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The Mormon Murders
On October 15, 1985, two pipe bombs shook the calm of Salt Lake City, Utah, killing two people. The only link-both victims belonged to the Mormon Church. The next day, a third bomb was detonated in the parked car of church-going family man, Mark Hoffman. Incredibly, he survived. It wasn't until authorities questioned the strangely evasive Hoffman that another, more shocking link between the victims emerged...
It was the appearance of an alleged historic document that challenged the very bedrock of Mormon teaching, questioned the legitimacy of its founder, and threatened to disillusion millions of its faithful-unless the Mormon hierarchy buried the evidence.
Drawing on exclusive interviews, The Mormon Murder s reconstructs a secret conspiracy of God, greed, and murder that would expose one of the most ingenious con men in the annals of crime-and shake the very foundation of a multibillion-dollar empire to its core.
It was the appearance of an alleged historic document that challenged the very bedrock of Mormon teaching, questioned the legitimacy of its founder, and threatened to disillusion millions of its faithful-unless the Mormon hierarchy buried the evidence.
Drawing on exclusive interviews, The Mormon Murder s reconstructs a secret conspiracy of God, greed, and murder that would expose one of the most ingenious con men in the annals of crime-and shake the very foundation of a multibillion-dollar empire to its core.
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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September 14, 2017
Let me start this review with a disclaimer. I am not a Mormon (LDS) nor do I know much about that religion. As I read this book, I was rather disturbed and checked to see if the authors had been sued by the LDS but they had not; therefore, I have to think that their conclusions of the church's involvement in this story are close enough to the truth to avoid litigation.
In 1985 two pipe bombs exploded in peaceful Salt Lake City killing two individuals and then a third detonated two days later, severely injuring a third person. When the police began questioning the survivor his story didn't quite ring true and they began searching deeper into his background. What they found rocked the LDS church to its foundations. The young man, Mark Hofmann, was a "documents dealer" or so he said and he was selling Mormon history items to the church or to other devout Mormons. It appears that the church wanted these documents in order to put them into the "vault" of the Temple where they would never see the light of day....the reason?.....they contradicted some of the major tenets of the LDS religion and raised questions about the LDS leader, Joseph Smith. At this point, the church started interfering with the investigation and the police were stonewalled. And that is just the beginning of this story as it was discovered that the documents were forged by Hofmann in his basement....yet the church continued to basically run the investigation.
The book strongly condemns the church and reveals certain rites and rituals that could have been deleted from the narrative as they did not move the story forward. It is a complex tale of greed and Hofmann's motive for the murders remains rather vague and very disturbing.
In 1985 two pipe bombs exploded in peaceful Salt Lake City killing two individuals and then a third detonated two days later, severely injuring a third person. When the police began questioning the survivor his story didn't quite ring true and they began searching deeper into his background. What they found rocked the LDS church to its foundations. The young man, Mark Hofmann, was a "documents dealer" or so he said and he was selling Mormon history items to the church or to other devout Mormons. It appears that the church wanted these documents in order to put them into the "vault" of the Temple where they would never see the light of day....the reason?.....they contradicted some of the major tenets of the LDS religion and raised questions about the LDS leader, Joseph Smith. At this point, the church started interfering with the investigation and the police were stonewalled. And that is just the beginning of this story as it was discovered that the documents were forged by Hofmann in his basement....yet the church continued to basically run the investigation.
The book strongly condemns the church and reveals certain rites and rituals that could have been deleted from the narrative as they did not move the story forward. It is a complex tale of greed and Hofmann's motive for the murders remains rather vague and very disturbing.
October 26, 2014
"To Fred Harmon (devout Mormon, chief ATF investigator), the real villain was President Gordon B. Hinckley. He saw no chagrin on Hinckley's broad, implacable face. No repentance. No apologies. No admission of wrongdoing. Just arrogance--plain unbridled arrogance. As far as he was concerned, Hinckley had fallen for Mark Hofmann's blackmail, bought up damaging documents and hidden them away in his private vault, and in so doing, indirectly contributed to the deaths of two innocent people.
"And then lied about it...Hinckley had lied outright by saying he had met with Mark Hofmann only casually and with Steve Christensen (first bomb victim) only once; he had lied indirectly by allowing Church spokesmen to deny that the Church owned documents he had bought."
***
"'How is it that you felt comfortable relying on Mr. Hofmann as a sole basis for purchasing these documents?'
"Hinckley looked him in the eye. 'We relied on Mark Hofmann's integrity.' he said gravely. 'If we were deceived, then it's to his eternal detriment.'
"Wow, thought Biggs (county attorney). Heavy stuff. But hardly responsive.
"They tried another approach. As per Joseph Smith's instruction, every good Mormon is supposed to keep a detailed daily diary of his or her activities. Over the years, the Church's leaders had been extraordinarily conscientious in obeying that injunction. So they asked to see Hinckley's diary entries for his meetings with Mark Hofmann. 'I don't keep a diary,' Hinckley responded quickly, as if he were prepared for the question.
"After another hour of evasions, memory lapses, and sermonettes, Biggs lost his patience. 'President Hinckley. This has been in the news---people have died---isn't there any way we can get some information about your meetings with Hofmann?'
"Hinckley couldn't contain his indignation. 'This is the least of my concerns,' he huffed. 'I am an extremely busy man. I have worldwide concerns. Mr. Hofmann is a postscript...' he reached for the rest of the phrase, '...in the walk of life.'
"You wish, thought David Biggs.
"When Bob Stott (devout Mormon; head county prosecutor) finally worked up the courage to talk about Hinckley's testimony at the upcoming preliminary hearing Wilford Kirton (Church attorney) jumped in.
"'President Hinckley doesn't wish to testify at the hearing. We think it would be in everyone's best interests to not have him testify.'
"Someone suggested that he would have to testify at trial.
"You don't understand, said Kirton imperiously. President Hinckley does not wish to testify at the hearing, at the trial, at anything.
"Even Stott had to be outraged. This was putting him, as a devout member of the Church, under wholly unacceptable pressure.
"Hinckley had obviously wanted to stay out of this discussion, but it was clear from the prosecutors' reaction that nothing less than his personal intervention would calm the furor that Kirton's comments had unleashed. So he decided to give another sermonette, this one on the subject of 'priorities.' He sat down with Stott as a father would sit down with a wayward son.
