After about seven years of development, The Book Of Mormon opened on Broadway in March of 2011. The musical follows two members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) on a mission trip to Uganda.
Hello! – Elder Price introduces us to other Latter Day Saints and the door-to-door way the Mormons get people to convert to the LDS Church; they try to convince the residents that Jesus lived in America; the Elders show they go to other countries because they know other languages; Elder Cunningham is very insistent asking the people
Two By Two – Elder Price is hoping to go to Orlando, Florida for his mission trip; some pairs will be going to Norway, France, and Japan; Elder Price and Elder Cunningham find out they will be going to Uganda
You and Me (But Mostly Me) – Elder Price and Elder Cunningham are preparing for their trip to Uganda; Elder Price is convinced that he is destined to be the best LDS while Elder Cunningham is insecure but still supportive of Elder Price
Hasa Diga Eebowai – in Uganda Elder Price and Elder Cunningham get robbed by two soldiers and are taken in by a group of villagers; the villagers tell the Elders about their living conditions such as famine, drought, AIDS, female circumcision, and raping of small children; they say the phrase “hasa diga eebowai” when something goes wrong in their lives because it roughly translates to f*** you God; when the Elders realize what they are singing they try to tell the villagers that they have God all wrong and to listen to them about the book of mormon
Turn It Off – Price and Cunningham meet other missionaries near the village who have not been able to convert anyone yet; Elder McKinley, the district leader, teaches the other Elders about suppressing their thoughts; McKinley uses the personal example of homosexuality while Price was concerned with how well he would do on his mission trip
I Am Here For You – still worried about the lack of success of other Mormons, Price tries to get to sleep; Cunningham reassures Price by saying that it’ll be a miracle when Price baptizes the villagers since no one has done that before
All-American Prophet – this song is set up as a commercial, with Price acting as the main voice and Cunningham in the background asking questions; the audience and Ugandans learn the history of the LDS; Price tells the villagers that he will take them to the “promised land” of the Mormon Church
Sal Tlay Ka Siti – the village leader’s daughter dreams about going to Sal Tlay Ka Siti (Salt Lake City) after hearing about all the great things there
Man Up – Price is shocked by the realities of Africa and requests to be transferred to Orlando without Cunningham; the village leader’s daughter asks Cunningham more about the LDS; Elder Cunningham becomes the protagonist of the musical
Making Things Up Again – Cunningham is a liar; he makes up stories about Jesus to get the Ugandans to convert to the Mormon Church; he adds sci-fi and fantasy pop-culture references; his conscience comes into play but he tells himself that if he’s doing it to help people it can’t be all bad
Spooky Mormon Hell Dream – Elder Price thinks he wakes up in Orlando but is actually dreaming; he remembers that the worst thing he’s done is blame his brother for eating a donut; he feels guilty for leaving Elder Cunningham in Uganda
I Believe – Elder Price goes back to Uganda and helps Elder Cunningham convert the Ugandans; Price tries to get the General to convert so the rest of the villagers can but the General does not comply; Elder Price is reestablishing his faith in the Mormon Church after coming back from Orlando
Baptize Me – as the village leader’s daughter is about to get baptized, she and Elder Cunningham have a moment; she says she’s never been baptized before and he replies that he has never baptized someone before either; the way they talk about baptism makes it sound like they’re about talking about something way more explicit
I Am Africa – after the baptism Elder Cunningham celebrates with the Ugandans that have converted to the Mormon Church; the other Elders feel connected to the village now that more villagers have converted
Joseph Smith American Moses – the villagers honor the Mormon Church by putting on a pageant; they refer to stories that Elder Cunningham told them; the visiting missionary president is horrified by this and orders all of the Elders to go back to Salt Lake City; he also tells the villagers that they are not members of the Church
Tomorrow Is A Latter Day – Elder Price and Cunningham uses the lies Cunningham tells as metaphors for what they should actually do; the Elders of Uganda stay and advocate for The Book of Arnold