The Book of Mormon, by Matt Stone and Trey Parker

[falafel]

If it's anything like the Joseph Smith episode of South Park, I'm really not very worried. If it's like the Scientology episode ("Tom Cruise won't come out the closet!), then I would have been worried.

It sounds like it's the former, which is fine. They're bewildered at what we believe but at the same time have an affection for the people we are. That's not a bad thing to be in the South Park Universe.

If we could just get John Dehlin to post more, we'd know all about it!

[myboynoah]

Mormons on Broadway could bring them to the White House

So what’s a Mormon presidential candidate to do? I say embrace “The Book of Mormon” — Stone and Parker’s version, not just Joseph Smith’s. Oddly enough, the characters in “South Park” have been making a compelling case for religious tolerance for almost 15 years. In 2003, its take on Mormonism was voiced by Stan’s spurned friend Gary. After a half-hour of hilarity about what Mormons believe, and after Gary realizes that his religion is just too much for Stan, the otherwise mild-mannered boy yells: “Maybe us Mormons do believe in crazy stories that make absolutely no sense, and maybe Joseph Smith did make it all up. But I have a great life and a great family, and I have the Book of Mormon to thank for that. The truth is, I don’t care if Joseph Smith made it all up, because what the church teaches now is loving your family, being nice and helping people.”

This appears to be the point of the Broadway musical, as well. But the point most relevant to politics comes in Gary’s last words to Stan: “And even though people in this town might think that’s stupid, I still choose to believe in it. All I ever did was try to be your friend, Stan, but you’re so high and mighty, you couldn’t look past my religion and just be my friend back. You’ve got a lot of growing up to do, buddy.” Expletive deleted, of course.

While their stories may seem crazy, the Latter-day Saints have proved themselves to be good neighbors and good citizens, and even trustworthy politicians. It’s time to admit them to that well-populated club of people whose religion is not our own and even seems fantastical (virgin birth, predestination or infant damnation anyone?), but who are deemed perfectly acceptable presidential candidates. Or, as Parker and Stone are saying — and not just to the benefit of Romney and Huntsman, but all of us — it’s time to grow up.

FYI, Flake is Mormon.

[beefytee]

Ken Jennings take on the musical.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/...of_mormon.html

[MarkGrace]

Ken Jennings take on the musical.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/...of_mormon.html

That was great, though I do agree with the comment there at the bottom. How in the world could the BoM itself even purport to be about the ancestors of Native Americans?

[woot]

That was great, though I do agree with the comment there at the bottom. How in the world could the BoM itself even purport to be about the ancestors of Native Americans?

And seeing as how Joseph was very convinced that they were the ancestors of native americans, the point that Jennings made an attempt at there (that it was a later, unintended interpretation of the work) isn't even true. I'd sure like to see this on Broadway, but it seems very unlikely unless it runs for a very long time.

[MarkGrace]

14 Tony nominations.
http://theenvelope.latimes.com/la-et...,7493968.story

[Donuthole]

Michael Otterson will not be seeing the BOM Musical.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...n1fD_blog.html

I liked the official public release from the Church a whole lot better than Otterson's response, which I find overly-defensive while pretending like he doesn't care.

[Green Lantern]

Did anyone listen to the KRCL program RadioActive on Tuesday? They spent the hour discussing the musical and they played about a half dozen of the songs. Brilliant stuff. I'm dying to see this.

[oxcoug]

1. I went
2. I laughed
3. I met Rob Corddry and took a picture with him outside which maybe I'll upload later - he was amused that I and the girl I was with were both Mormons going to see it. He asked us a few questions about how Mormons generally are responding to this. We told him the general reaction ranges between laid back to mild eye-rolling to absolutely loving it, with a few crankier types mixed in. He said "well that reaction is probably one reason this musical is about Mormons and not another religion." I said "thank you for the compliment. Let me know if you need for me a Daily Show interview."

[Jeff Lebowski]

1. I went
2. I laughed
3. I met Rob Corddry and took a picture with him outside which maybe I'll upload later - he was amused that I and the girl I was with were both Mormons going to see it. He asked us a few questions about how Mormons generally are responding to this. We told him the general reaction ranges between laid back to mild eye-rolling to absolutely loving it, with a few crankier types mixed in. He said "well that reaction is probably one reason this musical is about Mormons and not another religion." I said "thank you for the compliment. Let me know if you need for me a Daily Show interview."

Awesome. Yes, please upload the photo.

[oxcoug]

Awesome. Yes, please upload the photo.

Switched it out for another one.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Switched it out for another one.

Excellent.

You should have hit him up about becoming a writer for the Daily Show. That would be a blast.

[Viking]

Michael Otterson will not be seeing the BOM Musical.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...n1fD_blog.html

I liked the official public release from the Church a whole lot better than Otterson's response, which I find overly-defensive while pretending like he doesn't care.

Otterson needs to chill. This is a positive endorsement of the Church, in its own messed up way

[RC Vikings]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...ook-of-mormon/

Interesting that they have a RM in the play.

[CardiacCoug]

Better tape the Tony Awards tonight while you watch the NBA Finals if you want to see this: