Mormonism Explained by Entertainment: What’s Accurate?

In recent years, mainstream entertainment has taken more interest in portraying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often known as the Mormon or LDS Church) and its members. Two high-profile examples are the Hulu miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven and the horror film Heretic. Both works have been praised for bringing Mormon themes into the cultural conversation. However, they’ve also sparked controversy about accuracy, with some viewers feeling that Mormonism explained by the entertainment industry is just a way of perpetuating stereotypes for the sake of sensationalism.

Understanding Under the Banner of Heaven

Under the Banner of Heaven is a dramatized adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 2003 nonfiction book, focusing on a real-life murder in 1984 committed by brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty in a Mormon fundamentalist community. The series weaves real history you’d find in a Lafferty family Wikipedia search with fictionalized storytelling to explore themes of faith, violence, and doctrinal rigidity.

What the Series Does Well

One area where the series has received praise is in its effort to distinguish mainstream Latter-day Saints from more extreme fundamentalist offshoots, as this is something that isn’t as clear in the original book. In the miniseries, the Lafferty brothers have broken with the mainstream LDS Church and espouse a form of belief far removed from its teachings.

Where It Misses the Mark

Despite these strengths, Under the Banner of Heaven has been critiqued on several fronts:

• Historical Simplification: The series has been accused of drawing an overly neat line between early Church history and the motivations behind the Lafferty murders, implying continuity where historians see none. For instance, the suggestion that Brigham Young orchestrated events leading to Joseph Smith’s death is historically inaccurate. Young was not even present in Illinois when the events surrounding Smith’s assasination occurred.
• Generalizations About Violence: Critics from within the Latter-day Saint community have noted that the series portrays Church history and culture as uniquely prone to violence, which conflates the extreme actions of a small fringe group with the beliefs and practices of millions of faithful members. Historians argue that violence in Mormon history, while real in certain episodes, should not be depicted as a defining trait of Mormon explained.
• Church Consultation and Perspective: Some Latter-day Saint commentators have pointed out that even though consultants with knowledge of Mormon history were involved, no practicing members were centrally consulted in shaping the narrative, which led to portrayals that feel unfair or alien to most Church members.

Balancing Nuance with Narrative

It helps to remember that the series is a dramatic work, not a documentary. Its goal is to tell a gripping story and provoke reflection on how faith intersects with cultural pressure. While it does incorporate real events, it also takes a great amount of creative license for narrative effect. While some commentators feel that it brings attention to important issues, many of those practicing Mormonism explained that the series exploits them for entertainment, perpetuating inaccuracies and stereotypes that don’t help to foster productive dialogue.

Understanding Heretic

Heretic is a 2024 horror film written and directed by Bryan Woods and Scott Beck. It centers on two Latter-day Saint sister missionaries who encounter a sinister investigator named Mr. Reed, played by Hugh Grant. Mr. Reed traps the missionaries in his house, forcing them to participate in a game that threatens their beliefs and their lives. The film uses elements of suspense and psychological tension to explore questions about religion and doubt through fictional extremes.

What the Film Does Well

Some aspects of Heretic resonate with Latter-day Saints because they draw on real features of missionary life. For instance, the dedication of missionaries, their routines, and the earnest way they share their faith are rooted in real experiences of many LDS missionaries. Additionally, temple garments, religious clothing worn by many adult Mormons, are referenced in the film, though aspects like the magic underwear Heretic scene have been controversial due to their irreverence.

The film also touches on doctrinal points like the Word of Wisdom (the Church’s health code), accurately reflecting that it prohibits coffee and tea, though interpretations about other substances like caffeine vary among members.

Where It Misses the Mark

Despite these accurate elements, Heretic has drawn significant criticism from many Latter-day Saints for the way it frames Mormon faith and culture:

• Portrayal of Violence: Mr. Reed’s treatment of the missionaries is not based on real events. Safety of missionaries is a high priority in real missionary training, and there are many strictly enforced rules in missionary life that help missionaries avoid dangerous situations. Just a few of these rules include staying within sight and hearing of their companions, never being alone with someone of the opposite sex without someone of their same sex present, and not being outside of their apartment past curfew. Because of these rules, the Latter-day Saint missionary experience is generally very safe. The violent and demeaning scenarios in the film are not reflective of the lived experiences of most LDS missionaries.
• Mockery of Sacred Subjects: Some critics point out that Heretic uses sacred elements of the faith more as horror motifs or punchlines than as respectful representations, such as the Heretic magic underwear scene, where sacred temple garments are exploited for shock value.
• Overgeneralization: Mr. Reed’s anti-religious rhetoric is often tied more to religion in general than any real LDS theological critique. Some commentators worry that the film’s messaging might inadvertently support misconceptions about Mormon belief rather than illuminate it.

It’s worth noting that actors in the film who have LDS backgrounds have commented on how their history informed their performances, which can add layers of nuance to certain scenes even when the overall narrative veers toward fiction.

Putting It All Together: Accuracy and Impact

So what do these examples of Mormonism explained by entertainment really say about the Church? Both Under the Banner of Heaven and Heretic incorporate elements that are rooted in real aspects of Latter-day Saint culture and history. Historical context, cultural rituals, and expressions of faith are sometimes depicted with enough accuracy to spark recognition among those familiar with the Church.

At the same time, fictional dramatization can obscure nuance and oversimplify the complex lived experiences of real Latter-day Saints. As critics have noted, portraying the exception as the norm can leave audiences with inaccurate, biased impressions of a global faith community.

Entertainment can open doors to dialogue and curiosity, but if one is seeking to truly understand Mormon explained and how members live, they should also read primary sources, talk with believers, and explore the Church’s own materials.

In the end, both Under the Banner of Heaven and Heretic are reminders that religious portrayals in media influence public perception, and that thoughtful, informed viewing can help separate stereotypes from reality.

About Mormonism Explained

Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.

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