The Book of Mormon is mainly set in Uganda, where two young Mormon missionaries are assigned to serve.
The musical follows Elder Price and Elder Cunningham as they arrive in a remote Ugandan village and try to convert its residents. Their experiences contrast Price’s confidence and ambition with Cunningham’s imaginative, frequently inaccurate understanding of scripture.
Although Uganda is the central setting, the show was written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez as a satirical work about missionary culture, organized religion, friendship, and cultural misunderstanding. It premiered on Broadway in 2011 and became a major commercial and critical success.
The story uses fictional characters and exaggerated situations; it is not a documentary account of Mormon missionary work or life in Uganda. The country’s real geography and social challenges provide the backdrop for the musical’s comedy and conflict.