Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

marmar

(76,990 posts)
Thu Mar 4, 2021, 12:21 PM Mar 2021

"Murder Among the Mormons" filmmakers on how forgeries, faith and a salamander led to Utah bombings

"Murder Among the Mormons" filmmakers on how forgeries, faith and a salamander led to Utah bombings
"Napoleon Dynamite" director Jared Hess and filmmaker Tyler Measom spoke with Salon about their 3-part docuseries

By ASHLIE D. STEVENS
MARCH 4, 2021 2:32AM


(Salon) Netflix's "Murder Among the Mormons" co-directors Jared Hess and Tyler Measom were both young — six and 14, respectively — when a series of Salt Lake City bombings killed several high-profile members of the Mormon church in 1985. The murders drew national attention to the church, which, after a century of being viewed as a sort of "outsider religion" plagued by 19th-century extermination orders and persecution campaigns, had become and remains one of the fastest-growing denominations in the United States.

The violent nature of the crimes was a juxtaposition against a religious group that is often caricatured for its unrelenting optimism (as David Foster Wallace once wrote, "There's always a Mormon around when you don't want one, trying your patience with unsolicited kindness" ), and as such, the bombings captured tabloid attention, which quickly gave way to conspiracy theories.

"Nobody knew what was going on," Hess told Salon in an interview. "Because of that, it was a really uncomfortable time for so many people. Everyone was trying to get to the bottom of this tragedy, the likes of which Salt Lake City had never really experienced before."

Speculation continued. Was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually behind the bombings? Or was it tied to the impending collapse of an investment business with which two of the bombing victims were involved? ..............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/03/03/murder-among-the-mormons-netflix-jared-hess-tyler-measom/




3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"Murder Among the Mormons" filmmakers on how forgeries, faith and a salamander led to Utah bombings (Original Post) marmar Mar 2021 OP
I was working in Salt Lake a lot at the time this occured CanonRay Mar 2021 #1
A great book was written on the topic in the 80s Thunderbeast Mar 2021 #2
The Mormon Murders Claire Oh Nette Mar 2021 #3

CanonRay

(14,038 posts)
1. I was working in Salt Lake a lot at the time this occured
Thu Mar 4, 2021, 01:12 PM
Mar 2021

and was friends with several of the detectives involved. It was a really interesting glimpse into a very weird world.

Thunderbeast

(3,383 posts)
2. A great book was written on the topic in the 80s
Thu Mar 4, 2021, 01:36 PM
Mar 2021

"A Gathering of Saints" by Robert Lindsey is a real page-turner. It is said that "missionaries" scoured libraries and book stores to purge it from shelves.

https://www.hardybooks.com/pages/books/1315/books-about-books-robert-lindsey/a-gathering-of-saints-a-true-story-of-money-murder-and-deceit

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»"Murder Among the Mormons...