Under the Banner of Heaven – True Story Behind Book and Series

Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven examines a disturbing intersection of religious conviction and violence through the lens of a 1984 double murder in Utah. Published in 2003, the nonfiction work investigates the killings of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter Erica by Ron and Dan Lafferty, two brothers who claimed divine revelation sanctioned the attacks. The book weaves together true crime investigation with a broader exploration of Mormon fundamentalism’s history and its relationship to mainstream Latter-Day Saints doctrine.

The story gained renewed attention when FX on Hulu adapted Krakauer’s work into a seven-episode miniseries in 2022, starring Andrew Garfield as a fictional detective investigating the crimes. The adaptation brought renewed scrutiny to both the historical events and the religious communities at the center of Krakauer’s inquiry. Both the book and series raise uncomfortable questions about how extreme interpretations of faith can justify horrific acts while challenging the broader religious communities that share theological roots with the perpetrators.

What Is Under the Banner of Heaven About?

The narrative centers on the July 24, 1984 murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty, 24, and her 15-month-old daughter Erica in their Highland, Utah home. Ron and Dan Lafferty, the victim’s brothers-in-law, carried out the killings using a kitchen knife and a 10-inch bone-handled blade. The brothers, recently excommunicated from the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, belonged to a small fundamentalist sect called the School of Prophets that advocated for polygamy and claimed access to direct revelation from God.

Key insights from the book and case:

• Ron Lafferty claimed God commanded the killings through a “removal revelation,” specifically targeting Brenda for opposing his extremism and his brother Allen for resisting the group
• Brenda had previously helped Ron’s wife Dianna write a letter to LDS President Spencer W. Kimball documenting the brothers’ radical behavior
• The Lafferty brothers grew long beards and hair to resemble biblical prophets and believed they were the true leaders of Mormonism
• Ron Lafferty’s construction business loan was denied partly due to his anti-tax activism alongside the brothers
• The mainstream LDS Church excommunicated both brothers before the murders for polygamy advocacy and fundamentalist views
• The title derives from the motto on the flag raised by Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847
• Neither brother was ever executed despite death sentences

Is Under the Banner of Heaven Based on a True Story?

Under the Banner of Heaven is nonfiction, meticulously documented by author Jon Krakauer. The book details the real 1984 murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter Erica by Ron and Dan Lafferty in Highland, Utah. Every major detail in the narrative—from the brothers’ excommunication from the LDS Church to their membership in the fundamentalist School of Prophets to the specific methods of the killings—can be verified through court records, news archives, and documented interviews with investigators and witnesses.

Who Killed Brenda Lafferty?

Ron and Dan Lafferty, Brenda’s brothers-in-law, carried out the murders on July 24, 1984. Ron was married to Dianna, Brenda’s sister, and the killings occurred in Brenda’s home where she lived with her husband Allen Lafferty (another brother) and their daughter. The brothers used a kitchen knife and a 10-inch bone-handled blade to kill Brenda, who was 24 years old, and Erica, who was only 15 months old.

Investigators later established that Ron had specifically targeted Brenda. According to court testimony and Krakauer’s reporting, Ron claimed God had delivered a “removal revelation” commanding him to eliminate Brenda. The motivation appeared rooted in Brenda’s opposition to the brothers’ increasingly extreme behavior and her role in helping Dianna write a letter to LDS Church leadership documenting their radicalism.

The True Story Behind Under the Banner of Heaven

The true story encompasses both the immediate crime and the broader historical context Krakauer provides. Before the murders, Ron and Dan Lafferty were active members of the mainstream LDS Church. Over time, Dan began visiting isolated fundamentalist communities and studying texts about polygamy and prophetic authority. Both brothers grew increasingly extreme in their views, advocating for plural marriage and claiming personal revelation from God.

Their behavior drew concern from family members. Brenda helped Ron’s wife Dianna draft a letter to LDS President Spencer W. Kimball detailing the brothers’ radicalism. Around the same time, Ron’s application for a construction business loan was denied, partly due to his anti-tax activism shared with Dan. In early 1984, both brothers were excommunicated from the LDS Church, prompting them to form the School of Prophets with other fundamentalists who shared their views.

It was during this period that Ron claimed to receive divine instructions to remove Brenda from his life. The murders, carried out jointly by both brothers, shocked the Utah community and raised questions about how religious conviction could justify such violence.

What Happened to Ron Lafferty?

Ron Lafferty was arrested, tried, and convicted of first-degree murder in 1985. He received a death sentence for his role in killing both Brenda and Erica. Throughout his trial and subsequent years on death row, Ron maintained that he had received divine revelation authorizing the killings. He never expressed remorse or recanted his beliefs, continuing to insist that God had commanded him to act.

Was Ron Lafferty Executed?

Ron Lafferty was never executed. He remained on Utah’s death row for over three decades, dying of natural causes in 2019 at the age of 70. His death came while serving his sentence, making the question of execution moot. His case exhausted numerous appeals and legal challenges over the years, with courts consistently upholding his conviction and sentence.

Dan Lafferty’s Fate

Dan Lafferty faced separate legal proceedings and was convicted of first-degree murder in Brenda’s killing and second-degree murder in Erica’s death. Like his brother, he initially received a death sentence. However, Dan won a retrial, and his sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1996. He remains incarcerated, unlike Ron who died in prison before execution could occur.

How Does the Hulu Series Compare to Jon Krakauer’s Book?

The 2022 FX on Hulu adaptation departs significantly from the source material’s approach while remaining faithful to core events. Created by Dustin Lance Black and premiering April 28, 2022, the miniseries stars Andrew Garfield as Jeb Pyre, a fictional Mormon detective investigating the murders, and Gil Birmingham as his partner Bill Taba. The series employs a dual narrative structure, interweaving the 1984 investigation with flashbacks depicting LDS Church history, including Joseph Smith’s 1844 murder.

Book Versus Series Comparison

The Series’ Approach to the True Story

The miniseries expands the investigative drama while adding fictional characters and dialogue. Episode 4, titled “Church and State,” covers key details from the book, including the loan denial, references to The Peace Maker (a text Krakauer discusses regarding Joseph Smith’s polygamy advocacy), and the location of Bishop Low. The adaptation has been condemned by some members of the LDS Church for what they perceive as an anti-church tone, though the series remains broadly faithful to the events documented in Krakauer’s work.

What Role Did Mormon Fundamentalism Play?

Mormon fundamentalism serves as the central explanation for the Lafferty murders in Krakauer’s analysis. The brothers’ adherence to a literalist interpretation of early Mormon doctrine—including belief in polygamy and ongoing prophetic revelation—distinguished them from mainstream LDS Church members. After their excommunication, they formed the School of Prophets, a small sect that emphasized direct communication with God and rejected what they viewed as the mainstream church’s compromises with modern society.

The Significance of the Book Title

The title “Under the Banner of Heaven” refers to the motto inscribed on a flag raised by Mormon pioneers upon entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The phrase symbolized the divine purpose underlying the faithful’s migration and settlement of the American West. In Krakauer’s work, the title carries ironic weight, contrasting the peaceful religious devotion originally symbolized by the phrase with the violence committed by those who claimed to act under heavenly authority.

The LDS Church’s Response

The mainstream LDS Church excommunicated both Lafferty brothers before the murders for their polygamy advocacy and extremist views. Church leaders, including President Spencer W. Kimball, received letters documenting their behavior but did not intervene before the violence occurred. Following the publication of Krakauer’s book and especially after the Hulu series aired, the church criticized portrayals that drew connections between mainstream Mormonism and the killings, emphasizing the LDS Church’s rejection of the brothers’ beliefs.

