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"Under the Banner of Heaven" movie?

Updated: 7/21/2011 1:00 pm | Published: 7/20/2011 10:38 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) – First a controversial book, now Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is a possible Blockbuster.

Under the Banner of Heaven is an investigative non-fiction book published in 2003. Now, Warner Bros. wants the movie rights.

If Warner Bros. is granted the movie rights, Ron Howard will direct the screen adaptation of Under the Banner of Heaven. When the news came down that this was a possibility Wednesday, it didn’t take long to find an upset Utahn at Temple Square.

“I'm disappointed in that. I'd hate to see the movie produced.”

Jon Krakauer gives historical background into the Mormon faith while telling the story of Ron and Dan Lafferty. They were two Utah brothers who killed their sister-in-law Brenda Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter back in the mid 1980's. This murder is believed to be the consequence of two men who were submerged in extreme, fundamental Mormon beliefs. When the book was released nine years ago, Richard Turley, a leader in the LDS Church told ABC 4, “The real danger is that some people will somehow or another confuse, because of his writing, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Ladder Day Saints with these unconnected Mormon Fundamentalists.”

Ron and Dan Lafferty belonged to the School of Prophets. Here they deepened their so-called Mormon faith. Ron called himself the “Voice of God” and Dan was the self-proclaimed “Arm of God”. This church believed in “revelations”, some of which told them to “remove” people: people like Brenda Lafferty.

“Yes, I think I noted that as a revelation that I received while I was in the school of prophets, yes,” said Ron Lafferty in a Death Row interview with ABC 4.

In response to the LDS Church’s opposition, Krakauer says he is simply telling history like it is. He goes on to say that the Church is upset because they like to have control over how their Mormon past is told and presented.

Mormon believers and LDS Church leaders maintain Lafferty’s historical references are not accurate.

“If you're looking for a serious work on the history of the LDS church, this is not it,” said Turley back in 2003.

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Blu Bergamo - 12/19/2011 4:18 PM

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I always remain incredulous at how Latter-day Saints cannot reconcile or come to grips with their very own history, choosing instead to either ignore it or to denigrate those who present it. In fact, "active" Mormon that I was, I was also unwilling myself to absorb and digest LDS history until I backed away far enough to have a clearer perspective. Mormons, you need to get a grip and do some fact-checking before name-calling. As it turns out, active and practicing Latter-day Saints remain more ignorant of the history and origins of their church than the public at large. Getting beyond that ignorance is a win-win situation for Mormons, and all it takes is a bit of guts. Whether you chose to stay in the church or choose to stay, you'll be happy you did so, and that is a guarantee.

Guy Noir - 12/19/2011 2:25 PM

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Under the Banner of Heaven reminds us of the connection between 'blind faith' and violence, ala the Mountain Meadows Massacre. It seems as though people have given up searching for truth in a rush to 'protect' (what they refer to as) religion. We should all be ASHAMED of these events (Lafferty, etc) rather than defend the mentality that allowed them, and in the case of the MMM, covered it up until Juanita Leavitt Pulsipher Brooks (1898 - 1989); Long may her memory live in the minds of those who LOVE THE TRUTH (BY DIDN'T!)

Snowleopard - 12/14/2011 1:59 AM

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Krakauer is an avowed athiest. That is not the cause for my complaint. Even an athiest can be unbiased, but Jon Krakauer can not. He has a long history (back to 1996) of attacking both individuals and groups he personally disdains with shoddy research biased toward his need for gory depictions of sensational deaths. All of his books deal with the bizarre and grisly deaths of primarily young people, the climbers in ITA, one of whom he libeled; Chris McCandalass, a mentally ill boy who starved himself to death, yet Krakauer makes him out to be both martyr and hero of the wilderness; the Pat Tilman story, which made his mother so angry she wrote her own book. And his latest tragedy, his attempt to assassinate the character of Greg Mortenson, out of professional jealousy over Mortenson's books popularity over his, and the fact Mortenson was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize. Krakauers view of Afghanistan in the Tilman book needs violence, not peace. Krakauer lied to 60 Minutes, his readers and the American public. It was all a pack of lies. Greg Mortenson's story is true. Jon Krakauer is a disgrace to publishing. I emailed Mr. Howard (r.howard@imagine-entertainment.com)asking him to reconsider his decision to use this text as his primary source. There are numerous, far more balanced accounts of the very same incident.

