Have you heard about the new play on Broadway that was written by the South Park dudes (and the writer of Avenue Q?)

If you haven’t, you should catch up here:

‘Book of Mormon’ opens on Broadway
(from CNN ‘Belief’ Blog)

That’s right; the South Park writers (who already took on Mormonism in an episode) have now written a Broadway musical about the religion. The article linked above summarizes the plot of the new production, as well as some of the thinking behind the writers’ motivations. And I have to say, I utterly and completely relate to this line of thinking:

Mormonism originated with Joseph Smith in upstate New York in the early 1800s. This not-so-distant past was attractive to the writers, [Avenue Q writer] Lopez told CNN, because they thought it added to the far-fetchedness of the religion’s claims that God had anointed Smith as an American prophet.

“A prophet who lived thousands and thousands of years ago in the Middle East is veiled in antiquity,” said Lopez. “But a prophet finding God’s word on golden plates just a few hours drive from New York City is ripe for satire.”

Also, if you’re curious about how the church feels about having its sacred beliefs turned into satirical song and dance, the article includes the LDS official statement—and I have to say, it sounds calm and rational.(However, one wonders if the church’s feathers will get increasingly ruffled as the play’s run continues, especially considering that one of the main characters, according to the article above, “succumbs to his doubts about faith and God after having the Book of Mormon stuck in a very uncomfortable part of his anatomy.” Ouch.)

But the real question, of course, is whether my beloved home stomping grounds—the tiny town with one blinking red light at the four-way stop—is mentioned anywhere in the script? For it was in Carthage, of course, that in 1844 a mob stormed the jail where Mormon leader Joseph Smith was incarcerated, and where he was shot and fell to his death.

With this high-profile production making headlines and perhaps becoming a legendary moment in the history of the Great White Way, stop to think about how funny and fascinating it is that the entire Mormon saga—the migration out west, the settling of Salt Lake City, in fact the very foundation of one of the world’s fastest-growing religions—wouldn’t exist as we know it without the chapter that took place in Carthage and Hancock County.

If I had been a co-writer with Matt Parker and Trey Stone, I would have tried to work in a line—or a whole song—about the holy site being located just catercorner from the DQ. (Feel free to help provide rhymes.)

Or who knows, maybe Carthage and Nauvoo are mentioned in the musical? I hope to find out five or six years from now, when an off-, off-, off-Broadway production plays in Peoria.

As I told you recently, the Kibbe Museum in my hometown of Carthage, Ill., once seemed like the product of a dark imagination back when I was a kid.

But then, at some point in the late 90s or earl 00s, (I believe), the museum moved to the old city hall building in Carthage. So now, not only is in a one-story building conveniently located across the street from the historic Carthage Jail, but it’s also bright and open  and easy to navigate, with all kinds of interesting displays, (including one about church history that I couldn’t help but pore over, since it contained a stained glass window and other items from the church where I grew up,  one of the oldest structures in the county). I’ve been meaning to write about this museum visit for months, but I keep getting sidetracked…sigh. So for now, here’s a link to the Kibbe blog. I was going to tell you all about how, with its displays on Carthage College, the Mormon Temple, etc., it’s now more of a history-of-the-area museum than a random-collection-of-strangeness.

However.

Yesterday, I learned from my hometown paper, The Hancock County Journal-Pilot, that the museum has recently acquired materials from the History of Funeral Customs in Springfield.

This caught my eye not because of the somewhat strange subject matter, but because I recognized the name of this museum from having read about it in a book called Assassination Vacation. In other words, the contents of a museum that caught the attention of one of my all-time favorite contemporary writers, Sarah Vowell (who also happens to be known for her distinctive voice), have been moved to my tiny hometown, of all places.

Wow.

Anyway, I’ve been wanting for a long time to write a post about how, as Chris and I and two friends toured last fall, Chris went from “why are you dragging me to this place” to “hey, can I have the car keys? I want to go get my camera out of the trunk.”

Here are some of his shots, from the museum’s displays on

• medical history,
• a faux general-store complete with checker-game in progress, and
• old-fashioned offices and mail delivery:

(You can see more of Chris’s photos from our photography adventures on his Flickr page.)

I’m sorry to say I’m never going to get around to that post I’ve been meaning to write about the Kibbe’s other intriguing elements–including the influx of Mormon visitors from all over the world. But if you’re from the area and, like me, become more aware of its rich history as you get older–or you’re new and looking for something to do– you should check out this lovingly curated, interesting conglomeration of stuff. Find hours and directions here.

If you’ve already been to the most recent incarnation of the Kibbe, please share your memories, thoughts, impressions below!

The old school house in McCall, IL

Originally uploaded by Rural Rose

When I was a kid, there was a sign just near here that read “McCall, IL — Population: 8.”

This little old school house is just a mile or two west of my parents’ house (where I grew up).

My dad went to school in a one-room country school house just like it, and just down the road from here. He says he remembers playing in a baseball game against kids from this school.

I wanted to capture it because, even though it’s always been a landmark down the country road I grew up on, I know it won’t be there forever. One of those things you look at a million times and don’t pay much attention to, but then feel surprised and a little saddened when it’s gone.

