 Frightning
If you ever had a reason to question the LDS faith as a cult, this will cinch it! I had previously been aware of some of what it portends but this book is a freightening look at the LDS faith.
 The most frightening crimes are those committed in God's name
There is one truly American-born major religion, and it is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints - otherwise known as the Mormons. Its ordinary members are wholesome, peaceful people; but like most religions, it also has its right-wing fringe groups. Their self-proclaimed mission is restoring "the church" to its roots as they understand those roots. That's what Dan and Ron Lafferty believed they were doing when they obeyed a personal revelation to Ron from God, which required them to kill their youngest brother's wife and baby daughter.
Incredible. How could that horrible act fit into any human being's belief system, let alone a belief system that claims to be God-inspired? Author Krakauer, who has no personal belief in a Supreme Being, traces both the history and contemporary practice of the religion that the Lafferty brothers claim to follow more faithfully than its current leaders. By doing this, he comes close to making sense out of these fanatical siblings' beliefs. That is what makes this a singularly frightening book - at times, the Laffertys do almost make sense.
--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of "Love, Jimmy: A Maine Veteran's Longest Battle"
tough story
This book came highly recommended. I chose the audio version for my commutes to work. This was a deeply disturbing book. That polygamy, which I view as sanctioned pedophilia, is so present in cults throughout the USA, and so difficult to prosecute, was hard to "stomach." This book delineated some of the differences between Christianity and extremists of any faith. One of the things Jesus came for, is to reveal to us, who God the father is and what he is like. "Love your enemies, Do Good to those who persecute you, forgive 70 times 7 times," etc. Those murderers of 9/11, and those of these stories, know nothing of God the Father. The telling of this story was pretty dry. the history of LDS and Joseph Smith was a bit "textbook" like. Generally, the book was informative, but not "my cup of tea!"
 Great Book!
I have read this book twice within the past two years because it is so compelling and interesting. I highly recommend this book.
Worth waiting for!
I don't know why, but it took a while to get the book in my hands. Maybe it was just the old eagerness that set in when you ordered a "Captain Midnight Decoder Ring" from the radio show.
But once arrived, it was pristine and well-packed. A wonderful read. I'd enjoy this author's description of paint drying. All in all, a good experience.
Dan
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