I am reading this book about Mormonism that has me riveted. It's been a long time since I've looked forward to lying down to read, but this non-fiction is right up my alley, and, although it was published a few years ago, Under the Banner is timely when considering the recent news about the gigantor, minor-impregnatin' Mormon splinter group in Texas.
Beside giving insight on generally secret Mormon beliefs and practices, the book provides a history of Joseph Smith (a country-fried con man!) and solid reasoning for why the religion is so divided and prolific (to boil it down, anyone can be a prophet, and the original Church turned its back on one of Smith's founding principles, plural marriage, to appease the government and their coffers... creating two groups, "purists" and "reformists").
Also, did you know that every year in a New York town called Palmyra (the area where Joseph Smith found the prophetic golden plates and magical spectacles (I'm not kidding), Mormons have a pageant for church-members and the public? I totally want to go!
Beside giving insight on generally secret Mormon beliefs and practices, the book provides a history of Joseph Smith (a country-fried con man!) and solid reasoning for why the religion is so divided and prolific (to boil it down, anyone can be a prophet, and the original Church turned its back on one of Smith's founding principles, plural marriage, to appease the government and their coffers... creating two groups, "purists" and "reformists").
Also, did you know that every year in a New York town called Palmyra (the area where Joseph Smith found the prophetic golden plates and magical spectacles (I'm not kidding), Mormons have a pageant for church-members and the public? I totally want to go!