"'This isn't that significant, as it relates to Church matters,' he said softly. 'It's the Church that matters. You have to consider the Church first. I don't wish to testify.'
"This time Stott said nothing.
"But that wasn't all Hinckley wanted. 'I think it would be in the best interests of the Church,' he added in the same mellow voice, 'if you simply dissmissed the charge.'"
(The Mormon Murders: A True Story of Greed, Forgery, Deceit, and
Death, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, 1988, pp. 309, 357-358)
-"Where there is honesty other virtues will follow-In our day those found in dishonesty aren't put to death, but something within them dies-conscience chokes, character withers, self respect vanishes, integrity dies. How cheaply some men and women sell their good names."
(Standing For Something--10 neglected virtues, Gordon B. Hinckley)
"And then lied about it...Hinckley had lied outright by saying he had met with Mark Hofmann only casually and with Steve Christensen (first bomb victim) only once; he had lied indirectly by allowing Church spokesmen to deny that the Church owned documents he had bought."
***
"'How is it that you felt comfortable relying on Mr. Hofmann as a sole basis for purchasing these documents?'
"Hinckley looked him in the eye. 'We relied on Mark Hofmann's integrity.' he said gravely. 'If we were deceived, then it's to his eternal detriment.'
"Wow, thought Biggs (county attorney). Heavy stuff. But hardly responsive.
"They tried another approach. As per Joseph Smith's instruction, every good Mormon is supposed to keep a detailed daily diary of his or her activities. Over the years, the Church's leaders had been extraordinarily conscientious in obeying that injunction. So they asked to see Hinckley's diary entries for his meetings with Mark Hofmann. 'I don't keep a diary,' Hinckley responded quickly, as if he were prepared for the question.
"After another hour of evasions, memory lapses, and sermonettes, Biggs lost his patience. 'President Hinckley. This has been in the news---people have died---isn't there any way we can get some information about your meetings with Hofmann?'
"Hinckley couldn't contain his indignation. 'This is the least of my concerns,' he huffed. 'I am an extremely busy man. I have worldwide concerns. Mr. Hofmann is a postscript...' he reached for the rest of the phrase, '...in the walk of life.'
"You wish, thought David Biggs.
"When Bob Stott (devout Mormon; head county prosecutor) finally worked up the courage to talk about Hinckley's testimony at the upcoming preliminary hearing Wilford Kirton (Church attorney) jumped in.
"'President Hinckley doesn't wish to testify at the hearing. We think it would be in everyone's best interests to not have him testify.'
"Someone suggested that he would have to testify at trial.
"You don't understand, said Kirton imperiously. President Hinckley does not wish to testify at the hearing, at the trial, at anything.
"Even Stott had to be outraged. This was putting him, as a devout member of the Church, under wholly unacceptable pressure.
"Hinckley had obviously wanted to stay out of this discussion, but it was clear from the prosecutors' reaction that nothing less than his personal intervention would calm the furor that Kirton's comments had unleashed. So he decided to give another sermonette, this one on the subject of 'priorities.' He sat down with Stott as a father would sit down with a wayward son.
"'This isn't that significant, as it relates to Church matters,' he said softly. 'It's the Church that matters. You have to consider the Church first. I don't wish to testify.'
"This time Stott said nothing.
"But that wasn't all Hinckley wanted. 'I think it would be in the best interests of the Church,' he added in the same mellow voice, 'if you simply dissmissed the charge.'"
(The Mormon Murders: A True Story of Greed, Forgery, Deceit, and
Death, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, 1988, pp. 309, 357-358)
-"Where there is honesty other virtues will follow-In our day those found in dishonesty aren't put to death, but something within them dies-conscience chokes, character withers, self respect vanishes, integrity dies. How cheaply some men and women sell their good names."
(Standing For Something--10 neglected virtues, Gordon B. Hinckley)
November 10, 2009
I was so interested in reading this, as I only remember bits and pieces of these murders, but the first line turned me off completely. It began with mormon type bashing written as though they authors were in completes with the Sheets and their dead wife/mother. They told how Kathy Sheets felt, what she thought and what she believed. She is dead--they never even met her...I do not feel they have the right to do this--to her or anyone else who is deceased and they have never met. I did read about 70 pages, just to get a brief, if albiet biased, history of the murders, but then stopped. I will just look the incident up on the internet if I want to learn more.
June 24, 2010
Religion, belief systems, cults, and the soul are always interesting material to read about. What attracts people to a particular belief system which other equally intelligent and educated individuals may revile or despise even though the core of that belief may stem from similar foundations? Most religions, fortunately for their followers, were created before print journalism became commonplace. Newspapers and the printed word preserve the less agreeable aspects belief in magic and the occult (more commonly referred to as miracles) which necessarily form the foundation of all religions. Legends are created which become essential to the belief system of the church. Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith in The Mormon Murders reveal how the fear of discredit led to several bombings and killings in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City, by the late seventies, was known as the fraud capital of the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission called it the "sewer of the securities industry." It ranked third in the nation for business defaults. One enterprising young man sold $613 billion (or nearly 1/2 of the national debt) in fraudulent gold certificates (obviously at way below face value.) He used his Mormon background as authentication. Mormons, believing that God rewards the faithful, are brought up to be particularly trusting and to believe what they are told. Skepticism is frowned upon. It was in this environment of naive trust that Gary Sheets created Consolidated Financial Services, initially, a wildly successful investment corporation.
The police were initially puzzled when Sheets' wife and business partner Steve were killed in separate bomb explosions. Only after a very respected and successful documents dealer named Mark Hofmann was severely injured in another bomb explosion did the pieces begin to fit together. ATF experts discerned almost immediately that Hofmann had to be the mysterious bomber b~cause they realized the bomb had been accidently set off by the bomber as he was arming it; and, the design of the bomb was identical to those which killed Gary Sheets' wife and Steve Christiansen.
