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Here is a pretty cool article/review of the Book of Mormon Musical written by the South Park folks. Found this at NOM. They mention New Order Mormons by name, as well as talk about “unorthodox mormons” and middle way mormons. Anyway, here is a summary of the article. Sound VERY StayLDSish to me. Quote:This past Monday I had quite the Family Home Evening—I saw a preview performance of the new BOM Musical. I was in NYC for work and wasn’t going to miss my chance.
Cutting to the chase, the show is amazing.
To paraphrase Parker and Stone, who wrote this musical, the Latter-Day Saints present a
perfect case study of two competing principles, each of which seem paradoxically true:1. religion is based on absurd, verifiably false truth-claims that lead adherents to all sorts of ridiculous and often harmful conclusions; and2. those same faith traditions produce meaning, hope and positive change in the world and the life of the believer, even amidst the starkest examples of theodicy and pain.
The BOM Musical lived up to this thesis. It will be appreciated by many, but none more so than by unorthodox Mormons, followed closely by the disaffected and reformed of other traditions. By the end of the show, there is a clear call to see past the literalism and orthodoxy of those running the institutionalized religion, to embrace metaphor, and to make the faith your own. This is of course, by some measures, the genesis of all faith traditions. It turns out that Mormonism, with its American Prophet, is a classic break from orthodoxy; an embellished, made-contemporary form of Christianity, recast for localized norms and needs. (“Did you know Jesus came to America?”). The BOM itself is so very 19th Century. For the purposes of exploring Stone and Parker’s thesis in a comical, scatological way,
Mormonism works beautifully.….
Other than being way more fun, seeing this show was ultimately like being in an LDS Church on any given Sunday—I was both offended and inspired. I had to remind myself, it’s just a show. And its just Church.That sounds awesome. I actually would like to see the musical – but I’m not saying that in my ward or in my stake meetings. 
I would like to see it but I understand the language is over-the-top raunchy. And at risk of sounding like a prude I don’t like that. I want an edited version! I’m with observant, except that I think I will just plain pass. I mostly am interested in the good parts of Mormonism, as in going to church with my family (parents and children), singing hymns, and staying free of addictions. I’m not so interested in history, the Book of Mormon, the temple, etc. Tom Haws wrote:I’m with observant, except that I think I will just plain pass. I mostly am interested in the good parts of Mormonism, as in going to church with my family (parents and children), singing hymns, and staying free of addictions. I’m not so interested in history, the Book of Mormon, the temple, etc.
My understanding is that the musical has NOTHING to do with the history of the Book of Mormon at all —- the plot is about a missionary who realizes he is gay, and the conflict and cog dis that he goes through during his mission.
?????
I’d like to see it. I wish we were all in a place we could see it together and discuss it afterwards. 
The central plot is that two missionaries go to Africa – one a hardcore traditionalist and one a more relaxed . . . non-traditionalist. The traditional one thinks the world’s problems can be solved by smiling and praying and being happy and obedient, but they encounter people who, for example, sing a song entitled (literally), “F*** You, God”. However, after all the mocking is done, the missionaries and their message actually do make a very positive change in the lives of those they teach.
It has nothing, really, to do with the Book of Mormon and Church history, and I haven’t heard anything about one of the missionaries being gay (certianly not as a central theme). That might be the case, but it’s never been mentioned in the reviews I’ve read.
Quote:It turns out that Mormonism, with its American Prophet, is a classic break from orthodoxy; an embellished, made-contemporary form of Christianity, recast for localized norms and needs. (“Did you know Jesus came to America?”). The BOM itself is so very 19th Century.
The problem with this is that the majority of Mormons no longer come from the US or have migrated there.
I like musicals. But can it live up to Saturdays Warrior 😆 I just got done listening to the Mormon Expression Book of Mormon Musical review. OMG.
Please please please listen to it – don’t procrastinate. It has just become my FAVORITE ME podcast of all time. Now, I admit, that I am a south park fan, but, NONE of the reviews or articles I have read come close to the ME explanation of the musical. It truly appears to be a gem, and has some DEEP DEEP meaning and message for us folks.
Also, the cast just have a great time and laugh so much on the podcast…yet it really is not irreverent really – just laughing at the mormon culture, much like the mormon cinema has tried to do in movies such as the RM and Singles Ward. The south park folks, of course, are going to make fun of the culture where it is deserved.
And, all the ME folks agree, the message is positive and is directed at the potential for mormonism, and all religions to be a POSITIVE force in the world if only the people will see it for what it is. The ME cast claims, that yes, the BOM musical will offend those who want to be offended, but otherwise, is not really a dig at the mormon people.
Anyway – I highly recommend the podcast.
Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/us/31mormon.html?scp=2&sq=book%20of%20mormon&st=cse ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/us/31mormon.html?scp=2&sq=book%20of%20mormon&st=cse I’m with Ray that I didn’t hear anything about a homosexuality subplot. The worst I heard is that Mormons are portrayed as clueless dorks, but . . . truth in all jest, right? Let’s face it, we are kind of dorky!
The Mormon Expression crew talk briefly about the gay missionary, but it’s really just a minor subplot. They laugh at how he sings a song about “Turn it off” about his homosexual feelings, which he does, but by the end of the play, he has pink flower stickers on his suitcase. but yeah, the musical is not really focused on the homosexual issue.
The NY times article is great. I wish I would have been more aware. I would have made the “pilgrimage” at that time. I have two buddies that live in Logan, and we are trying to finalize some plans to take the wives and head out there early summer to see the musical. NY is my old stomping grounds, and I haven’t been there for a couple years – not since I got hauled off in handcuffs by security at the new Yankee stadium. Had I been wearing a Yankee jersey instead of of a Mariner jersey, that would never have happened – but that is story for whole other day.
Are you going to drive up and see the musical Brian? You’re only what, six, seven hour drive from Manhattan?
Old-Timer wrote:The central plot is that two missionaries go to Africa – one a hardcore traditionalist and one a more relaxed . . . non-traditionalist. The traditional one thinks the world’s problems can be solved by smiling and praying and being happy and obedient, but they encounter people who, for example, sing a song entitled (literally), “F*** You, God”.
See, I think I could handle pretty much anything except that song.
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