What Is The Book Of Mormon About Musical
Okay, let’s talk about a Broadway musical that sounds like a punchline but is actually a masterpiece: The Book of Mormon. You’ve probably heard the title and thought, “Is this a joke about Mormon missionaries or an actual religious service with tap shoes?” Spoiler: it’s both, and it’s hilarious. Created by the guys behind South Park (Trey Parker and Matt Stone) and Avenue Q (Robert Lopez), this show won nine Tony Awards and somehow didn’t get smited by a higher power.
The Setup: Two Very Different Missionaries
Our story begins in Salt Lake City, where we meet Elder Price—a golden-boy Mormon who really wants to be sent to Orlando, Florida, for his mission. Instead, he gets paired with Elder Cunningham, a socially awkward, chubby goofball who lies about everything. Their destiny? Uganda. Not exactly the Promised Land.
They arrive in a village facing real problems: poverty, warlords, and a general lack of interest in 19th-century American scripture. The locals are not impressed. One of the first songs, “Hasa Diga Eebowai,” translates to a very rude phrase about God. Surprising fact: Parker and Stone originally worried the joke was too dark, but Ugandan audiences reportedly loved it.
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The Conflict: Faith Meets Reality
Elder Price has a crisis of faith when his “perfect plan” crumbles. Meanwhile, Elder Cunningham discovers that the only way to get villagers to listen is to embellish the Book of Mormon with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and alien encounters. He turns Joseph Smith into a Jedi warrior who fought a giant frog. It sounds insane because it is insane—but that’s the point.
The musical is not an attack on religion. It’s a satire of blind faith and a love letter to the power of storytelling. Parker and Stone spent months researching Mormonism and even met with actual LDS missionaries. The church’s official response? A polite statement saying the musical “does not reflect” their teachings. Polite understatement of the century.
The Songs: From Profane to Profound
The soundtrack is a rollercoaster. You’ve got “Hello!”—a peppy number where missionaries chant their opening line over and over until you want to scream. Then there’s “Turn It Off,” a jazz-hands showstopper about repressing emotions. Surprising fact: The song “I Believe” includes the line, “I believe that God has a plan for all of us; I believe that plan involves me going to a planet with my own name.” This is actual Mormon theology, not a joke.
The most shocking part? The show has heart. By the end, you’re rooting for Elder Cunningham’s ridiculous lies because they bring hope to a desperate village. One critic called it “the most uplifting show about hell ever written.”
The Controversy and the Punchline
When it premiered in 2011, religious groups picketed with signs like “Hell Awaits.” Then they actually saw the show. Many admitted they laughed. The musical even led to a spike in people Googling “Mormonism.” Surprising fact: A real Mormon missionary saw the show and said it was “90% accurate” and “more respectful than my high school prom.”
Why does it work? Because the creators respect the source material enough to mock it lovingly. They don’t bash Mormons—they bash hypocrisy. And they do it with songs like “I Am Africa,” where white missionaries pat themselves on the back for “connecting” with a continent they can’t find on a map.
Should You See It?
If you’re offended by swearing, religious satire, or lyrics like “Fuck you, God in the sky,” skip it. But if you want a show that makes you think and laugh so hard you choke on your popcorn, The Book of Mormon is a miracle. It’s the only Broadway musical where you’ll hear a demon say “I’m a Mormon, and a Mormon just believes.”
One last surprising fact: The show’s most famous number, “I Believe,” is often performed by actual LDS youth groups (minus the swear words). They sing it as a genuine anthem. That’s the power of satire done right—it leaves everyone, believers and skeptics, laughing together.
So grab your copy of the Book of Mormon (the musical, not the real one—unless you’re very committed) and prepare to witness a show that is completely respectful of religion. Just kidding. It’s not. But it is the funniest two hours you’ll ever spend in a theater seat. Hasa diga, my friend.