The plot began to unravel. Hofmann had been selling forged documents to church officials (including Christiansen, who was a deacon,) that purported to validate all the rumors of scandal surrounding Joseph Smith and the origins of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The "Salamander Letter" in particular, if legitimate would have been particularly embarrassing to the church. It revealed Smith as a wily con man fascinated by in necromancy, dowsing, and "gold-digging". Hofmann, the investigation disclosed, was an excellent forger who had mastered techniques for aging paper and recreating authentic-looking inks. (The details of research into his forgery techniques by forensic experts is a fascinating story in itself.)
Church officials were in a terrible bind as the story unfolded and did everything possible to prevent the case from coming to trial. Hofmann had made thousands selling the fraudulent documents to the church which then placed them in a vault unavailable for inspection. Hofmann had also persuaded rich Mormons to buy these "anti-Mormon" documents. They would donate them to the church claiming the appropriate tax-deduction. In these instances the church could honestly claim it had not "bought" the documents. The church was in a pickle. If the documents investigators sought as evidence turned out to be authentic it cast grave doubt on the origins of the church; if fraudulent1 church officials needed explain why they were in such a rush to purchase the documents from a con-man. Anyone who doesn't believe how a church can control a city should read this book. Church officials manipulated the trial in many ways to get the result they wanted.
Salt Lake City, by the late seventies, was known as the fraud capital of the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission called it the "sewer of the securities industry." It ranked third in the nation for business defaults. One enterprising young man sold $613 billion (or nearly 1/2 of the national debt) in fraudulent gold certificates (obviously at way below face value.) He used his Mormon background as authentication. Mormons, believing that God rewards the faithful, are brought up to be particularly trusting and to believe what they are told. Skepticism is frowned upon. It was in this environment of naive trust that Gary Sheets created Consolidated Financial Services, initially, a wildly successful investment corporation.
The police were initially puzzled when Sheets' wife and business partner Steve were killed in separate bomb explosions. Only after a very respected and successful documents dealer named Mark Hofmann was severely injured in another bomb explosion did the pieces begin to fit together. ATF experts discerned almost immediately that Hofmann had to be the mysterious bomber b~cause they realized the bomb had been accidently set off by the bomber as he was arming it; and, the design of the bomb was identical to those which killed Gary Sheets' wife and Steve Christiansen.
The plot began to unravel. Hofmann had been selling forged documents to church officials (including Christiansen, who was a deacon,) that purported to validate all the rumors of scandal surrounding Joseph Smith and the origins of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The "Salamander Letter" in particular, if legitimate would have been particularly embarrassing to the church. It revealed Smith as a wily con man fascinated by in necromancy, dowsing, and "gold-digging". Hofmann, the investigation disclosed, was an excellent forger who had mastered techniques for aging paper and recreating authentic-looking inks. (The details of research into his forgery techniques by forensic experts is a fascinating story in itself.)
Church officials were in a terrible bind as the story unfolded and did everything possible to prevent the case from coming to trial. Hofmann had made thousands selling the fraudulent documents to the church which then placed them in a vault unavailable for inspection. Hofmann had also persuaded rich Mormons to buy these "anti-Mormon" documents. They would donate them to the church claiming the appropriate tax-deduction. In these instances the church could honestly claim it had not "bought" the documents. The church was in a pickle. If the documents investigators sought as evidence turned out to be authentic it cast grave doubt on the origins of the church; if fraudulent1 church officials needed explain why they were in such a rush to purchase the documents from a con-man. Anyone who doesn't believe how a church can control a city should read this book. Church officials manipulated the trial in many ways to get the result they wanted.
April 27, 2015
This book is a good but somewhat flawed account of the Hoffman killings that rocked Salt Lake in the mid-80's.
Much like Jon Krakauer 20 years after "Mormon Murders" was written, Naifeh is a great author when he confines himself to facts in evidence but loses credibility when he speculates or otherwise exposes his coastal provincialism. There were two items in particular that bothered me -- the hearsay idea that Jerald Tanner's phone was bugged in the 70's (the basis for this claim is Jerald's claim that he heard voices on his line; nobody, even the most incompetent wiretapper, bugs phones like that), and the claim that confidential FBI files had landed on LDS church security desks (this was passed along with absolutely no substantiation). The story itself is compelling enough without uncorroborated (and technically impossible) accusations. At times, the narrative suffers as a result of these sorts of issues. They're minor, but they do add up.
Elsewhere, the authors offhandedly insult hunters, gun show attendees, and LDS members in general. It's clear, to a large extent, that the authors are not as familiar with Utah or LDS culture in particular or fly-over culture in general as they probably should be.
Outside of these quibbles, the book functions very well. There is a lot of back story to Hoffmann's forging as well as his fiscal shenanigans that ultimately led to the bombings. The authors do particularly well covering the maze of bad accounting and the multiple storylines Hoffmann fed his investors. Elsewhere, they go to great lengths to cover the forensic details of the bombs in question. It's clear they undertook a substantial number of interviews in order to provide the level of detail they did.
The authors offer a narrative around the Mormon power structures at the time, notably the triumvirate of Gordon Hinckley, Hugh Pinnock, and Dallin Oaks. Hinckley would ultimately ascend a decade after this book was written to the head of the LDS church, while Pinnock would lapse into relative obscurity. Much of the detail around this narrative is second-hand or third-hand -- for example, meetings that were attended by Hoffman and Hinckley. Neither of them were interviewed for this book, so where do these details come from? It's to the book's detriment that the most powerful figures --Hinckley, Hoffmann, Oaks, and Pinnock -- were not interviewed.
The last and minor complaint I'd offer is that very little of Hoffmann's life prior to the bombings is delved into. His atheism and anger at the LDS church were in no small part (per Hoffmann) due to a misadventure with explosives when he was young -- and a similar misadventure would eventually bring him to justice.
Overall, this is a compelling and accessible read. As a former adherent to the religion under the microscope, I can empathize with both the authors' narrative as well as the typical LDS perspective. There are any number of books out there on the Hoffmann affair, but this is probably the best or second-best of them.
