Well, I finally went and saw The Book of Mormon, and I am not ashamed to say how much I loved it. It’s been on my bucket list for years and now that it’s on tour in Dallas, it was a must-not-miss, especially to celebrate a special birthday.

Let me give you a bit of a background on this Broadway Musical. THE BOOK OF MORMON won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical, and it is was nominated for 14 Tony Awards and the winner of nine Tony Awards, including:

Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone)

Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone)

Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker)

Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James)

Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask)

Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt)

Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan)

and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus). 

THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q, and the genius behind Frozen – yes, as in Let it go!. 

The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Mean Girls, Aladdin, Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker. 

7 Things You Should Know Before You See The Book Of Mormon

The BOOK OF MORMON is extremely controversial, so I’ve put together 7 things you should know before you see The BOOK OF MORMON, so between the facts, the spoilers, and my own commentary as a Christian (and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), you can judge for yourself. 

Most people think the Book of Mormon musical is an anti-Mormon play, but that’s not the case at all.

There are jokes at the expense of the Mormon Church, but they made me laugh, and, rather than offensive, they were enlightening because I understand the misconceptions there are in the world and how outsiders think the doctrine is so outlandish.

But also, as someone that wasn’t born into and does not fully conform to the church culture in the United States, I really enjoyed that someone else finds it to be entertaining. 

Trey Parker and Matt Stone claim to be atheists, but they weren’t seeking to attack or mock “Mormons.” They wanted to explore how all religions look to those who aren’t religious.

They grew up in Colorado, so with Utah being nearby, they were always fascinated by what they call “Mormon culture.”

I loved this quote by Trey Parker:

“I don’t think anybody would want to see a two-hour-long Mormon-bashing, and we wouldn’t want to see that either.” 

I didn’t. I love musicals and I have an open mind – and a sense of humor. But no, it’s not for everybody.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have repeatedly said they worked on The BOOK OF MORMON for seven years with the objective to make people laugh and they have achieved that. 

Although some aspects of the history and the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are challenged in some re-enactments in The Book of Mormon musical, I think it was done in a harmless way, and that most people get that it’s all a joke.

I can’t speak for all “Mormons,” and ironically enough, I don’t really have a lot of friends that are members of the Church, but some of the issues brought up felt like accurate struggles I have personally questioned. For example, the former practice of polygamy, the time it took for African-Americans to gain authority in the Church, and certain beliefs and attitudes about same-gender attraction and relationships. It’s complicated and no one is perfect – only God is.

Before we get into the plot, let’s address the language in The Book of Mormon musical. If you are offended by four-word expletives, then you will be uncomfortable almost the entire time.

There was a time in my life in which that kind of profane language was very triggering to me and I would experience PTSD reactions, even when they weren’t spoken to me.

Now that I am further along in my healing path, profanity doesn’t bother me unless it is directly spoken to me with the same intent of my attacker.

What I mean is, I don’t use swear words in my vocabulary and teach my children not to, and in the same sense, it is none of my business what words other people use unless they are using them to harm another. 

I don’t necessarily think a phrase is funnier because certain expletives are used, but I can still laugh if it would be funny without it. 

Many of my most cherished friends are not Mormons (we don’t call ourselves that) and use these words all the time and they’ve actually helped me move on from trauma by speaking in that way because it’s helped me feel safer in the world.

There was one song that was over the top and hard to sit through for someone who loves God. The made-up phrase in that song “Hasa Diga Eebowai” is poking fun at Disney’s “Hakuna Matata,” and on the belief that having a phrase or mantra is supposed to make everything seem better, but when its fake meaning is revealed, it is disturbing to hear.

Trust me when I say I have been angry at God before, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say these words.

Now, I didn’t walk out of the theater because this is a satire – it’s not going to accurately portray Africa, Africans, Salt Lake City, or “Mormons.” It’s going for politically incorrect laughs and for a bit of reflection. More on that soon.

I try to avoid entertainment that is R rated, even though my life story would definitely be for mature audiences only.

Okay, now let’s address the adult content in The Book of Mormon musical. It is not just the profane language in The Book of Mormon musical that makes some people cringe.

There is a lot of crass and vulgar humor and adult language, and although there is no nudity, there is a lot of sexually explicit imagery and raunchy scenes, even involving topics that many of us hold reverently, such as baptism. 

There are jokes about serious issues that plague all countries AIDS, bestiality, rape, and other more specific to African countries and slum areas like the one I grew up in, such as extreme poverty, lack of sanitation and its effects, and hurtful practices like female genital mutilation.

I love when these difficult realities are brought to light, not only because they are so close to home for me, but because we need more awareness. I also think we need to normalize the word clitoris, too.