Timeline of Events

The following chronology outlines key moments leading to and following the 1984 murders:

1. Pre-1984: Ron and Dan Lafferty remain active LDS Church members; Dan begins visiting isolated fundamentalist communities and studying polygamy texts; Ron faces business struggles amid anti-tax activism
2. Early 1984: Both brothers are excommunicated from the LDS Church; they form the School of Prophets with other fundamentalists; Ron receives what he describes as a “removal revelation” from God
3. July 24, 1984: Ron and Dan murder Brenda Lafferty and her daughter Erica in their Highland, Utah home; Brenda’s throat is slit and she is stabbed more than ten times; Erica’s throat is also slit
4. 1985: Both brothers are convicted of murder; Ron receives death sentences for both victims; Dan receives first-degree murder conviction for Brenda and second-degree for Erica
5. 1996: Dan Lafferty’s death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment after a successful retrial
6. 2003: Jon Krakauer publishes Under the Banner of Heaven
7. April 28, 2022: FX on Hulu releases the seven-episode miniseries adaptation
8. 2019: Ron Lafferty dies of natural causes on death row at age 70

Established Facts Versus Unresolved Questions

While much about the Lafferty murders is well-documented, certain aspects remain subject to interpretation or lack complete verification.

The Broader Context: Faith, Violence, and Interpretation

Krakauer’s work situates the Lafferty murders within the broader history of Mormonism, particularly the church’s complex relationship with polygamy and prophetic authority. Early LDS leaders, including Joseph Smith, advocated plural marriage, and this practice became central to fundamentalist sects that rejected the church’s 1890 renunciation of plural marriage. The book explores how literalist interpretations of religious texts and claims to ongoing revelation can create frameworks where violence becomes justified in the minds of believers. Related reading on Into the Wild – Book Summary, Plot and Ending examines similar themes of personal conviction and individuals who reject conventional society in pursuit of their beliefs.

The mainstream LDS Church’s evolution since the 1890 Manifesto serves as a counterpoint throughout Krakauer’s narrative. Church leaders and members have consistently emphasized the church’s rejection of polygamy and fundamentalist extremism, positioning groups like the School of Prophets as dangerous aberrations rather than legitimate expressions of Mormon faith.

The book’s publication and subsequent Hulu adaptation have prompted ongoing discussions about religious extremism more broadly, raising questions about how faith communities can address members who drift toward violence while maintaining respect for sincere religious belief.

Sources and Perspectives

Krakauer’s account draws from numerous sources, including court records, investigative documents, interviews with detectives, family members, and religious scholars. The book cites LDS Church historical archives and references Joseph Smith’s writings, including The Peace Maker, a document discussing polygamy that the Lafferty brothers studied.

“Under the Banner of Heaven presents a meticulously researched examination of how fundamentalist interpretation of Mormon doctrine can lead to violence. The book does not indict mainstream Latter-day Saints but rather explores the dangerous potential of extreme religious conviction.”

The LDS Church has not endorsed Krakauer’s work, and some members have criticized it for perceived anti-Mormon bias. The church maintains that the mainstream LDS community bears no responsibility for the actions of excommunicated fundamentalists who reject official church doctrine and authority.

Summary

Under the Banner of Heaven remains an influential work of nonfiction that transformed a disturbing criminal case into a broader examination of religious extremism. The 1984 murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty by Ron and Dan Lafferty, justified through claimed divine revelation, exposed the dangers of fundamentalist interpretation within religious traditions. Jon Krakauer’s 2003 book provides historical context for Mormonism’s development and the emergence of offshoot sects willing to embrace violence. The 2022 Hulu adaptation brought renewed attention to the case, though it departed from the source material’s journalistic approach in favor of dramatic reconstruction. Both works emphasize that the mainstream LDS Church had rejected the Lafferty brothers’ beliefs long before the killings, highlighting the distance between mainstream religious practice and the extreme ideology that motivated the crimes. Related reading on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – Plot Summary, Ending and Themes explores similar themes of ideology and tragedy.

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