Ep 13. All About Mormons?

In the thirteenth episode of the first season of South Park: Year of the Fan, titled "All About Mormons," the residents of South Park are introduced to a new family who just moved to town: the Johnsons. As the townspeople try to make the Johnsons feel welcome, they soon discover that the family is Mormon.

The episode primarily focuses on the character of Stan Marsh, who becomes fascinated by the Johnsons' religion after meeting their son, Gary. Gary tells Stan and his friends Kyle, Cartman, and Butters about some of the beliefs and practices of the Mormon faith, which include the story of Joseph Smith and the golden plates.

As Stan learns more about Mormonism, he becomes increasingly interested in converting to the faith. His parents, however, are less than thrilled about the idea, and his father Randy in particular becomes obsessed with discrediting Mormonism. He goes so far as to create a one-man show called "Joseph Smith: The Musical," which depicts the founder of the Mormon church as foolish and delusional.

Meanwhile, the boys attend a church service with the Johnson family, where they witness a musical number that celebrates their faith. The song, "Dum, Dum, Dum, Dum, Dum," becomes something of a recurring joke throughout the episode, as it repeatedly gets stuck in the boys' heads.

As the episode progresses, Stan becomes increasingly disillusioned with Mormonism, especially after discovering that a story Gary told him about the origins of the religion is not entirely truthful. He ultimately decides not to convert, but continues to defend the Johnsons against the bigotry and prejudice of the other South Park residents.

"All About Mormons" is one of the most popular and acclaimed episodes of South Park, in large part because it tackles issues of religion and tolerance in a way that is both funny and thought-provoking. While it certainly pokes fun at some aspects of Mormonism, it is also notable for its portrayal of the Johnson family as kind, loving, and genuine people, rather than as one-dimensional caricatures. The episode's message - that people of different beliefs can coexist and even be friends - is one that still resonates today.