If you’ve spent any time walking around the Gaslamp Quarter or grabbing a coffee in North Park, you’ve probably seen them. The crisp white shirts. The black name tags. Or maybe, you’ve seen the other version—the one involving a satirical tap dance and a lot of profane lyrics at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
When people search for the San Diego Book of Mormon, they’re usually looking for one of two very different things.
Some are trying to find the local congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), which has a massive, glowing presence overlooking the I-5 in La Jolla. Others just want to know when the South Park creators' hit Broadway musical is swinging back through town. Honestly, it’s a bit of a local dichotomy. You have one of the most iconic religious landmarks in Southern California sitting just miles away from a theater that regularly hosts a play poking fun at that very religion's origins.
It’s complicated. It's also uniquely San Diegan.
The White Temple on the Hill
You can’t talk about the Book of Mormon in San Diego without talking about the San Diego California Temple. It’s that massive, multi-spired white building in La Jolla. Most locals just call it the "LDS Temple" or, more colloquially, the "Mormon Temple."
Visible from the freeway, it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie or a fantasy novel. Built in 1993, it serves as a primary hub for members of the faith across the region. But here’s the kicker: if you’re just a curious local, you can’t actually go inside. Only members of the church with a "temple recommend" can enter the inner sanctum. For everyone else, the experience is limited to the beautifully manicured gardens and the visitors' center.
Inside that visitors' center is where the actual Book of Mormon—the physical book—takes center stage. Missionaries there will tell you it’s a companion piece to the Bible. They view it as a record of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent. Whether you believe the theology or not, the impact of the church on San Diego’s demographic and charitable landscape is massive. We’re talking about tens of thousands of members across dozens of stakes (which are basically just large groups of congregations) from Chula Vista up to Oceanside.
When the Musical Hits Third Avenue
Then there’s the other San Diego Book of Mormon.
The Broadway musical created by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez is a frequent guest at the San Diego Civic Theatre. It’s crude. It’s loud. It’s incredibly catchy. When the tour comes to town, the vibe in downtown San Diego shifts. You’ll see theater-goers in suits and ties laughing at songs about dysentery and "spooky Mormon hell dreams."
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Interestingly, the church usually takes a "lean-in" approach when the show is in town. It’s common to see actual LDS advertisements in the playbills or missionaries standing outside the theater after the curtain falls. Their pitch is usually something along the lines of: "You’ve seen the show, now read the book." It’s a savvy marketing move. They know they can’t stop the satire, so they try to use the visibility to start actual conversations.
If you’re looking for tickets, you have to be fast. Because the show is such a staple of the "Broadway San Diego" season, it sells out almost immediately. The Civic Theatre isn’t exactly known for its amazing acoustics in every seat, so locals usually know to aim for the Dress Circle if they want to actually hear the lyrics over the brassy orchestra.
Real History vs. Broadway Satire
It is worth separating the facts from the punchlines. The musical portrays the Book of Mormon as a series of wild tales involving Joseph Smith and ancient battles. While the book does contain those narratives, the daily life of a practitioner in San Diego looks a lot less like a musical number and a lot more like community service and family history research.
The actual text was published in 1830.
For the LDS community in San Diego, the book is considered a "keystone" of their religion. They study it in "Institute" classes at San Diego State University (SDSU) and UC San Diego. There is a huge collegiate population of Latter-day Saints in the city. If you go to a local ward meeting on a Sunday—which are open to the public, unlike the temple—you’ll hear verses from the book quoted alongside the New Testament.
The musical makes it seem like the missionaries are naive kids sent to the most dangerous places on earth. In reality, San Diego is actually a destination for many missionaries. They live in modest apartments, ride bikes through the hills of Clairemont, and spend a lot of time doing community volunteer work. It’s a two-year commitment for the young men and 18 months for the young women. They aren't just there to hand out books; they're often the first people to show up when a neighbor needs help moving a couch or cleaning up after a storm.
Finding a Copy in the 619
If you actually want to read the San Diego Book of Mormon, you don’t have to wait for a missionary to find you.
- Public Libraries: The San Diego Public Library system has plenty of copies.
- The Temple Visitors' Center: They give them away for free. No strings attached, though they will probably ask for your phone number.
- Deseret Book: There’s a specific bookstore in the area (often near the temple) that sells various editions, including study guides.
- Digital: Most people just download the Gospel Library app.
Some people are collectors. They look for "first editions" or specific historical printings. While you won't find an 1830 original just sitting in a Hillcrest used bookstore, the local LDS community does have historical enthusiasts who track the provenance of the book in California. The church has been in the state since the mid-1800s, arriving via the ship Brooklyn and the Mormon Battalion.
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The Mormon Battalion Historic Site
Speaking of history, if you want a deep dive into the "Book of Mormon people" in San Diego, you have to go to Old Town.
The Mormon Battalion Historic Site is a hidden gem. It’s free. It’s interactive. It tells the story of about 500 men who made one of the longest marches in military history, from Iowa to San Diego, during the Mexican-American War.
They didn't come to fight, really. They came to build. They helped build the first brick courthouse in San Diego. They dug wells. They were a fundamental part of the early infrastructure of this city. When you visit the site, you get a sense of why the Book of Mormon matters to these people—it's tied to a sense of pioneer heritage and grit that is baked into the dirt of Old Town.
Navigating the Misconceptions
There are a few things people consistently get wrong about the LDS community and their book in San Diego.
First, the "secret" thing. People think the temple is for secret rituals. Church members prefer the word "sacred." They don't talk about what happens inside not because it's nefarious, but because they view it as a private covenant with God.
Second, the "polyamy" thing. It’s 2026. The mainstream LDS church in San Diego hasn't practiced polygamy in over 130 years. If you bring it up to a local member, they’ll probably just sigh and point you to their official website.
Third, the idea that they hate the musical. While individual reactions vary, the official stance has been surprisingly "cool." They recognize the talent of the performers, even if they find the content offensive or inaccurate. It’s a very "San Diego" way of handling conflict: stay polite, keep your distance, and maybe offer a smile.
Practical Steps for the Curious
If you’re interested in the San Diego Book of Mormon, whether as a piece of theater or a religious text, here is how you should actually engage with it.
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Stop by the Mormon Battalion in Old Town first. It’s the most "human" way to see the history without a high-pressure sales pitch. The tour uses "living pictures" and interactive technology that's actually pretty impressive for a free museum.
If you’re going to the musical, check the Civic Theatre’s official site or Ticketmaster directly. Avoid the "resale" sites that populate the top of Google; they mark up tickets by 300% for the San Diego shows.
If you’re just curious about the building in La Jolla, go at night. The lighting is spectacular. There is a public walkway where you can see the architecture up close without needing a pass.
For those who want to read the book itself without talking to anyone, the "Gospel Library" app is the way to go. It has footnotes that explain the complex lingo—words like "Nephites" and "Lamanites"—which can be confusing if you’re just jumping in cold.
San Diego is a city of layers. You have the military, the surf culture, the biotech boom, and this very specific, very visible religious history. Whether it’s a gold-leafed angel on a spire or a satirical song on a stage, the Book of Mormon is woven into the local fabric in ways most people don't realize until they start looking.
Go to Old Town. Visit the Battalion. Look at the temple from the 5 south at sunset. You don't have to be a believer to appreciate the impact of a single book on the skyline and the history of the West Coast.
Next Steps for San Diego Explorers:
- Visit the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town for a free, 45-minute interactive tour of local history.
- Check the Broadway San Diego schedule if you are looking for the musical; it typically tours through every 18-24 months.
- Walk the Temple Grounds in La Jolla between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM for the best views and photo opportunities of the architecture.