Mormon founder Joseph Smith would probably never have predicted that LDS church members would run for president (although Smith himself ran for office), hold high-ranking political offices, appear in popular Hollywood movies, publish bestselling novels, and excel as famous athletes. Then again, Smith probably wouldn't have thought much about it. He would, however, surely be impressed by how rapidly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has grown in a relatively short 181 years. The increasing number of Mormons has given rise to greater publicity, particularly when famous members are in the public eye, for better or worse. Certainly, more media attention has proven to be both a benefit and detriment, and the The Book of Mormon musical is a prime example of how media attention can be perceived in many ways.
The Book of Mormon Musical
The latest manifestation of Mormon satire (on a large scale, at least) is Trey Parker and Matt Stone's The Book of Mormon musical. With its recent debut on Broadway, the musical is receiving a great deal of attention, ranging from praise to condemnation. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to take their fascination with Mormonism, which they gently mock in a memorable episode of South Park, to new heights, and perhaps a wider audience. The plot follows the struggles and triumphs of two Utah Mormon missionaries, one cocky, the other unsure, who seek to save souls in Uganda.
Not to lose their comedic prowess, Stone and Parker present their story in the spirit of South Park's distinct vulgarity, which undoubtedly provides a unique juxtaposition alongside Mormon beliefs, represented through spirited musical numbers such as "I Believe." In the end, as Parker and Stone intended, Mormons are not vilified but represented as honest, well-intentioned people who love to serve. Of course, not everyone will agree with the positive assessment.
Public Reaction
So far, reaction to the musical is mixed, even among Mormons brave enough to see it. The majority of Mormons, however, will most likely avoid it, especially given that some scenes include Book of Mormon figures, historical church leaders, and even Jesus. Although the play may indeed have positive intentions, most Mormons are likely to label it as sacrilegious, offensive, condescending, and to say that it serves only to perpetuate long-held erroneous stereotypes continuing to misinform those unfamiliar with Mormon beliefs.
On the other hand, many viewers (among them practicing Mormons) have decided to see the glass as half full, especially compared to more mean-spirited representations of Mormonism. Despite cries of stereotyping, Parker and Stone are surprisingly accurate with Mormon doctrine and practices. One LDS viewer who expected to be offended was surprised at how "incredibly sweet" it was (Stack, 2011), and most non-Mormons generally perceive the play as a positive representation of Mormons. Even the Church released an official response which seems to take advantage of the publicity for proselytizing purposes: "The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ" (Kirkland, 2011). It may be true, then, that any publicity is good publicity, or at least can be.
Mormon Satire
Still, critics (many of them understandably Mormons) claim that the musical is evidence that the mocking of Mormon beliefs, especially on Broadway, reflects a rising tide of religious intolerance and that to do the same to Jews or Muslims would be unthinkable. Tracing the history of Mormon caricature, however, (not to mention that South Park creators do indeed mock every belief system at some point) indicates that Mormon satire is nothing new and some even argue that modern perceptions of Mormons are generally more positive than in the past.
Since its inception, the Mormon Church has received plenty of attention, and the satirizing of church figures, and doctrines and practices which some people find strange or peculiar is not new. In The Viper on the Hearth, Terryl Givens suggests, "The list of authors who resorted to the Mormon caricature … spans genres from mystery to western to popular romance … as well as scores of novels, short stories, and poems." Givens continues, "Caricature tends to illuminate what is valued and what is shunned by various social groups at various historical junctures" (1997, p. 4). The Book of Mormon musical seems to do just that: applaud the value, while lightheartedly jabbing what's doctrinally uncomfortable or flat out ludicrous to many.
Ultimately, the central Mormon message is that the story of the origins of their church is true, not solely that Mormons are good people, and their reaction to the play was probably decided before its debut. Still, given that the future of Mormonism will continue to gain positive and negative media attention, Mormons are likely to glean the positives of any public spotlight (a positive Mormon trait that the musical, interestingly, admires as well).
Sources
- Givens, T. (1997). The viper on the hearth: Mormons, myths, and the construction of heresy. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Kirkland, L. (2011). Church statement regarding The book of Mormon musical. The Newsroom Blog. Retrieved March 30, 2011 (newsroom.lds.org).
- Stack, P. (2011). ‘Book of Mormon’ musical called surprisingly sweet. Salt Lake Tribune.
- Unknown author (2010). Home Page. The Book of Mormon the Musical. Retrieved March 30, 2011 (BookofMormonBroadway.com).
Christopher Lee - I teach academic research at the college level and know how to filter out the junk
Join the Conversation