(There was another one less than a mile from home to the east, and it got torn down a couple of years ago, just a few months after I went to take pictures of it.)

This schoolhouse is located along what is now being called the Mormon Martyrdom Trail. More on that later.

Fer serious: Mormons disco?!?

Check out this event in Nauvoo:

BYU Ballroom Dance Company

The Brigham Young University “Ballroom Dance Company” returns [to Nauvoo] to perform at the Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center Outdoor Stage, 290 N. Main Street. This group of 36 world-renouned [sic], award-winning dancers will perform a variety showcase of Latin and international dance styles including waltz, samba, foxtrot, and hustle. These free shows are held Monday through Saturday at 8:30 p.m. All ages will enjoy this free entertainment venue.

I had no idea.

Um, is it weird that I seriously kinda want to go?

I used to go to rock shows. What does it say about me that I wish I could asking off work in order to attend THIS??????

Latter-day Saints to commemorate ‘Mormon Exodus’

(from the Deseret News)
NAUVOO, Ill. – The public is invited to a commemoration of the famous river crossing known as the “Mormon Exodus.”

On Feb. 4, 1846, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began crossing the icy waters of the Mississippi, eventually to complete their well-known trek to the Rocky Mountains.

In honor of those pioneers, modern Latter-day Saints, along with their friends, will re-enact the march down Parley Street* on Wednesday, Feb. 4. They will wear nametags for those who made the actual historic crossing. At the water’s edge, in a short ceremony, the marchers will pay tribute to those who were part of the exodus and to the thousands who died along the Mormon Trail.
.
Missionaries from the Illinois Nauvoo Mission will portray or relate the stories of some of those individuals who survived the river crossing and made the trek west.

Shirley Land, one of the organizers of the event, expressed her hope for the commemoration.

“Most years Feb. 4 turns out to be a really cold day, and to be honest, I hope it is this year, too,” she said. “I’m not sure we get the full sense of what those people suffered if we don’t feel a little uncomfortable ourselves.”

Lest we forget, that aforementioned exodus was started because of the kicking-out of the Mormons from Hancock County, which commenced with the murder of a certain leader in a certain person’s hometown.
Now, just for the record. I’m not saying I’m all in with Mormon goings-on (or that I’m the most open-minded person in the world when it comes to religion in general.)

BUT, I do find it absolutely fascinating that this major chapter in American history started right here in Forgotonia.

And it feels me with a sense of awe to stop and think about what it would have been like to live in those pre-Carhardt times and trek across the frozen Mississippi–and everything that journey entailed (and led to afterward).

And I guess getting interested in history when you get older is nothing to really feel bad about.

[But, you know. I still wanna rock!]

* I wonder if Parley Street in Nauvoo is named after the guy my dad was addressing when he got a one-line speaking part in the Mormon movie “Exodus.” The line, which I like to repeat at family gatherings as often as possible, was “Confound it, Parley!”

I want to know if this [story from CNN.com] has anything to do with Mormons??

Utah is fastest growing state, Census Bureau says

[well sort of]

As I told you earlier, my friend’s dad is potentially going to get some work on the set of the new Tim Burton remake of “Alice in Wonderland.

But we must discuss the fact that

1) Everywhere you turn, John Podesta is being mentioned in the news. The head of Obama’s transition team, who was Clinton’s chief of staff, also just happens to be a Knox College (in Galesburg, Ill.) graduate and a member of its Board of Trustees, and not the kind on paper only–the guy pops up on campus rather frequently, not only attending board meetings but commencements and convocations and that kind of stuff. Like, he’s probably a somewhat regular at the Landmark, yo.

When I was a reporter for the Register-Mail, I covered his keynote speech at the school’s opening commencement in the fall, and the cowboy-booted Podesta proved to be an excellent, sharpwitted speaker, one of those people who somehow kind of emits ‘cool.’

I have to admit that, in my stories and later my news releases for Knox, I would bandy about the phrase “former White House chief of staff for President Bill Clinton” without fully comprehending what that meant. As in, Monica Lewinsky scandal and all.

Also, according to this article,

“Obama is expected to name campaign adviser Gregory Craig, who was President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial lawyer, as White House counsel.

I also covered a Craig speech at Knox.

3) A kid named Tyler Hilton, who has a part on One Tree Hill [never seen it]; played Elvis in “Walk the Line” [barely remember that part], and performed in a free concert one night this week at Western [didn't go, because I had to do boring adult things like.... well, go to Aldi], apparently is the grandchild of former Macomb residents?? (according to the “McDonough County This Week”?)

…but the article provides no other deets. I wanna know more!! Deets, people, deets!!!

4) This scary terrorist story–the Al-Marri case– got its start in Peoria.

5) And speaking of terrorists? Obama’s “terrorist pal” speaks at my alma mater! Whoa!

7) And finally: yes, this headline is apparently real!
“Mormons: the Musical!”

And I can’t wait! (Wonder if the South Park guys will come to Carthage for some research?)

