All American Prophet

The song "All American Prophet" from the musical "The Book of Mormon" is a satirical retelling of the origins of the Mormon faith, focusing on its founder, Joseph Smith. The lyrics humorously present the story of how Joseph Smith discovered the Book of Mormon, which is considered by followers to be a third part of the Bible. The song opens by challenging the traditional understanding of the Bible, suggesting that there is a 'fresh third part' discovered by a 'hip new prophet' with a 'Donny Osmond flair,' immediately setting a playful and irreverent tone.

The narrative takes us back to 1823, where Joseph Smith, living in Rochester, New York, is chosen by God to find golden plates buried in his backyard. These plates, revealed by the angel Moroni, contain the history of an ancient American civilization that interacted with Jesus Christ. The song pokes fun at the implausibility of the story, with lines like 'God says go to your backyard and start digging? That makes perfect sense!' and the instruction to copy the plates onto normal paper, which would naturally lead to skepticism about their authenticity.

As the story progresses, the song highlights the challenges faced by the early Mormons, including persecution and the eventual martyrdom of Joseph Smith. Despite these hardships, the followers, led by Brigham Young, continue their journey to the 'Promised Land,' ultimately settling in Salt Lake City, Utah. The song concludes with a modern-day Mormon, Kevin Price, being positioned as the next 'All-American Prophet,' ready to lead and inspire. The humorous and exaggerated portrayal of these events serves to both entertain and provoke thought about the nature of religious belief and the origins of faith traditions.