The Book of Mormon musical portrays Mormon Missionaries as optimistic young boys who want to make a difference. And they really are. 

The curtain lifts and you are instantly uplifted with the musical number HELLO, which presents an ensemble of lovable, friendly, and persistent Mormon Missionaries or “Elders,” who are ringing doorbells and offering “a book about Jesus Christ.”

This opening song is amazing and the Elders are dressed in their characteristic black slacks, white shirts, and name tags, with a big smile painted on their faces. The song is so catchy and the performance was flawless, that it will be stuck in your head for a long time!

Hello
My name is Elder Green
I would like to share with you this book of Jesus Christ

Trey Parker and Matt Stone initially wanted to write about Joseph Smith, the first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but then realized most people’s first interaction with the church is through missionaries that go door to door preaching the Gospel as representatives of Jesus Christ and offering a nifty free book that will change your life.

The Book of Mormon musical introduces us to two mismatched missionary companions from Utah.

Elder Kevin Price has prepared for his mission his entire life and has always dreamed of being assigned to the magical land of Orlando, home of Walt Disney World, and Elder Arnold Cunningham is focused on being a follower, on trying to control his compulsive lying, and on enjoying finally having a friend.

Matt Stone said he and Trey Parker took co-writer Bobby Lopez to Salt Lake City, and they all interviewed former missionaries to do their research for the show.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, young boys save up to go on a 2-year-long mission when they turn 18, where they proselyte door-to-door and serve people. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has over 70,000 missionaries in 450+ missions around the world.

I am grateful for the missionaries who baptized me – Elder Brito and Elder McBride. I was 14 years old and everything they taught me really helped me cope with my troubled life. I went from wanting to take my life to focusing on being a better person, learning to forgive, and finding purpose in my trials. I felt God’s love for the first time in my life, found answers to many of my questions, and found peace about the ones that went unanswered. 

Females also go on missions, although theirs only last 18-months. My daughters may even go on a mission someday.

The Book of Mormon musical is set in a remote village in northern Uganda.  The stunning set is a masterful rendering of an African village, and a slum in general. In the story, when Elder Price and Elder Cunningham arrive, they experience culture shock.

After I moved to the US is when I really understood the strength and humility it took for the missionaries that came to my hometown to adapt, survive, and keep the faith in those unprivileged circumstances. 

In The Book of Mormon musical, the Mormon Missionaries share their faith and their book of Scripture, but they have a hard time getting through to the locals, as they worry about hard issues and a brutal warlord threatens to kill and mutilate them.

The depiction of the Ugandan villagers is stereotypical and ignorant, and there’s a running joke about a young woman named Nabulungi, who is the only one interested in The Book of Mormon stories, but they can’t seem to get her name right (Nabisco? Neutrogena? Nicky Minaj?).

The Book of Mormon musical addresses Sin and Hell in a thought-provoking way. One of the funniest parts of the musical was the “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” number, which the Elders would have if they broke any rules.

The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints actually is different from other Christian churches in that a literal hell doesn’t exist.

And even if hell as a concept of a state of misery exists, you don’t go there for breaking the 82-page Missionary Handbook rules, nope, not even #24 and #76. 

There are some interesting guests in Spooky Mormon Hell Dream: Genghis Khan, Jeffrey Dahmer, Hitler, and Johnnie Cochran, who proudly proclaims: I got O.J. freed!

It was a great representation of how one of the pitfalls of religion is indulging in excessive guilt over things that are not as abominable as we may think in the great scheme of things. 

“We’re all Latter-day Saints. Even if we’ve changed some things, or we break the rules, or we have complete doubt that God exists.”

We’re all on a journey and none of us is perfect and most of us aren’t Hitler.

The Book of Mormon musical has many positive messages. I think The Book of Mormon musical is mostly about how whether it is a phrase, a book of Scripture, or a Star Wars story, we all can find something to hang on to to get us through hard times.

There is a musical number called “A Mormon just believes,” that I think is not really about Mormons, but about the particular faith that we all cling to, whether religious or not, and whether they make sense to others or not.

There is also the message of not imposing one particular’s beliefs onto another, but inspiring change through understanding, through connection, and through becoming one with them. Elder Cunningham does this brilliantly, with the use of his knowledge of sci-fi fantasy and his active imagination. 

I think probably my favorite song is Turn it Off, in which repression is mocked. 

“When you start to feel confused/ about thoughts inside your head/ don’t feel those feelings!/ Hold them in instead” 

Turning off your feelings of anger, sadness, or even attraction is not the answer. Self-suppression just doesn’t help.

Elayna is a single mom of 4, award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 4x TEDx speaker. Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results, so you can have the wealth, opportunities, and freedom you deserve. Connect with Elayna Fernández at thepositivemom.com/keynote-speaker and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.

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