First, I want to say that I agree with this article. Mockery of and bigotry against conservative Christian groups is normalized in our society. As Latter Day Saints, we are "particular" even among Christians. We get scorn and suspicion even from people who are supportive of a more generic Christianity. And that hurts.
However, we need to remember that this was foretold about us from the beginning. We are God's "particular" people. As such, Satan is working particularly hard to stir people up against us. We need to be careful that he does not stir us up also, in how we feel and how we respond. It is right and good to stand up for ourselves, but we should strive to remember those standing against us are not truly our "enemy".
I have lived and worked with people who are ardently anti-Mormon all my life. My beloved aunt, "Nana", hates the LDS church with every fiber of her being. She has spent decades trying to tear the Church down and drive as many people away from it as possible. Many in our family see Nana as the enemy.
But the truth is, Nana's life has been one of pain and trauma. She was born in the South, to a troubled family that betrayed her in many ways. When she found the Church, she gave up everything to be part of it--her family, her culture, her home...
When Nana got to Utah, she was treated poorly. Her ward didn't understand her culture, her differences or her depression. She was heavily criticized for working outside the home, for being a "bad" woman/ homemaker, and for pursuing a college education. She felt very alone, betrayed and rejected by those who should love her... it was the trauma of her childhood, repeated and multiplied. She was easy pickings for anti-Mormon groups.
Nana is old now, hurting from a hundred spiritual wounds that never healed. And, honestly.... the majority of people who mock and spit at Latter Day Saints... have more in common with her then not. It may seem like they don't. They may seem big and powerful--successful comedians or journalists or political activists... just prideful jerks. But Satan's favorite targets are those with hidden pain... pain he can make to grow, and fester, until it becomes a weapon he can use.
If you interact with such people, without Christlike love... even if you're justified in standing up for yourself... you risk deepening the wound. By contrast, Christlike love in response to hate will heal them, and heal you too. It may take a lifetime and beyond--Nana's healing won't be complete in this life. But Christlike love starts the process. And if they think you're "simple" or "bland" or "folksy" for responding to them kindly... so what?
Lastly, remember that we aren't alone in being "othered". Racism and islamophobia (and fatphobia, ableism, ect, ect) may be discouraged in "polite society", but "polite society" is only a fraction of the whole... things that aren't "allowed" in middle-class, educated families are alive and well in poor families and among the rich and powerful. Virulent racism... the N word, hate, horrible jokes... that stuff happens every day, in places "polite society" doesn't reach. I've seen it. I've lived in it. So we mustn't get prideful and act like we're the "special victims" of the 21st century.
John WebbApril 23, 2026
Two things: First, I can't remember which leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said this, but he said, in effect, that nobody could kick the Church down, that they can only kick it up. He said that the Lord had so decreed it. I find it interesting that whenever something like this play is released to the world, there is an increase in convert baptisms.
Second, in the actual Book of Mormon, a prophet named Moroni is worried that people will make a mock of not only his words, but also the words of all the prophets. The Lord responds, saying, "Fools mock, but they shall mourn... my grace is sufficient for the meek... and... for all those who humble themselves before me." (Ether 12:26-27) Those who choose to mock the Savior and His prophets may have their fun now, but there will come a day when they will see what they have missed. They will see the joy and peace that might have been theirs, if they had chosen humility. Then they will mourn, because they missed those opportunities, due to their pride. We can and should hope and pray for them. Still, many will miss the mark. The Father loves them dearly, and weeps for them.
LoraApril 22, 2026
Those writers know that the Church is a soft target. They know that we don't murder our opponents. They dared to mock Islam in an episode of "South Park" and had to make changes in a hurry or face the consequences. I get tired of people thinking that they know who I am or my beliefs based on "Sister Wives" or "Mormon Housewives" or that "Mormon" woman on The Bachelor. Satan is alive and well and working on Broadway.
Amy LondonApril 22, 2026
I had a cousin who moved into a "Mor-Man" (her pronunciation) community (not Utah), and she was at once offended, perhaps because she had greater expectations how how members of the Church should behave. Against my better judgement, she saw the musical, but she again became offended when I suggested that she read the book. She hadn't heard of the ad “You’ve seen the play… now read the book,” and didn't find it amusing. I didn't see this play. I know several people who did. I heard several stories of people who actually joined the Church because they wanted to know more. However, it is rare that we should endorse something that completely maligns our values. Nevertheless, we have our personal agency and judgment. A few years ago another historical musical was very popular. I chose not to see it after hearing some of the lyrics. Sadly, I am sure we will continue to have plays or stories or podcasts that twist history or portray certain religious or ethnic groups in a way that is not entirely factual just to gain an audience or, perhaps, the almighty dollar.
