Jon Krakauer has written many books about extremes of physical adventure. More recently, however, he ventured into the world of extreme religious belief. Specifically, Mormon fundamentalism and polygamy where he revealed aspects of this hushed religion and culture. Under the Banner of Heaven is a book that not only discusses the background of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints’ extreme side—Mormon fundamentalism, but also discusses their devotion to practicing polygamy. A polygamous marriage is when one person has more than one spouse. Although illegal, these marriages take place within United States borders. Under the Banner of Heaven not only discusses polygamy, but also discusses the rules, the people, and the societal concerns the polygamous fundamentalist’s pose.
Throughout reading this book, it was obvious to me that the polygamous culture is illegal for a reason. Krakauer helped me come to that realization by exposing the questionable aspects of polygamy and fundamentalists. For example, he starts off by talking about two brothers, Dan and Ron Lafferty. They are polygamous fundamentalists who were arrested for the brutal murders of their infant niece and sister in law. After being arrested and questioned, their reasoning for doing so was because “it was God’s will.” Everything fundamentalists do is based on what they think is God’s will. This is because it is said that the prophets (living men who lead polygamist sects) talk directly to God. Because of that belief, it has led to the brainwashing of the followers.
By brainwashing their followers, the followers never question anything and do what they are told. That goes for the 14-year-old girl who gets told that she must marry the 56-year-old man and become his 27th wife because the prophet said so and that is what God wants. That same 14-year-old must also not question or fight when her now 56-year-old husband has his “night” with her and gets her pregnant. Despite that being morally wrong, it is also illegal in the United States. The legal age to marry in most states, including the ones polygamists call home is 18. The legal age of consent is 16 (“State by State Marriage). The way around this law is to have parent consent. However, all laws and parental consent goes out the window if an older man marries a young girl who is not his first wife. What I mean by that is, in the united states one man can only legally be married to one woman. Therefore, all other marriages are nonexistent to the law. They are strictly “spiritual” marriages. With that being said, all marriages and pregnancies that involve young teens and men over 18-years-old are considered assault. Basically, not only do these arrangements make me question mental stability, it also makes me question people’s morals.
With such large families, there must be large expenses. That is where another shocking aspect of this life comes into play. To reiterate, a polygamist man’s first marriage is his only legal marriage. Therefore, the rest of his “wives”, however many there are, are considered single mothers by the state. This means that those women are able to collect government aid. Utah for example is one of the United States’ largest home to polygamous families. The minimum dollar amount single mothers can receive is $462 monthly if they have a job, or $568 weekly if they are unemployed (“Financial Help for Single Mothers”). They also receive free health insurance and food assistance. So, say that same man with 27 wives had all 26 of his spiritual wives, most unemployed by the way, collecting state aid, they would be bringing in $14,768 for the household just in one week. They literally support themselves and do better than most Americans by cheating the system. In one instance, a polygamist man, John Green bragged about supporting his ten wives off state aid. He publicly claimed to have received a little over $600,000 over the years, in addition to food stamps and free health insurance. After his public escapade boasting about his income, he was tried and arrested. He is just one example of many who cheat the system, however not all get caught doing so.
The reason these large families are still able to exist in America is because the families themselves. The menn engross themselves into societal positions making it next to impossible to bust these groups and charge certain members appropriately for the laws they break. These men take up careers as judges, sheriffs, police officers, superintendents of schools, and even mayors. By immersing themselves so fully into society it is hardly possible to charge these men and ultimately to put a stop to polygamy.
Through these examples alone Krakauer proves his point. He expresses that polygamy and Mormon fundamentalism is wrong and that these practices need to be stopped. The reasons are obvious. They are expressed in the stories above and as well as the countless other stories that he explains throughout the book. Overall, while some of these people may genuinely like their lives, they are brainwashed to believe, they abuse the government and tax payer money, and break all types of child protection and consent laws. Despite the appalling stories told, Krakauer’s tone throughout the whole book remains strictly formal. At times his style of writing and use of imagery bring out the single emotion he wants you to feel. From sadness and sympathy for the little girls whose innocence is taken from them too soon, to the anger and repulsion towards the ones abusing the law and American people, Krakauer made you feel it all. Aside from the emotional aspect of his writing, the legitimacy of it also made Under the Banner of Heaven a good read and an accurate characterization of polygamy. His interviews with escapees of the culture and also of ones still in it bring the realness and accuracy to the book.
With that being said, polygamous culture relates to culture as a whole on another level. Culture is a group of people who share commonalities that construct individual social identities of those and primarily influence behaviors and decisions. Polygamist people share the same beliefs, values, and practices. They all engage in plural marriage, have a devotion to God and their prophets, abandon technology all together, and even agree to never dance or play sports. All of these aspects are okay on the surface. Though, when I think of a culture, I think of togetherness, empowerment, and fairness. However now when I think of polygamist culture those words do not come to mind. Thus, although it is, I personally do not consider polygamy a legitimate culture. Its not the plural marriage part that brings the objection out of me; it is the way they get around the law and think that they are an exception to the rules just because they have God as their excuse.
Considering my opinions about polygamy are strong, it is logical that there will be opposing point of views. Some might argue that polygamy is a genuine culture and that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing because they believe in it—which to some degree is true. By overlooking the logistics and illegality of polygamy and the FLDS then yes, I would have to agree it fits my idea of a culture. If you took out the cheating, forcing, and brainwashing and just had a group of men who were each married to multiple women who willingly wanted to come together in a secluded marriage all following a certain faith then okay. However, that is not the case. With plural marriage and the FLDS there will always be all the negative and faulty aspects along with it.
Overall, Under the Banner of Heaven opened my eyes to a different part of the world that I did not know much about. It posed as a source to describe polygamy as whole to me. Throughout reading I was forced to think about the culture in relation to my own culture but also culture altogether. While I enjoyed the book and Krakauer’s writing, I detest polygamy and all that it stands for. As for relation to culture, despite polygamy fitting the dictionary definition of it, I do not think it is a valid culture on its own.
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