When Men Become Gods

This was actually one of the better non-fiction accounts of the FLDS cult and the events that have surrounded it in the last ten years or so.

Anyone who knows me knows how I love reading my books about these nutters, so when I saw this title I had to get it. It has been on my holds list at the library for at least 6 months, but finally fate (or the Angel Moroni) smiled down on me and granted my wish of wishes, and my hold became available.

Stephen Singular does a great job of avoiding the bogging down that this material can easily cause. Jon Krakauer's book, Under the Banner of Heaven, went deeply into the history of the Mormon Church, but suffered because of it in that it ended up with too light of a focus on the modern events. Singular avoids this by only giving a light overview of the general history, and quickly zooms into what has been happening recently, specifically within the FLDS and not Mormon polygamy in general. He gives an accurate account of the legal hoops that various law enforcement groups have had to jump through to effect change, and how they eventually saw a cultural shift within this closed and abusive society.

Polygamy is a complicated issue that can probably be debated endlessly. Singular did the smart thing and instead focused on the actual crimes that have taken place - child abuse, rape, brainwashing of both genders and the subjugation of women. Published just before the raid on the YFZ ranch in April 2008, it is the most up to date of the books out there. I look forward to reading an account of the events of the last year, but until then When Men Become Gods provided new information in a well researched and approachable manner. I give it 4 sister-wives out of 5.