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WendyApril 23, 2026
First, I want to say that I agree with this article. Mockery of and bigotry against conservative Christian groups is normalized in our society. As Latter Day Saints, we are "particular" even among Christians. We get scorn and suspicion even from people who are supportive of a more generic Christianity. And that hurts. However, we need to remember that this was foretold about us from the beginning. We are God's "particular" people. As such, Satan is working particularly hard to stir people up against us. We need to be careful that he does not stir us up also, in how we feel and how we respond. It is right and good to stand up for ourselves, but we should strive to remember those standing against us are not truly our "enemy". I have lived and worked with people who are ardently anti-Mormon all my life. My beloved aunt, "Nana", hates the LDS church with every fiber of her being. She has spent decades trying to tear the Church down and drive as many people away from it as possible. Many in our family see Nana as the enemy. But the truth is, Nana's life has been one of pain and trauma. She was born in the South, to a troubled family that betrayed her in many ways. When she found the Church, she gave up everything to be part of it--her family, her culture, her home... When Nana got to Utah, she was treated poorly. Her ward didn't understand her culture, her differences or her depression. She was heavily criticized for working outside the home, for being a "bad" woman/ homemaker, and for pursuing a college education. She felt very alone, betrayed and rejected by those who should love her... it was the trauma of her childhood, repeated and multiplied. She was easy pickings for anti-Mormon groups. Nana is old now, hurting from a hundred spiritual wounds that never healed. And, honestly.... the majority of people who mock and spit at Latter Day Saints... have more in common with her then not. It may seem like they don't. They may seem big and powerful--successful comedians or journalists or political activists... just prideful jerks. But Satan's favorite targets are those with hidden pain... pain he can make to grow, and fester, until it becomes a weapon he can use. If you interact with such people, without Christlike love... even if you're justified in standing up for yourself... you risk deepening the wound. By contrast, Christlike love in response to hate will heal them, and heal you too. It may take a lifetime and beyond--Nana's healing won't be complete in this life. But Christlike love starts the process. And if they think you're "simple" or "bland" or "folksy" for responding to them kindly... so what? Lastly, remember that we aren't alone in being "othered". Racism and islamophobia (and fatphobia, ableism, ect, ect) may be discouraged in "polite society", but "polite society" is only a fraction of the whole... things that aren't "allowed" in middle-class, educated families are alive and well in poor families and among the rich and powerful. Virulent racism... the N word, hate, horrible jokes... that stuff happens every day, in places "polite society" doesn't reach. I've seen it. I've lived in it. So we mustn't get prideful and act like we're the "special victims" of the 21st century.
John WebbApril 23, 2026
Two things: First, I can't remember which leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said this, but he said, in effect, that nobody could kick the Church down, that they can only kick it up. He said that the Lord had so decreed it. I find it interesting that whenever something like this play is released to the world, there is an increase in convert baptisms. Second, in the actual Book of Mormon, a prophet named Moroni is worried that people will make a mock of not only his words, but also the words of all the prophets. The Lord responds, saying, "Fools mock, but they shall mourn... my grace is sufficient for the meek... and... for all those who humble themselves before me." (Ether 12:26-27) Those who choose to mock the Savior and His prophets may have their fun now, but there will come a day when they will see what they have missed. They will see the joy and peace that might have been theirs, if they had chosen humility. Then they will mourn, because they missed those opportunities, due to their pride. We can and should hope and pray for them. Still, many will miss the mark. The Father loves them dearly, and weeps for them.
LoraApril 22, 2026
Those writers know that the Church is a soft target. They know that we don't murder our opponents. They dared to mock Islam in an episode of "South Park" and had to make changes in a hurry or face the consequences. I get tired of people thinking that they know who I am or my beliefs based on "Sister Wives" or "Mormon Housewives" or that "Mormon" woman on The Bachelor. Satan is alive and well and working on Broadway.
Amy LondonApril 22, 2026
I had a cousin who moved into a "Mor-Man" (her pronunciation) community (not Utah), and she was at once offended, perhaps because she had greater expectations how how members of the Church should behave. Against my better judgement, she saw the musical, but she again became offended when I suggested that she read the book. She hadn't heard of the ad “You’ve seen the play… now read the book,” and didn't find it amusing. I didn't see this play. I know several people who did. I heard several stories of people who actually joined the Church because they wanted to know more. However, it is rare that we should endorse something that completely maligns our values. Nevertheless, we have our personal agency and judgment. A few years ago another historical musical was very popular. I chose not to see it after hearing some of the lyrics. Sadly, I am sure we will continue to have plays or stories or podcasts that twist history or portray certain religious or ethnic groups in a way that is not entirely factual just to gain an audience or, perhaps, the almighty dollar.
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