I just posted yesterday about Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven" under your other FLDS article. It's a very cool book about Fundamentalists Mormons who commit a murder. The book gives a detailed history of Mormonism and this offshoot. As I posted elsewhere, I had never heard the complete Book of Mormon origin story until reading it here. The story was later popularized by South Park.

Yes, I've read "Under the Banner of Heaven." While I don't think it's written in the most compelling way, it was a good introduction to the history of Mormonism. What I found more valuable was his analysis of general fundamentalism near the end of the book.

Thinking of that part, it seems to me the people who end up becoming leading figures in fundamentalist movements, whether it be Mormon, Christian, or Muslim, are the same sort of people who, being raised in more secular communities, become conservative academic researchers -- the sort of people who distrust the modern movements and rely on older texts to find comfort in another age. E.g., if you're a Mormon who fully believes in the words of Joseph Smith and has the patience and intelligence to read through his pronouncements, how can you not believe that polygamy is holy and proper? The same applies to anti-Vatican-II Catholics, Islamicists, and Christianists.

(Not about polygamy for those last three, of course.)

(But then again, why not? Polygamy is present in the traditional Bible, yes?)

Not saying the writing was groundbreaking, but I found the subject matter enthralling? Had you ever heard about the Mormon settlers massacring the Gentiles passing through? (Not saying that Mormons didn't suffers oppression of their own, for all you Mormon defenders out there.) Definitely never heard about that one in U.S. History.

I didn't really care for what I remember of his take on fundamentalism in the end of the book. He stepped outside of the book and said things like "If you would like to know my opinion..." I just found it odd.

His book never tackled any justifications (if any) that were given for polygamy or how the LDS explains it away now. From what I remember he says that Joseph Smith (did he introduce polygamy or was it Brigham Young?) or whoever came up with the idea for Mormons was a horny dude. He just merely proclaimed that God revealed to him that Mormons should be polygamous. I think when they got rid of it, it was with the same God revealed it to me no explanation type line. I can see how this goes along with an exploration of Fundamentalist all powerful religious leader thought, but I did still wonder how everyday Mormons dealt with the history of polygamy.

To Krakauer: Back in 9th grade Western Civ., Mr. Cararini made a crack about polygamist Mormons. I don't remember the remark, but I think it was relatively innocuous. Then again I am not Mormon. I guess Mormon Matt Dudley went home upset about it and discussed it with his parents. The next day Cararini and Dudley explained to the class that Mormons were no longer polygamous and had used polygamy to quickly populate their new settlement in Utah. Is that the official Mormon line? I guess I shouldn't ask, but should try to do some research of my own.

I didn't learn of the Gentile massacre in history class, but neither did I learn about the Mormon massacre in Missouri.

I believe the historical justification of getting rid of polygamy was this: "get rid of polygamy, or you can't be a state." The prophet at that moment then had a convenient revelation proscribing polygamy. I'm not sure how it is taught to young Mormons.

The "quickly populate" excuse is I expect bullshit -- they would've been fine either way. And yes, Joseph Smith started the whole polygamy business in Ohio, I believe. I seem to remember that he kept it even from his own people for several years.

I wasn't trying to take sides in the whole Mormon Gentile Massacre, however I had learned that Mormons were persecuted before they wound up in Utah. I did know that a mob had killed Joseph Smith. What exactly was the Mormon massacre in MO? I think the Mormon's massacring the Gentile's stood out in my mind because of unconscious anti-Mormon bias and due to its whole bizarre nature. From what I remember supposedly the Mormons dressed up as Indians and surrounded this wagon-train. Then they went to the wagon-train as Mormons and said they had brokered a piece, but that the Gentiles had to give up their weapons. They then massacred the adults and kept the children. I believe the U.S. Government was trying to get the kiddies back but I forget how the whole thing played out. A frightening piece of our U.S. History.

I understand the "quickly populate" thing is not a great justification for polygamy. My question is was this Dudley's parent's idea or a popular Mormon idea.

Do we have any Mormon's who frequently check here?

Haun's Mill Massacre.

Here's the second part of their series, BTW. It doesn't touch on inbreeding at all; it's just more on how you can get da boot for no reason.