Book of Mormon play

[Elendil_s_Heir]

A previous thread on the show (my post is #32): https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=830733

@Bijou_Drains

not in the play, but God changed his mind about polygamy when Congress said they needed to ban it for Utah to become a state. Another amazing coincidence.

A great book on Mormonism, then and now, including the curiously, shall we say, opportune timing of various prophecies which Mormon leaders have had over the years: Under the Banner of Heaven - Wikipedia

[Bijou_Drains]

a lot of my knowledge of Mormons comes from Under Than Banner of Heaven. I like all of Krakauer’s books.

[Backwater_Under_Duck]

I spent a lot of time with the Mormons in my teens. Boy Scouts and stuff. I enjoyed them a lot. I realized their story was even weirder than the Catholics, but they never recruited me for some reason. But the show didn’t stray to anything more than gratuitous sarcasm. They got the story pretty straight. I didn’t like the show, and I love musicals. Just too damn rude. Some of it was really terrific - the Hell Dream sequence. But mostly, I was glad I waited four years to see it, cuz I would have really hated it if I had paid $275 for back row balcony seats.

[DavidwithanR]

@Bijou_Drains

another fact in the play that is true Mormon belief is that the garden of Eden was in Missouri. (and so they also believe that Adam lived in Missouri)

So THAT’S the origin!

Eve: So, Adam, there’s this tree, right in the middle, you know the one I mean…

Adam: You know where we’re from. Show me.

[sisu]

I knew a lot about the Mormons due to my unnatural fascination with fringe religions, my wife didn’t know any details but she once was a Fundy Christian so still found the play the funniest thing she has ever seen and I agree.

The whole USA can fix the world thing was great!

[Sir_T-Cups]

@Bijou_Drains

“God changed his mind about black people in 1978” probably was not known by non Mormons , that is a true statement.

both times I saw it here the church had a 1 page ad in the playbill. This time it said “our version is slightly different”

@Jennshark

As above, there’s the “prophecy” that Black men could hold the priesthood (which very conveniently occurred when the ACLU went after the Church for discrimination).

Some of it is deep Utah culture, such as smiling all of the time (there’s a very damaging onus to pretend as if everything is okay all of the time) and that many young folk get the gays when they go on a mission.

I’ve a bad memory, I’ll text mom and bro today for a few specifics.

Thanks for these. I guess I just assumed these facts were true when I heard them, but it’s nice to know