Much like Jon Krakauer 20 years after "Mormon Murders" was written, Naifeh is a great author when he confines himself to facts in evidence but loses credibility when he speculates or otherwise exposes his coastal provincialism. There were two items in particular that bothered me -- the hearsay idea that Jerald Tanner's phone was bugged in the 70's (the basis for this claim is Jerald's claim that he heard voices on his line; nobody, even the most incompetent wiretapper, bugs phones like that), and the claim that confidential FBI files had landed on LDS church security desks (this was passed along with absolutely no substantiation). The story itself is compelling enough without uncorroborated (and technically impossible) accusations. At times, the narrative suffers as a result of these sorts of issues. They're minor, but they do add up.
Elsewhere, the authors offhandedly insult hunters, gun show attendees, and LDS members in general. It's clear, to a large extent, that the authors are not as familiar with Utah or LDS culture in particular or fly-over culture in general as they probably should be.
Outside of these quibbles, the book functions very well. There is a lot of back story to Hoffmann's forging as well as his fiscal shenanigans that ultimately led to the bombings. The authors do particularly well covering the maze of bad accounting and the multiple storylines Hoffmann fed his investors. Elsewhere, they go to great lengths to cover the forensic details of the bombs in question. It's clear they undertook a substantial number of interviews in order to provide the level of detail they did.
The authors offer a narrative around the Mormon power structures at the time, notably the triumvirate of Gordon Hinckley, Hugh Pinnock, and Dallin Oaks. Hinckley would ultimately ascend a decade after this book was written to the head of the LDS church, while Pinnock would lapse into relative obscurity. Much of the detail around this narrative is second-hand or third-hand -- for example, meetings that were attended by Hoffman and Hinckley. Neither of them were interviewed for this book, so where do these details come from? It's to the book's detriment that the most powerful figures --Hinckley, Hoffmann, Oaks, and Pinnock -- were not interviewed.
The last and minor complaint I'd offer is that very little of Hoffmann's life prior to the bombings is delved into. His atheism and anger at the LDS church were in no small part (per Hoffmann) due to a misadventure with explosives when he was young -- and a similar misadventure would eventually bring him to justice.
Overall, this is a compelling and accessible read. As a former adherent to the religion under the microscope, I can empathize with both the authors' narrative as well as the typical LDS perspective. There are any number of books out there on the Hoffmann affair, but this is probably the best or second-best of them.
April 17, 2014
If this book had been fiction, I would have rated it one of the best crime thrillers I have ever read. The fact that it is a true story about real people, including murder and mayhem, forgery, bribery, surreptitious bank loans arranged by Mormon hierarchy, cover ups, and legal ‘deals’, along with Mormon Church leaders lying completely about even knowing Hoffman, it takes my rating to ‘beyond belief’. This is not a boring work about a legal process; it is a fast paced, gritty, edge of seat thriller all the way. You simply can’t put it down (as the Detroit Free Press affirms). It is a true story brilliantly formatted and sequenced to read like a novel.
Underlying reasons for Hoffman blowing up two people and then almost killing himself when a third bomb exploded prematurely in his own car, were hinged in his numerous forgeries, most of which were purchased by the Mormon Church. Mormon leaders are supposed to represent God, yet none could ever ‘discern’ they had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on forgeries, some of which were embarrassing for the Church and hidden away, never to see the light of day. Gordon Hinckley, Dallin Oaks and Hugh Pinnock managed to lie their way through police interviews and did everything they could to avoid Hinckley having to appear in court. Many of the law enforcement officers and prosecution staff owed more allegiance to the Church and what was best for it than to ensuring a solid conviction for Hoffman.
Ultimately, a deal was struck in order to avoid a final trial, but it seems such a thing (in this case), could only have happened in Salt Lake City where the Church reigns supreme. Elsewhere, such a solid case would almost certainly have gone to trial and Hinckley would have been forced to testify. Hoffman would have been charged with first degree murder and faced a possible death sentence, rather than the lesser charges the final ‘deal’ constituted.
‘Lying for the Lord’, as Mormons call it, always was and still is alive and well in the Mormon hierarchy. During my own research for my books in ‘The Mormon Delusion’ series, I found conclusive evidence of the philosophy of ‘lying for the Lord’ right from the start and at every step of the Mormon way. Nothing has changed in the Mormon Church.
Naifeh and Smith have written an absolutely brilliant work; a real page turner. The fact that the whole thing is actually true seems hard to believe sometimes, yet it is, and that is what makes this read so special. Everyone who loves crime thrillers and court cases will love this book. Mormons should also read it in order to discover how gullible their leaders are and how deception and lies are the methods the Lord’s supposed servants use to run his Church. Five star stuff.
Underlying reasons for Hoffman blowing up two people and then almost killing himself when a third bomb exploded prematurely in his own car, were hinged in his numerous forgeries, most of which were purchased by the Mormon Church. Mormon leaders are supposed to represent God, yet none could ever ‘discern’ they had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on forgeries, some of which were embarrassing for the Church and hidden away, never to see the light of day. Gordon Hinckley, Dallin Oaks and Hugh Pinnock managed to lie their way through police interviews and did everything they could to avoid Hinckley having to appear in court. Many of the law enforcement officers and prosecution staff owed more allegiance to the Church and what was best for it than to ensuring a solid conviction for Hoffman.
Ultimately, a deal was struck in order to avoid a final trial, but it seems such a thing (in this case), could only have happened in Salt Lake City where the Church reigns supreme. Elsewhere, such a solid case would almost certainly have gone to trial and Hinckley would have been forced to testify. Hoffman would have been charged with first degree murder and faced a possible death sentence, rather than the lesser charges the final ‘deal’ constituted.
‘Lying for the Lord’, as Mormons call it, always was and still is alive and well in the Mormon hierarchy. During my own research for my books in ‘The Mormon Delusion’ series, I found conclusive evidence of the philosophy of ‘lying for the Lord’ right from the start and at every step of the Mormon way. Nothing has changed in the Mormon Church.
Naifeh and Smith have written an absolutely brilliant work; a real page turner. The fact that the whole thing is actually true seems hard to believe sometimes, yet it is, and that is what makes this read so special. Everyone who loves crime thrillers and court cases will love this book. Mormons should also read it in order to discover how gullible their leaders are and how deception and lies are the methods the Lord’s supposed servants use to run his Church. Five star stuff.
December 30, 2012
This is a really interesting book about crimes that somehow I had never heard of (though, in my defense, the major ones happened 25 years ago and who knows what I was paying attention to in the world then ... )
I did have some trouble following events in the book, because there are dozens of main "players," numerous documents and several different locations to keep straight. I didn't think these were handled very well, as the writing lacked some continuity and good transitions. At times it seemed like some editor had just indiscriminately chopped things out without regard to flow, perhaps to try to shorten the book up (it is quite long.)
Perhaps more interesting to me than the crimes documented in the book were the descriptions of the background and history of the Mormon Church and its hierarchy and inner workings. I've been fascinated by these topics ever since reading Jon Krakauer's excellent book "Under The Banner Of Heaven" - fascinated in a "can't-look-away-from-the-accident" type of way. The more I find out about this sect, the more bizarre I think it is. Flame me if you must, but I don't mean for that statement to be offensive...just honest.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading true crime, or who is interested in the Mormon Church.
I did have some trouble following events in the book, because there are dozens of main "players," numerous documents and several different locations to keep straight. I didn't think these were handled very well, as the writing lacked some continuity and good transitions. At times it seemed like some editor had just indiscriminately chopped things out without regard to flow, perhaps to try to shorten the book up (it is quite long.)
Perhaps more interesting to me than the crimes documented in the book were the descriptions of the background and history of the Mormon Church and its hierarchy and inner workings. I've been fascinated by these topics ever since reading Jon Krakauer's excellent book "Under The Banner Of Heaven" - fascinated in a "can't-look-away-from-the-accident" type of way. The more I find out about this sect, the more bizarre I think it is. Flame me if you must, but I don't mean for that statement to be offensive...just honest.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading true crime, or who is interested in the Mormon Church.
October 28, 2012
This book is a bit disturbing and a little slanted I would say. There are some things that probably shouldn't have been published here . That being said, it's pretty crazy the extent to which Mark Hoffman went in order to make a few bucks and how blinding stupid people gave him money and took his word for things. I must say that it's great that Hoffman was willing to explain some of how things happened and his motives, otherwise I'm sure there'd be a lot of questions as to what really happened.
Read
May 2, 2018Wow.What a disgusting mess that mormon church is/was okay is.. I do not believe their attitude has changed. It's all about protecting their religion which is more important than everything else.I can see why? Well I can see why the men want to. They are like Gods,can say they want that done because God told them and their wife and children obey. There are a lot of men who want that power as we see with many religions. Muslim comes to mind.Tomethosemen are not men but boys. They have to be in control of their women.
I am so sick of women letting themselves being abused but I am more sick about the other strong women who stay quiet on this subject so worried they might offend!
This book was like a comedy show, a farce.Those men acted ridiculous and it was hard to keep reading. Not bad but so ridiculous.
I am so sick of women letting themselves being abused but I am more sick about the other strong women who stay quiet on this subject so worried they might offend!
This book was like a comedy show, a farce.Those men acted ridiculous and it was hard to keep reading. Not bad but so ridiculous.
March 14, 2021
Excellent. Well researched and jam packed with information on the Mormon forger and bomber who tragically killed two innocent people. I am not Mormon so I did not find it particularly biased. I could only wish for more background on the evil Mark Hoffman who was the perpetrator of fraud and murder. Highly recommend for true crime readers. RIP Steve Christensen and Kathy Sheets.
April 20, 2022
The perfect (or the most unfortunate?) synthesis of two very intriguing subjects.
June 9, 2025
This was one great read! From beginning to end! I didn't remember hearing about these murders back in October, 1985 (my husband did) so this was all new to me. The entire story was very well laid out, starting with two horrific bombs killing a man and a woman in Salt Lake City, Utah, then the third bomb injuring another man the following morning. How were they all connected?
The authors then tell the intriguing tale of Mark Hofmann, a wannabe big shot who amazingly "discovers" the rarest of the rare documents relating to the inception of the Mormon "religion." I put religion in quotes because it's truly a fabrication of Joseph Smith's addled brain back in the early 1800's. The fact that the Church of Latter-Day Saints hierarchy falls for Hofmann's forged document scams tells a lot about its complicity in trying desperately to hide ANYTHING that might cast doubt on the truth about this so-called religion. It's truly laughable...IF two innocent people hadn't been killed. Though, if there had been no bombings, the cons would quite likely have gone undetected!
My heroes in this story are the detectives, the ATF agent and the forensic documents examiners! Without their in-depth investigations and persistence, the "church" would have thwarted prosecution of the bomber, the MURDERER, just to prevent embarrassment of their pathetic religion! Far too many "higher-ups" in Utah government and law enforcement kowtowed to the Mormon "religion" in fear of their wrath!
Again, this is a really great read, and I'm extremely glad these authors, Steven Naifeh & Gregory White Smith, explained all the details and exposed all the truths, to tell this story. I highly recommend this book!
The authors then tell the intriguing tale of Mark Hofmann, a wannabe big shot who amazingly "discovers" the rarest of the rare documents relating to the inception of the Mormon "religion." I put religion in quotes because it's truly a fabrication of Joseph Smith's addled brain back in the early 1800's. The fact that the Church of Latter-Day Saints hierarchy falls for Hofmann's forged document scams tells a lot about its complicity in trying desperately to hide ANYTHING that might cast doubt on the truth about this so-called religion. It's truly laughable...IF two innocent people hadn't been killed. Though, if there had been no bombings, the cons would quite likely have gone undetected!
My heroes in this story are the detectives, the ATF agent and the forensic documents examiners! Without their in-depth investigations and persistence, the "church" would have thwarted prosecution of the bomber, the MURDERER, just to prevent embarrassment of their pathetic religion! Far too many "higher-ups" in Utah government and law enforcement kowtowed to the Mormon "religion" in fear of their wrath!
Again, this is a really great read, and I'm extremely glad these authors, Steven Naifeh & Gregory White Smith, explained all the details and exposed all the truths, to tell this story. I highly recommend this book!
April 8, 2023
No Man Knows My History meets Helter Skelter meets All The Presidents Men?
Shoot this directly into my veins.
Shoot this directly into my veins.
October 11, 2015
I would probably give this book a 2 1/2, but I didn't round up. I knew nothing about this story when I started. I really enjoyed the first part of the book that introduced all the characters and set the stage. It was pretty informative and interesting. I also enjoyed the last few chapters from the preliminary hearing forward that brought everything together. I would have given the book 3 1/2 starts for these sections. Theses sections were more of a factual summary with little personal interpretation.
The book really fell apart in the middle. The authors presented a confusing dump of details regarding various financial transactions that dragged on for more than half the book. I almost didn't finish. They were vague on some things that would have been helpful to know, but wasn't explained until the very end of the book. It wasn't an approach to create suspense, just a lack of clarification.
The worst part was their obvious biases against the Mormon church. Granted, there are a lot of questionable things in the church's history they brought up. I don't deny that there are some questionable things. My issue wasn't with the things they brought up, but their commentary regarding these issues. They added so much of their own personal opinions to this section it took away from their alleged unbiased approach to the story. They don't leave it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. They try and impose their preconceived notions into the story, some of which were completely inaccurate. It's too bad because that ruined the rest of the story for me. I had a hard time accepting the whole book as completely and factually accurate. Instead, it just became a fictional novel based on a true story. Still, it was an interesting read and I learned a lot about this story.
The book really fell apart in the middle. The authors presented a confusing dump of details regarding various financial transactions that dragged on for more than half the book. I almost didn't finish. They were vague on some things that would have been helpful to know, but wasn't explained until the very end of the book. It wasn't an approach to create suspense, just a lack of clarification.
The worst part was their obvious biases against the Mormon church. Granted, there are a lot of questionable things in the church's history they brought up. I don't deny that there are some questionable things. My issue wasn't with the things they brought up, but their commentary regarding these issues. They added so much of their own personal opinions to this section it took away from their alleged unbiased approach to the story. They don't leave it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. They try and impose their preconceived notions into the story, some of which were completely inaccurate. It's too bad because that ruined the rest of the story for me. I had a hard time accepting the whole book as completely and factually accurate. Instead, it just became a fictional novel based on a true story. Still, it was an interesting read and I learned a lot about this story.
June 20, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and researched and had some really interesting things about the LDS church (my church I am mormon) that I didn't know. However, I did have to laugh a little at how they talked about leadership positions in the church and how people just want to be a Bishop or Stake President or General Authority so badly. I dont think they realize these are not paid positions and I for one never want to be any of those things despite having been Elders quorum President and served a mission. Its just funny the way they talk about that kind of thing with the church. Its not how it really is for most LDS. Good book though.
October 30, 2007
I actually have the hard back - what's left of it. It took me nearly 2 months to finish it during a hectic period, (it was carried in my purse to Egypt and back) that by the time I was done, the book was as decrepit as if someone had bombed this book that expells the secrets of the bombings and murders by Mormons in the '80's. The story is told point blank - like an FBI agent giving a brief. (2 lawyers wrote it.) Yet, to it's credit, because it's to the point- with so many parties and so much BS involved- it works. Think it's worth the read.
June 25, 2020
I've long been fascinated by the forgeries and bombings that rocked Salt Lake City and the LDS community in 80's. This book, published in 1988 is amazingly comprehensive. Back then, when this story was in the headlines, I'd imagine the most ardent case watchers would have LOVED this book. For me, so many years later and at 541 pages, it was too much. 300 pages would be great today. All of that said, I learned a lot and think the authors were very thoughtful in how they approached a sensitive subject running up against faith. In the end...I had a lot of empathy for all involved.
March 3, 2021
I read this true crime book over a decade ago and was fascinated by the history of the Mormon Church. The story of this religion's (or rather cult) beginnings is just as strange as this true story that rocked the Church's very foundation. With the documentary, "Murder Among the Mormons," coming out on Netflix, it reminded me of this book and I considered reading it again. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy true crime.
August 12, 2014
Through the use of extensive interviews and research, Naifeh & Roberts bring to light the politics, the science, the theology, and the drama of the Mark Hofman forgery/bombing case, untangling the strange motivations and the investigation into those motivations by focusing on personalities along with a thorough sifting of the evidence in this case.
July 21, 2008
A true-crime book that also reveals the true nature of The Church Of Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons): founded by a con-man, who possibly was killed by his brother Joseph Smith, another con artist, this is a fascinating account of
lies, murder, and Temple politics.
lies, murder, and Temple politics.
February 2, 2009
Hugely damning of the Mormon Church in general and Gordon Hinckley in specific. The crimes of Mark Hofmann, forgery/fraud and murder, play an interesting companion to the cover-up by the church and it's influence over the legal proceedings.
May 3, 2017
Great book! Learned a lot about the Mormons and how easily they were fooled.
April 4, 2021
If you enjoyed the Netflix series Murder Among the Mormons, you’ll like this book. It’s way more informative than the show.
October 31, 2019
Well, I made it to chapter 6. It's written Ann Rule-style - where it reads like a novel instead of a regular non-fiction account. I liked that. However, I got to the point where I couldn't tolerate anymore thinly-veiled (when the trouble was even taken) animosity towards the LDS faith. There seemed to me to be an awful lot more focus on the Church itself rather than those who were involved in the pipe bombing. The perpetrator had been baptized LDS, but by his own admission, had stopped believing since his teens. He went to church, and that's where it ended. Everything else was a farce. The people he killed were practicing, and of course Hoffman's forged documents were an attempt to malign the Church. Where he failed, Naifeh picks up - making snide remarks, providing totally misleading, and in several cases flat-out incorrect information about LDS doctrine. Naifeh takes no pains to hide his complete disdain for the Church, which is his prerogative, but he makes it a focus where it should have been only a factor. It wasn't the same as reading a Nazi account of Jews, but more like a quiet Nazi supporter writing a WWII history. In any case, by chapter 6, I'd had enough of his nasty inferences, prejudiced and erroneous assumptions, etc. If nothing else, it was a great reminder to read about "facts" of any faith from the person who actually believes them and can accurately represent them - or at the very least have whatever is written read for accuracy and verified by a religion's leadership. Naifeh's summation (at least as far as chapter 6) is that a "faithful" LDS woman was constantly bored to sleep by the Book of Mormon, entertained herself surmising with her sister about hypothetical practical adultery, and that the Church itself is strictly a business franchise invested in taking over the world, which it will have the finances to do in 100 years, because it demands 10% if its members' income (never mind tithing - i.e. 1/10 - explicitly cited in Malachi, which as far as I am aware is in every Christian's and Jew's Bible. It is hardly an invention of the LDS Faith.). Also, to be a general authority (Naifeh indicates a hierarchy of exaltation based on leadership position), LDS members progress their way through wealth, which in the faith is seen as God's blessing of prosperity, and that if your star rises, you can achieve exaltation. It was all such a load of crap. I felt better-educated about the LDS faith reading Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage...which is really saying something.
It's a pity, because I was really interested about Hoffman, his forgeries, the bombings, and his victims. Instead I got a litany of anti-LDS crap that had fragments about Hoffman and The Salamander Letter. I guess I will find another book or just read articles. I felt like the author and plenty of other folks still talk about The Salamander Letter as though it's legit. Why is that, when the entire story and murders are about its being a forgery? not even a copy of a legit document - a flat-out made-up FORGERY? I don't get it.
It's a pity, because I was really interested about Hoffman, his forgeries, the bombings, and his victims. Instead I got a litany of anti-LDS crap that had fragments about Hoffman and The Salamander Letter. I guess I will find another book or just read articles. I felt like the author and plenty of other folks still talk about The Salamander Letter as though it's legit. Why is that, when the entire story and murders are about its being a forgery? not even a copy of a legit document - a flat-out made-up FORGERY? I don't get it.
Read
March 31, 2020One of the longest books I've ever read (516 pages, including an extensive index – though I didn't read that, I must confess) and also one of the fastest. Naifeh & Smith have a talent for plot, suspense, and foreshadowing as they unspool the story of a dangerous but mild-mannered young Mormon named Mark Hoffman.
The title misled me. I thought the Mormon Church went around blowing people up (a photograph of a crude bomb dominates the cover), but in fact this highly American religion is ruled by foolish, humorless, right-wing, ambitious aging (white) men terrified of the possibility that early documents will emerge proving that Joseph Smith, their founder, was a complete huckster. (But maybe he was both: con artist AND legitimate prophet? The book, which has no religious curiosity, does not consider this option – though it does function, incidentally, as an anecdotal history of Mormonism. For example, paging through the index, I find "Blood Atonement," which leads me to:
Sometime in 1839, while conversing with Saint Peter – he held frequent dialogues with biblical figures – [Joseph] Smith happened to mention the problems he was having with dissident members of the Church. According to Smith’s own telling, Saint Peter said, in effect, “You should have seen the problem we had with Judas Iscariot.” When Smith asked Peter how he handled his problem, Peter replied that he had personally “hung Judas for betraying Christ.” That was enough for Joseph Smith. From that day forward, the punishment for dissent in his Church would be death.)
Teetotalers, non-smokers, forbidden even to drink decadent caffeine-rich Coca-Cola, the Mormons all console themselves with doughnuts and cases of Tab – or anyway, Steve Christensen, one of the central characters, does. The men are largely overweight, the women generally thin – possibly from amphetamines? A parenthetical mention of a TV investigation of depression in Mormon women suggests that some females are not thrilled with their eternal role as servants in a Patriarchal religion. One certainly has the feeling that every person in this book has awful sex.
This book took over my life like a malevolent personal trainer. Quite possibly, I WILLED myself to have a stomach flu so I’d have more time to be swallowed up in it. One secret question the book posed was: how valid is any religion? Or any “spiritual” group? Can one separate the creepy leaders, with their silent shrewd calculations, from the innocent sheeplike followers, who radiate faith and goodness?
Also, how should one think of forgery? Is it an art form? A type of elaborate practical joke? A teaching tool? A crime? Or all of these?
The title misled me. I thought the Mormon Church went around blowing people up (a photograph of a crude bomb dominates the cover), but in fact this highly American religion is ruled by foolish, humorless, right-wing, ambitious aging (white) men terrified of the possibility that early documents will emerge proving that Joseph Smith, their founder, was a complete huckster. (But maybe he was both: con artist AND legitimate prophet? The book, which has no religious curiosity, does not consider this option – though it does function, incidentally, as an anecdotal history of Mormonism. For example, paging through the index, I find "Blood Atonement," which leads me to:
Sometime in 1839, while conversing with Saint Peter – he held frequent dialogues with biblical figures – [Joseph] Smith happened to mention the problems he was having with dissident members of the Church. According to Smith’s own telling, Saint Peter said, in effect, “You should have seen the problem we had with Judas Iscariot.” When Smith asked Peter how he handled his problem, Peter replied that he had personally “hung Judas for betraying Christ.” That was enough for Joseph Smith. From that day forward, the punishment for dissent in his Church would be death.)
Teetotalers, non-smokers, forbidden even to drink decadent caffeine-rich Coca-Cola, the Mormons all console themselves with doughnuts and cases of Tab – or anyway, Steve Christensen, one of the central characters, does. The men are largely overweight, the women generally thin – possibly from amphetamines? A parenthetical mention of a TV investigation of depression in Mormon women suggests that some females are not thrilled with their eternal role as servants in a Patriarchal religion. One certainly has the feeling that every person in this book has awful sex.
This book took over my life like a malevolent personal trainer. Quite possibly, I WILLED myself to have a stomach flu so I’d have more time to be swallowed up in it. One secret question the book posed was: how valid is any religion? Or any “spiritual” group? Can one separate the creepy leaders, with their silent shrewd calculations, from the innocent sheeplike followers, who radiate faith and goodness?
Also, how should one think of forgery? Is it an art form? A type of elaborate practical joke? A teaching tool? A crime? Or all of these?
July 18, 2019
So I didn’t finish reading this book (didn’t even make it to page 100 out of 443 pages.) It wasn’t that it was a terrible book, just too long, a lot of detail, I’m not interested in the Mormon church, and it was much easier to watch the short synopsis on uTube, which explained everything I needed to know.
Back in 1985, someone sets off pipe bombs, killing Kathy Sheets, Steve Christensen, and the bomber injuring himself. At first, people thought the bomber was someone who lost all their money in the investments Gary Sheets’ company, Coordinated Financial Services, invested in. Then when Mark Hoffman gets injured by a bomb, it was thought the bomber was a disgruntled believer of the Mormon church. It was ultimately Mark Hofmann who was the bomber. He was trying to lead people (specifically Christensen) off his trail of forgery...he was selling what he claimed were original Mormon church documents, but he just copied the documents what he thought accurately to appear old and authentic.
