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Relating to the Broadway Musical
Coming from a Broadway Musical by Matt Stone and Trey Parker (creators of South Park) and filled with all kinds of naughty language, violence, and more, you wouldn't expect there to be as many heartwarming moments as there are.- In the beginning of "Tomorrow Is a Latter Day", Elder Price gives an inspirational speech about how no matter what they do, they can all work together to make the world a better place. Elder Cunningham then asks, "You mean... You want to... stay here with me?" Elder Price then says, "I'd do anything for you, you're my best friend," and reprises an even sweeter version of "I Am Here for You," in which Elder Cunningham joins in.
- The speech itself is also pretty great.Elder Price: You know what? Fuck him! We are all still Latter-Day Saints, [to Elder Cunningham] even if we change some things, [to Elder McKinley] or we break the rules, or we have complete doubt that God exists. We can still work together to make this our paradise planet.
- It helps that when Price reprises "I Am Here for You," Arnold runs to hug him, and rather than stiffen as he did when they were first paired together in Act One, he warmly hugs him back.
- The speech itself is also pretty great.
- In fact, all of "Tomorrow Is a Latter Day" is heartwarming. Everyone's faith is renewed, the missionaries learn to stop repressing their unwanted emotions and instead "let all [their] feelings out", and Mormons and Ugandans alike agree to work together, support each other, and be happier overall.
- At the end, the Ugandans change "Hasa Diga, Eebowai" (Fuck you, God), to "Ma ha nei bu, Eebowai" (Thank you, God).
- "I'd do anything for you. You're my best friend."
- Well, except for "Americans already found a cure for AIDS, but they're saving it for a latter day" that is.
- The song "I Am Here for You". Particularly when Price, who hasn't entirely warmed up to Cunningham yet, tells him he thinks Cunningham's dad should be proud of him already.
- Moments of "Baptize Me" that show the cute romantic relationship between Elder Cunningham and Nabulungi.Cunningham: A special kind of girl, who makes my heart kind of flutter. And makes my eyes kind of blur. I can't believe I'm about to baptize her!
Nabulungi: [later] Never known a boy so gentle. One like him is hard to find. A special kind, who makes my heart kind of flutter, like a moth in a cocoon. I hope he gets to baptize me soon! - As he's dying, Joseph Smith asks God why he wasn't allowed to prove he was telling the truth and show people the golden plates. This leads to a rather profound (and still funny) moment.Smith: They'll have no proof I was telling the truth or not. They'll have to believe it just... 'cause. Oh! I guess that's kind of what you were going for...
- Nabulungi as a character in general. She lives in poverty and constant fear of warlords, has lost her mother, and is surrounded by villagers who have understandably grown jaded with their horrible conditions... and as a result is kind, spirited, curious and friendly to everyone she meets. Her relationship with Elder Cunningham is as sweet as one can imagine.
- In a dark way, Mafala Hatimbi's protectiveness of Nabulungi in this verse of "Hasa Diga Eebowai":Hatimbi: Here's my daughter, she has a... wonderful disposition / She is all I have left in the world / And if either of you lays a hand on her... / I will give you my AIDS!
- "I Believe", while acknowledging the ridiculous things religion teaches, still says to be a good person if that's what you learn from your beliefs.
