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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which text was responsible for many of the Laffertys' marriages falling apart?

2. How was sex regulated in fundamentalist Mormon communities?

3. In "Under the Banner of Heaven," what does Krakauer believe is the biggest disagreement between fundamentalists and modern Mormons?

4. Why was Smith sued by his clients for fraud?

5. According to Krakauer, what makes people today able to identify with Smith?

Short Essay Questions

1. Was Smith a polygamist? According to whom?

2. What caused the end of Smith and Law's friendship?

3. According to Krakauer, how different are modern and fundamentalist Mormons?

4. What was the relevance of the Dream Mine to the School of the Prophets?

5. Why did Debbie Palmer and Flora Jessop act as they did?

6. Why was the LDS most appealing to Americans?

7. According to the Prologue, did the Lafferty brothers feel justified in their actions? How and why?

8. According to Lorna Craig, how was the response to Elizabeth Smart's disappearance different from Ruby Jessop's? Why does she believe there was a different response and effort?

9. What does Krakauer see as "strange" about the road to Smith's revelation?

10. What is Section 132? Why was it important to Smith?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Smith was the original founder of the LDS. Many can still relate to him today, thus continuing the popularity of the Mormon Church, according to Krakauer. Discuss Smith's road to creating the Mormon Church. Do you agree with Krakauer as to why Smith is still popular today?

Essay Topic 2

Krakauer's account of Dan shows him swinging from reluctantly participating in the murders to becoming the main perpetrator. Dan also would shift from being his brother's biggest victim to his strongest opponent. Discuss the duality of Dan Lafferty. What were his motives for his actions? Where were Dan's loyalties?

Essay Topic 3

Krakauer gives Mormon women a strong voice in his book. Providing the reader with angles ranging from Flora Jessop, who fled her polygamist home, to Emmylou, who dreams of being a plural wife. Discuss the point of view of Mormon women offered in the book and what dimensions of the church and humanity they display.

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This section contains 951 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample