History Recap / SouthParkS7E12AllAboutMormons

* InsaneTrollLogic: As Stan points out, the story of Joseph Smith lends more credibility to the idea that he was actually a con man who made everything up to enrich himself rather than a true prophet of God.

* HardTruthAesop: If a religion based on crazy stories [[GoodFeelsGood encourages people to treat each other with respect and maintain good family values]], then [[HollywoodAtheist the asshole is the one ranting about how fake it is for the sake of being right]].

* JerkassBall: Stan and Kyle (particularly the latter) treat Gary with disdain just because he's a Mormon. Stan doesn't even hesitate to call Gary's beliefs stupid to his face. In the end, Gary later calls Stan out on his jerkass behavior.

** Subverted with Stan. While Stan isn't incorrect to call the ideas of Mormons dumb, he comes across more as an intolerant know-it-all {{Jerkass}} to Gary, who just wanted to be his friend.
* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions: Deconstructed. While Mormonism is depicted as having silly beliefs, Stan's own hostility to the Mormon family is treated as downright despicable.

* TakeThat:
** [[ZigzaggedTrope Zigzagged]]. The episode makes it pretty clear that they find the foundation of Mormonism, which is built on a ridiculous story of a man implied to be conning a rich man, to be ''very'' dumb. At the same time, however, the practitioners of the faith are portrayed as being unfaltering kind and live as a happy, stable family.
** If anything, this episode is more a knock against people who unfairly judge others for their beliefs as Stan's rant against the Harrisons is shown to be unsympathetic and mean-spirited.
VillainRespect: Cartman starts to find Gary cool after the aforementioned speech towards Stan.

* HardTruthAesop: If a religion based on crazy stories [[GoodFeelsGood encourages people to treat each other with respect and maintain good family values]], then [[HollywoodAtheism the asshole is the one ranting about how fake it is for the sake of being right]].

** [[ZigzaggedTrope Zigzagged]]. The episode makes it pretty clear that they find the foundation of Mormonism, which is built on a ridiculous story of a sketchy man, to be ''very'' dumb. At the same time, however, the practitioners of the faith are portrayed as being unfaltering kind and live as a happy, stable family.
** If anything, this episode is more a knock against people who unfairly judge others for their beliefs as Stan's rant against the Harrisons is shown to be unsympathetic and measn-spirited.

* KickTheDog: Stan insulting the Harrisons and their religion for their shaky beliefs, especially since the family has been nothing but kind to the kid. While the rest of the family immediately brush it off, Gary ''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech does not]]''.

** If anything, this episode is more a knock against people who unfairly judge people for their beliefs as Stan's rant against the Harrisons is shown to be rather cruel.

'''Cartman:''' [[HypocriticalHumor Wow, that kid is really cool!]]

''[The boys look at Gary in silence.]''\\

* JerkassBall: Stan and Kyle (particularly the latter) treat Gary with disdain just because he's a Mormon. Stan doesn't even hesitate to call Gary's beliefs stupid to his face.

* NewKidStigma: Mark is immediately disliked by all the boys in school when he shows up (though his overly cheerful attitude and the praise he received from Mr. Garrison for his intelligence certainly didn't help). They only earn his respect when he tells Stan off at the end of the episode.

* AcceptableReligiousTargets: The whole episode zigzags on Mormon faith's mythology and practices in both in-universe and in John Smith's story. However, it also shows that despite their beliefs, Mormons still promote good values.

* NewKidStigma: Mark is immediately disliked by all the boys in school when he shows up. They only earn his respect when he tells Stan off at the end of the episode.

* AcceptableReligiousTargets: The whole episode zigzags on Mormon faith's mythology and practices in both in-universe and in John Smith's story.

* PrecisionFStrike: Gary tells Stan to suck his balls for how he acted.

** In the story of Joseph Smith, Lucy Harris is the only one who realizes it's more than likely that Smith is making it all up. This is enforced when she asks questions about the PlotHoles, the background music to her says Smart to everyone else's Dumb.