From what I learned on uTube, and also what I read in the first fifty pages, the Mormon church is very wealthy, and there are people who have turned against the church because of the way the church has gotten all its money. Mark Hofmann was ultimately arrested and I assume a long drawn out trial took place (another reason I couldn’t go on reading). He was put in prison with no possibility of parole. He is still there today.
Back in 1985, someone sets off pipe bombs, killing Kathy Sheets, Steve Christensen, and the bomber injuring himself. At first, people thought the bomber was someone who lost all their money in the investments Gary Sheets’ company, Coordinated Financial Services, invested in. Then when Mark Hoffman gets injured by a bomb, it was thought the bomber was a disgruntled believer of the Mormon church. It was ultimately Mark Hofmann who was the bomber. He was trying to lead people (specifically Christensen) off his trail of forgery...he was selling what he claimed were original Mormon church documents, but he just copied the documents what he thought accurately to appear old and authentic.
From what I learned on uTube, and also what I read in the first fifty pages, the Mormon church is very wealthy, and there are people who have turned against the church because of the way the church has gotten all its money. Mark Hofmann was ultimately arrested and I assume a long drawn out trial took place (another reason I couldn’t go on reading). He was put in prison with no possibility of parole. He is still there today.
April 25, 2018
The Mormon Murders is a detailed exposition of the 1985 Salt Lake City bombings by Mark Hofmann. It covers Hofmann's forgery and ponzi scheme that led to the bombings, the LDS church's involvement and cover up, and the trial upset that grossly under-sentenced a man who not only killed two innocent people but committed over twenty acts of fraud.
The story itself is both bizarre and enthralling. It sheds a pretty negative light on the Mormon Church, both in terms of their gullibility and their efforts to suppress any document, discovery, or person that questions or disparages Church authority. Their resistance to providing any assistance to the prosecution was also pretty incredible (and appalling).
I wouldn't say I necessarily lost interest in the story line, but I do think somewhere in the middle all the names and facts got muddled up and made the whole thing less captivating. There were probably a lot of aspects to the case that could have been left out or condensed without taking away from the overall impact. I liked the book, but wouldn't read it again. Now, if Netflix would make a docu-series about it similar to "Making a Murderer", I'd be first in line to watch.
The story itself is both bizarre and enthralling. It sheds a pretty negative light on the Mormon Church, both in terms of their gullibility and their efforts to suppress any document, discovery, or person that questions or disparages Church authority. Their resistance to providing any assistance to the prosecution was also pretty incredible (and appalling).
I wouldn't say I necessarily lost interest in the story line, but I do think somewhere in the middle all the names and facts got muddled up and made the whole thing less captivating. There were probably a lot of aspects to the case that could have been left out or condensed without taking away from the overall impact. I liked the book, but wouldn't read it again. Now, if Netflix would make a docu-series about it similar to "Making a Murderer", I'd be first in line to watch.
August 9, 2018
I am not an LDS member nor do I live in Utah. This is an interesting book, well researched, but somewhat biased. What it does expose is the extent to which the church leadership went to put on a facade of respectability and to retain their power and the "good name" of the church. It was quite sinister and convoluted.
What would have been helpful is a one age flowchart of the leadership structure of the church--and how they all interacted at one time or another with the murderer. At times it was challenging to figure out who was "over" whom, except for Gordon Hinckley. The other thing I didn't find useful was the authors' inclusion of the names of too many persons who were really extraneous to the resolution of the murders and who played very minor roles in the story; for example, Kathy Sheet's sister, Joan. There were also many law enforcement personnel and it was sometimes difficult to determine which agency they represented.
Overall it was instructive and enlightening but didn't really explain the motives of the murderer.
What would have been helpful is a one age flowchart of the leadership structure of the church--and how they all interacted at one time or another with the murderer. At times it was challenging to figure out who was "over" whom, except for Gordon Hinckley. The other thing I didn't find useful was the authors' inclusion of the names of too many persons who were really extraneous to the resolution of the murders and who played very minor roles in the story; for example, Kathy Sheet's sister, Joan. There were also many law enforcement personnel and it was sometimes difficult to determine which agency they represented.
Overall it was instructive and enlightening but didn't really explain the motives of the murderer.
February 14, 2020
I wanted to learn more about the Salamander Letter and the Hoffman bombings, and found this book. While it did help me learn more about these topics, I thought it was pretty slanted and negative towards the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As a member of the church, I believe and support the brethren that lead the church. I found the portrayal of both President Hinckley and President Oaks totally one-sided. Of course these men would want to protect the church. Of course these men are just men, and are subject to con men, just like everyone else in Mark Hoffman's life was subject to his lies and cons. I think I would have liked the book better had it not felt like an attack on the church that I believe in, or the men that I respect and revere, who lead the church.
In the end, this book didn't shake my faith in Joseph Smith, President Hinckley, or the church in general. It also didn't shake my faith in the legal system, although he was given a lenient sentence, Mark Hoffman is still behind bars 30+ years later.
In the end, this book didn't shake my faith in Joseph Smith, President Hinckley, or the church in general. It also didn't shake my faith in the legal system, although he was given a lenient sentence, Mark Hoffman is still behind bars 30+ years later.
July 23, 2025
An interesting read but man is this thing dense. So many conversations recreated supposedly word-for-word and a tangled web of so many individuals caught up in Hofman’s forgeries that it was hard to keep track of people and events. It was interesting to me, as a former mormon, to read about how the church covered up much of Hofman’s crimes so that they wouldn’t have to be involved publicly. They were happy to sweep their involvement under the rug and they routinely undermined the police in order to protect themselves and the image of the church. Incredibly gross and frustrating. 80% of this book is detailing the forgeries and scams Mark is involved in, and the trial is wrapped up in the last 20%- which doesn’t feel like enough considering the massive buildup from the first portion of the book. Only one chapter is devoted to trying to figure out WHY Hofman became this kind of person (personally would have found this fascinating). An interesting read overall but overly long in areas.
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