The Book of Mormon is a collection of sacred ancient writings. It’s also a record-breaking Broadway musical which premiered in 2011. It was wildly successful among audiences and critics alike. But many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took issue with the irreverent and partially inaccurate portrayal of their beliefs and culture. Some members began petitioning for closure on Broadway, while others hoped that the Church would publicize its objective.
A month preceding the show’s New York premiere, the Church released a surprising statement. “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.” Many thought that would be the end of the Church’s involvement. A year later the show began a national tour and the Church made a surprising move. During its run in Los Angeles, the Church placed full-size ads in the Playbill for The Book of Mormon.
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The Church’s response impresses me. The musical is unflattering to the Church and they could’ve justified issuing a forceful statement of disapproval. Doing so could also risk offending those who enjoyed and support the musical. On the other hand, if they chose to voice support of the musical – because there’s no such thing as bad publicity – that could send mixed messages to members of the Church. Instead of making a statement which could polarize in either direction, they redirected the focus to the beliefs and values supported by The Book of Mormon’s written teachings. A few people took issue with their response, but it was largely well received.
They could’ve left their involvement there, choosing to stay uninvolved, but their decision to begin publishing ads shows the Church’s boldness in seeking to reclaim the narrative. The Church cooperated with their opposition in a clever way that was mutually beneficial. The presence of the musical hasn’t drastically impacted the Church for good or ill, but for some people this public response may have opened their eyes and increased understanding, preparing them to learn more and read the book.