Is it just me or does this Associated Press story totally seem “inspired by” Thursday’s Phil Luciano column from the PJ star? (Or maybe Phil got his story idea from this one…)

Either way, it’s an excellent story (although this one, unlike the Luciano column, doesn’t mention my first-grade PE teacher. Bummer.)

Tiny Nauvoo, touchstone for Mormons

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Associated Press Writer

Wed Dec 5, 6:07 PM ET

Mitt Romney’s campaign for president hasn’t exactly caught fire in the little river town that many Mormons consider a touchstone for their religion.

The “Mitt Rocks” T-shirts are selling pretty well at the Art Needlework Shop, but they can’t compete with the “I Like Mormon Boys” shirts. Romney yard signs are practically nonexistent. Neighbors are chatting about sports and hunting, not Republican politics.

Durell Nelson is pleased to have a fellow Mormon running for president, but he hasn’t decided whether to vote for Romney and he didn’t attend when Romney held a rally just across the river in Iowa.

Nelson said some of his neighbors, like voters across the country, have doubts about Romney.

“I think the biggest fear among people I know is that church leadership would have a heavy sway in his life,” said Nelson, 57, a landscape architect at Mormon historic sites. “That’s a misconception.”

It’s one Romney will tackle head-on on Thursday. Losing ground as Iowa’s leadoff caucuses approach, he plans a speech in Texas in which he’ll discuss religion and how his faith would or wouldn’t influence his presidency.

Nauvoo — i’ts pronounced nah-VOO — sits on the Mississippi River just across from the southeast corner of Iowa. A five-story white limestone building topped with a golden statue dominates the town — a Mormon temple matching the one that church leaders built here more than 160 years ago.

The town has fewer than 1,100 permanent residents, about one-third of whom are Mormon. But tens of thousands of Mormons visit Nauvoo each year to see the temple and the spot a few miles away [a certain blogger's hometown] where church founder Joseph Smith was murdered by an anti-Mormon mob.

That was in 1844. Violent clashes continued, and in early 1846 thousands of Mormons fled Nauvoo and began the trip to Salt Lake City, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now based.

Residents say some ill will remains today, magnified by the normal friction in a small town dealing with waves of tourists. There’s even a Nauvoo Christian Visitors Center dedicated to telling people that Mormons are not true Christians and are controlled almost totally by church officials.

“There’s some feelings against the Mormons here,” acknowledged Lee Ourth, a member of the City Council. “Some say, ‘We ran them out once, we can do it again.’”

“Now, that’s not from our brightest residents,” he added quickly.

Nauvoo residents say the Republican presidential primaries haven’t generated much interest here. Romney and his competitors aren’t on people’s minds even though neighboring Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses are less than a month away.

The people who seem most interested are the ones who fear Romney would be a puppet of Mormon church leaders if he were elected.

Romney has sought to win over evangelical Christians by emphasizing common ground.

“I believe Jesus Christ is my savior. I believe in the Bible. I believe that liberty is a gift of God and not of government,” Romney said last month. “I believe in serving other people, that it’s part of a religious heritage.”

As Massachusetts governor, Romney was not seen as being under the church’s control. And official Mormon policy is to stay politically neutral and not endorse candidates.

But some stalwart Republican voters remain dubious.

Rocky Hulse, who runs the Christian Visitors Center with his wife, has written a book, “When Salt Lake City Calls,” making the case that a Mormon president would have to put the church’s needs ahead of the country’s.

“This man’s allegiance, first and foremost, is to what he has sworn in the temple,” Hulse said.

In the 1840s, Nauvoo was home to thousands of Mormons who were brought there by Joseph Smith. That made it one of the largest cities in the west, not far behind Chicago. Operating under a state charter that gave them broad powers of self-governance, Mormons had their own militia, their own courts and enough votes to tip state elections.

The church’s power — and Smith’s willingness to use it — angered non-Mormons in the area. When Smith destroyed a newspaper that had criticized him, he was brought up on legal charges. While he was being held in a nearby town [um, again: Carthage, a place I happen to know], a mob of 200 men stormed the jail and shot Smith and his brother to death.

Soon after, the Mormons began migrating west. Nauvoo dwindled and was just another dying river town until Mormon tourism took off. The new temple’s opening in 2002 cemented Nauvoo’s status as a major destination for Mormons.

The temple sits atop a bluff, gleaming in the sun. It can be seen for miles across the flat Iowa farmland of Lee County, which lies about 130 miles southeast of Des Moines.

Patrick Breen, the Iowa county’s Republican chairman, said he hasn’t seen any evidence that Romney’s religion is costing him votes in the area. Romney is being received as warmly as the rest of the GOP field, he said.

But there are exceptions.

In the little Iowa town of Montrose, which was once a Mormon settlement and has streets aligned to offer a perfect view of the Nauvoo temple, Nikki Edwards said she was raised a Mormon but has since left the church.

“I don’t agree with the religion,” she said, “and I don’t want to follow a president with those beliefs.”

An item in the Family section of this week’s Hancock Journal-Pilot announces this upcoming event:

Smith Family Reunion in Nauvoo