The Book of Mormon, by Matt Stone and Trey Parker

[NorthwestUteFan]

Right. Defame us, and we'll be right over with a plate of cookies.

As I understand it, the term "turn the other cheek" meant to not allow the injuring party to recognize that he has caused injury (or something like that). It was more of an act of defiance and strength than one of submission. Delivering cookies and a smile are the perfect representation of this phrase.

Surfah said this is unoriginal. I wholeheartedly disagree and take a differing view. Considering the number of "rehashes" that were up for awards last night, I would say this musical is one of the few "original" stories out there. It seems there are too few original stories out there right now. (side note: I just learned somebody is making an English version of "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" - the original was perfect is its small budget simplicity and gritty storytelling, why ruin it?)

Also add Scientology to the list of religions about which it is verboten to parody. TP and MS were crucified in the media over the Southpark Scientology episode, and Isaac Hayes quit the show over it.

Does the musical offend? Sure it does. I openly laugh at certain things in our past, particularly times in which the prophet's personal opinion became doctrine (blacks and the priesthood, certain aspects of the WOW, etc).

The premise of the song "I Believe" is that we believe certain things which are on their face blatantly wrong, but we continue believing anyway. "I am a Mormon, and a Mormon just believes!"

"...and I Bee-lieve!! That in 1978 God changed his mind about black people!"

I have to admit that is catchy and funny. I will see the show if it tours...
Can't get the song out of my head.

[LA Ute]

I do think that if the Church was more than just a safe punch line that others outside of the faith may more readily defend it.

I agree. That problem may actually get better over time. The visibility of guys like Romney and Huntsman and Reid probably helps with it.

[Surfah]

I agree. That problem may actually get better over time. The visibility of guys like Romney and Huntsman and Reid probably helps with it.

Help or hinder?

[Surfah]

The premise of the song "I Believe" is that we believe certain things which are on their face blatantly wrong, but we continue believing anyway. "I am a Mormon, and a Mormon just believes!"

"...and I Bee-lieve!! That in 1978 God changed his mind about black people!"

I have to admit that is catchy and funny. I will see the show if it tours...
Can't get the song out of my head.

That's a broad we you stroke.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Interesting question. Would we do something more aggressive if we were more feared or powerful? (

Moot point. The Nauvoo Militia was the most powerful army in the region at the time, and Nauvoo was the most powerful city in Illinois.

The visibility of guys like Romney and Huntsman and Reid probably helps with it.

The juxtaposition of those three across the political spectrum IS a good thing in terms of visibility.

[LA Ute]

Help or hinder?

Fair question. Net-net, I think we come out ahead just because we are more familiar to people. You know, fear of the unknown, of the "other," etc.

[NorthwestUteFan]

That's a broad we you stroke.

It offends you somewhat, and makes me laugh somewhat. Diff'rent strokes...

[LA Ute]

I like this take:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...HkUH_blog.html

[MarkGrace]

Of course no group has been as cruelly treated as African-Americans, but Mormons have a history of being persecuted. They have been exiled in their own land, but have returned unfailing devotion to our Constitution.
This new play will pander to our prejudices and treat our Mormon neighbors as we would never wish to be treated. Some Americans will allow it to confirm unthinking prejudice, while cowardly Mormons will applaud it hoping for crumbs of respectability.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...HPWH_blog.html

[PaloAltoCougar]

Our Manhattanite daughter emailed me the following:

The Manhattan temple president spoke in our ward a few weeks ago and he was saying that after the Book of Mormon musical won the Tony, the mission president here got a call from Salt Lake that the Church wanted him to send some missionaries to Times Square (where the theater is) to capitalize on the publicity. Usually the missionaries stay out of Times Square because it's kind of pointless--it's mostly tourists anyway and it's just really crowded and crazy. But they set up a couple elders down there with a little table and information cards and whatnot. Apparently every single person that talked to them thought they were from the cast of the musical, and people kept just taking pictures with them and stuff. Finally one of the elders just gave up and started signing autographs.

And our youngest leaves the MTC and hits NYC in four weeks. Sounds like I should send him a bunch of 8x10 glossies to sign and take along.

[Pheidippides]

Our Manhattanite daughter emailed me the following:

The Manhattan temple president spoke in our ward a few weeks ago and he was saying that after the Book of Mormon musical won the Tony, the mission president here got a call from Salt Lake that the Church wanted him to send some missionaries to Times Square (where the theater is) to capitalize on the publicity. Usually the missionaries stay out of Times Square because it's kind of pointless--it's mostly tourists anyway and it's just really crowded and crazy. But they set up a couple elders down there with a little table and information cards and whatnot. Apparently every single person that talked to them thought they were from the cast of the musical, and people kept just taking pictures with them and stuff. Finally one of the elders just gave up and started signing autographs.

And our youngest leaves the MTC and hits NYC in four weeks. Sounds like I should send him a bunch of 8x10 glossies to sign and take along.

Lol. That's not only believable, it's almost predictable.

Which mission is your youngest bound for? I still know many people in manhattan in the Church.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Lol. That's not only believable, it's almost predictable.

Which mission is your youngest bound for? I still know many people in manhattan in the Church.

He'll be in NY NY South (consisting of Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Bermuda), Mandarin speaking, so he'll be across the East River from his sister. But she lives a block away from Columbia, so she probably rubs shoulders with your chums.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Our Manhattanite daughter emailed me the following:

The Manhattan temple president spoke in our ward a few weeks ago and he was saying that after the Book of Mormon musical won the Tony, the mission president here got a call from Salt Lake that the Church wanted him to send some missionaries to Times Square (where the theater is) to capitalize on the publicity. Usually the missionaries stay out of Times Square because it's kind of pointless--it's mostly tourists anyway and it's just really crowded and crazy. But they set up a couple elders down there with a little table and information cards and whatnot. Apparently every single person that talked to them thought they were from the cast of the musical, and people kept just taking pictures with them and stuff. Finally one of the elders just gave up and started signing autographs.

And our youngest leaves the MTC and hits NYC in four weeks. Sounds like I should send him a bunch of 8x10 glossies to sign and take along.

Those missionaries sound better than I was. I would have started both signing and singing at first request.

[LA Ute]

He'll be in NY NY South (consisting of Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Bermuda), Mandarin speaking, so he'll be across the East River from his sister. But she lives a block away from Columbia, so she probably rubs shoulders with your chums.

I hope his MP is relaxed enough to let brother and sister get together now and then. There are good memories to be had. When my dad was in the Eastern States Mission in the mid-1930s (and the mission covered most of the Eastern seaboard north of Virginia) my grandparents made a trip back there and sent a week with my dad showing them around, sans companion. This was in the middle of his mission. Things were much more relaxed back then, it seems. Anyway, the photos from that visit have been part of family lore ever since. We still have them.

[Pheidippides]

He'll be in NY NY South (consisting of Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Bermuda), Mandarin speaking, so he'll be across the East River from his sister. But she lives a block away from Columbia, so she probably rubs shoulders with your chums.

Does she still have an...er...celebrity bishop and matron? That's my old ward and the bishop (called in late 2005) was a striking individual who has had an uneasy relationship with Michael Ballum/Satan.