blessings - 8/29/2011 2:35 PM

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we should all try to remember what this is truly about. The loss of Brenda and Erica Lafferty. I am her niece and our family has suffered a great loss. Brenda was a strong and faithful woman. I would pray that we never forget her and what she stood for. My heart is sad for those of us who tamper with the mechanics of it all. I may have not known her but only in heaven and I know her heart would be heavy as well.

lucymac - 8/12/2011 10:16 AM

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As a former wife of one of the Lafferty brothers, It is my opinion that their supposed fundamentalist religious beliefs were only the conduit to act out their narcissistic tendencies and dysfunctional family drama. The Mormon church hystory is wrought with violence and lies...most of which the majority of their memeber have not a clue. Buried deep in the churches granite mountain archives the true history remains unrevealed to it's members. The marrieage between the the Lafferty brothers abusive family history & thier subsequent personality disorders and the unacknowleged violent Mormon church history began a perfect storm for a tragic ending. The Lafferty's weren't the first nor will they be the last to use the name of God to justify what they are hell bent on doing anyway.

kokos - 7/22/2011 12:52 PM

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The LDS Church has reason to be offended by and afraid of, this book/movie. It brings up a lot of negative, yet documented, things from their past that they were largely able to hide until the advent of the internet.

LDSRevelations - 7/22/2011 11:10 AM

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Under the Banner of Heaven while not a perfect book is a case study in religious belief gone bad. Some will see this as an attack on Mormons when really it's more of a look at blind belief and the problems that come when individuals believe God has told them to kill in His name. I suppose the Catholics could get upset about the movie Kingdom of Heaven depicting the 12th century crusades— fact is though it is history. Argue the particulars if you will but it happened. Likewise the Lafferty brothers murdered a mother and infant daughter in the name of God and based on early yet now extinct LDS teachings. It happened. Argue the particulars but the story— like 9/11 and the Mountain Meadows Massacre— are extremely important examples of where the dangers of religious fundamentalism. Regarding Mormons and charitable giving— it's important to realize that the tithing (10% of income) that LDS are expected to pay is paid to the Church and is used to build Mormon chapels, temples, pay Church employees, as well as living allowances and travel expenses for LDS leaders. None of it is used to help the poor and needy. LDS Church members do donate time and money to help those in need but it pales in comparison to the lion's share of LDS "charitable giving" which is tithing to the Church.

WaAzTx - 7/21/2011 4:07 PM

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Give a man a fish or teach him to fish? A shopping mall employed hundreds of people during the construction and continues to provide employment and the financial needs for hundreds of families in the SLC area. I'm pretty sure if you ask the employees they'd rather work than get a handout from the Mormon church. I've also witnessed Mormon church hand out semi-truck loads just in the Dallas area alone. I'm proud to give MY money to the church.

Duwayne - 7/21/2011 3:50 PM

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Mormons give more money than other religions, but virtually *all* of it goes to their church. Calling the Mormon Church a "charity" may be technically correct, but they are among the most miserly churches around when it comes to helping the poor. SLC is a good example of how the LDS Church spends it money .... on giant 3-billion-dollar shopping malls. http://www.salamandersociety.com/foyer/budget/ Duwayne Anderson Author of ... can't say the name of the book or Mormons will (and have) try to censor my posts.

ryanwin - 7/21/2011 11:14 AM

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another hatchet job on the mormons. Seriously, hollywood has a hard on to fight these people. I've never seen a group of people attacked more for their beliefs. Are there any movies in hollywood right now telling something good about mormons? I know they donate more than any other people to charity.

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