Broadway's Book of Mormon musical arrives in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Tickets are on sale, and the Book of Mormon musical has arrived to Downtown Fresno. It's playing at the William Saroyan Theater through Sunday for a total of eight shows.

For anyone buying tickets, there's no confusion, it's a comedy from the creators of South Park. Explicit language is guaranteed, and so is a satirical bashing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Tori McFeeters understands the controversy surrounding the show, but is excited to take her daughter Wednesday night.

"Like many other faiths, people have a tendency to make fun of large organizations or large religious faiths, so they should be strong enough to take it," McFeeters said.

Local church leaders are taking it in stride, and understand the show is for entertainment purposes, though they disagree with the musical's characterization of missionaries.

"I'm sure they'll be greatly entertained, and that's wonderful," said California Fresno Mission President Jeffrey Clark. "I trust in great people. I think they will leave that play, asking themselves the question: why would these young missionaries do this?"

The answer, he says, is in the Book of Mormon, the real one, which he says contains the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters of the California Fresno Mission will be handing out copies of the book before the show starts.

"It's kind of the usual axiom, you know, (you) have seen the play, now you gotta read the book," said Clark. "The book's always better, and that's how we feel about it."

Clark says there are 85,000 missionaries around the world, including 150 in Fresno. They don't plan to bother anyone outside the Saroyan these next few days.

But they'll continue to bring out the books, as long as people continue to buy tickets. Tickets can be bought here or at the box office. Prices range from $48 to $148.