind the knock on her door, faced not just family members, but now brutal executioners clothed in the language of heavenly duty. Dan forced his way inside, and soon Brenda lay unconscious. Ron joined in, ensuring there was no turning back. In that fateful moment, the line between pious believers and ruthless murderers disappeared. Faith and violence fused into something monstrous.
As Brenda lay still, Dan approached Erica’s crib. The tiny girl, innocent and joyful, represented the pure opposite of the hatred surrounding her. Yet in Dan’s twisted mind, this too was God’s command. Holding a knife and summoning a grim resolve, he claimed he was doing the Lord’s work. He took the child’s life with cold efficiency, shutting down every natural instinct that should protect a baby. Afterward, he calmly washed the blood from the blade, as if washing away doubt itself. The brothers stepped back into the sunlight, the deed done. They set off to find their next targets, too hardened to sense the horror of their actions.
Their second intended victim, a woman named Chloe Lowe, was luckily absent from her home. In frustration, they stole valuables and vandalized her possessions before moving on. The same grim fate awaited Richard Stowe, another target who had dared to oppose the brothers’ radical direction. Yet as they traveled, something disrupted their plan. A missed turn, companions losing their nerve, and unexpected delays all conspired to prevent further killings. Their partners, now terrified by what they had witnessed, insisted it was a sign from God to stop. Ron and Dan, however, still believed in their destiny. When their traveling partners deserted them, they pressed forward alone, wandering across state lines, feeding on casino buffets, and sleeping in strangers’ vehicles. Their behavior became reckless and directionless, as if waiting for fate to catch up.
Eventually, fate did catch up. The police found them in Nevada and arrested them without a fight. The brothers offered no remorse. They insisted their actions had been commanded by God. They took comfort in the old Mormon legends of blood atonement, an idea that some sins required death to be truly cleansed. Historical tales of fierce enforcers like Porter Rockwell, known as the Destroying Angel, provided twisted role models. Trapped behind bars, Ron suffered new revelations and even attempted to kill Dan in jail, seeing him now as a betrayer. Dan considered himself a holy prophet like Elijah, preparing for Christ’s return. Their minds spun in circles of fanaticism. Tried in separate courts, Dan received life in prison, Ron a sentence of death. The shocking murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty served as a warning of how religious zeal, fed by extremist interpretations, could destroy innocent lives and tear families apart.
Chapter 7: Trials, Spiritual Reckoning, Haunting Questions, and the Lingering Echoes of Violent Faith.
In the aftermath of the trials, the story of the Lafferty brothers left deep wounds. Journalists, historians, and ordinary citizens struggled to understand how a faith that began with promises of restoration and goodness could produce such a brutal crime. The mainstream LDS Church had long distanced itself from the old ways that Ron and Dan clung to. Yet the brothers insisted their acts were justified by God’s ancient laws. Their voices echoed the confusion of a religious past filled with complexities—where revelations encouraged both hope and cruelty, and where secret doctrines like polygamy once stood proudly before being cast aside.
Legal teams, investigators, and families of the victims tried to piece together the truth. How had these brothers become so certain that murder was a divine calling? Were they just madmen who twisted scripture? Or did their beliefs stem from a tangled religious inheritance, a tradition that once accepted, even celebrated, forceful measures against sinners and outsiders? In court, these questions collided with cold facts. Brenda and Erica’s death could not be undone. Yet unraveling the spiritual motives behind their killers’ actions proved more complicated. Understanding their story demanded a look back through the corridors of religious history, where revelations, migrations, persecutions, and changing doctrines created fertile ground for fanaticism.
Over time, many readers of this horrifying tale asked themselves what it truly means to receive God’s word. Should all revelations be trusted? What if a person believes they hear divine instructions that contradict basic morality and love? The Lafferty brothers serve as a cautionary example. They challenge us to consider how religious convictions can slip into dark territory when unchecked by reason, empathy, and community support. Their descent invites conversations about the importance of questioning leaders, examining sacred texts with care, and remaining vigilant against those who claim a private hotline to heaven.
Today, the Lafferty case remains a haunting reminder that religious faith, like a powerful river, can nurture life or unleash destruction. The same church that once embraced polygamy now promotes family unity in a loving, monogamous setting. Yet fundamentalist offshoots and extremist interpretations still lurk in hidden corners. The brothers’ horrifying acts prompt us to ask whether the past ever truly disappears or if its shadows continue to influence present beliefs. In thinking about their story, people may realize that faith, while often a source of strength and purpose, must be guided by compassion and critical thought. Without these safeguards, even the noblest religion can be twisted into a force of terror. And so, the tragic events that shook one family remind us all that both love and cruelty can spring from the soil of faith—leaving us to decide which we choose to nurture.
All about the Book
Explore the chilling intersection of faith and violence in ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ by Jon Krakauer, as it unearths the dark side of religious extremism and the complexities of belief systems in America.
Jon Krakauer is a bestselling author known for his investigative writing and gripping narratives that explore the extremes of human experience, including adventure, faith, and the intricacies of belief.
Social workers, Psychologists, Religious scholars, Law enforcement professionals, Historians
Reading true crime, Exploring religious studies, Hiking, Engaging in social justice activism, Writing investigative journalism
Religious extremism, Violence in faith-based communities, Historical context of polygamy, Mental health and belief systems
It seems to me that the best way to approach a religion is to see it for what it is—power and control, and the seductive nature of faith.
Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Malcolm Gladwell
American Book Award, William Hill Sports Book of the Year, National Outdoor Book Award
1. How does faith influence individual and collective identity? #2. What are the historical roots of modern Mormonism? #3. How can belief systems lead to extreme actions? #4. What role does fundamentalism play in religious communities? #5. How do personal experiences shape religious beliefs? #6. What is the impact of violence on faith perception? #7. How does culture influence religious practices and interpretations? #8. Why do some people choose to leave their faith? #9. How can religious texts be interpreted differently? #10. What are the consequences of religious authority challenges? #11. How do family dynamics affect belief systems? #12. What is the significance of prophetic figures in religion? #13. How does history shape contemporary religious movements? #14. Why is it important to question religious narratives? #15. How do societal norms influence religious practices? #16. How can religious extremism be addressed in society? #17. What are some common misconceptions about Mormonism? #18. How does religion intersect with mental health issues? #19. What role does community play in religious belief? #20. How can we foster understanding between different faiths?
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