Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

Dan Lafferty became increasingly involved in religious fundamentalism after reading The Peace Maker. He told his wife Matilda that he intended to take her oldest daughter, his stepdaughter, as his second wife. At the last minute, however, Dan changed his mind and instead wed a Romanian immigrant named Ann Randak. Dan learned other principles laid forth by Smith but ignored by the modern LDS Church, including blood atonement. Dan also learned that Smith believed that God’s laws took precedence over state and federal laws. He became adamant that certain laws and regulations were in contradiction with the word of God, including licenses and taxes.

When Dan returned home after finishing chiropractic school, he took over his father’s chiropractic business while his father and mother left the country on a mission trip. He and his brother Mark managed the business and had long talks about religion. Their four younger brothers often joined them in these discussions about the religious infringement of the government and the sacred importance of plural marriage. Absent from these meetings was Dan’s older brother Ron.

Dan believed in a literal interpretation of Smith’s teachings, and he encouraged his brothers to follow in his footsteps.