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Recap / Tennis Shoes Among The Nephites

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Jim Hawkins (don’t call him Jamie) is a rebellious thirteen-year-old from Cody, Wyoming. He spends time hanging out with bad influences, and resents having to visit the home of Garth Plimpton, resident nerd, with his dad as part of church duties. However, the two boys hit it off when Garth shows him a carving in the river bed revealed by a recent drought, which seems to reference the legend of a “Rainbow Room” in the local landmark Frost Cave.

Resolving to find it, the two boys begin exploring the caverns on the weekends, but find themselves being tailed by Jim’s sister Jenny, who threatens to tell their mother if they don’t let her come along. The two reluctantly agree and explore further than ever, finally discovering the fabled Rainbow Room, which glimmers with diamonds and a shining river. But a ledge gives way and the three fall into the river and are swept away.

Regaining consciousness, the kids find themselves on a riverside in some tropical jungle, and shortly later are taken captive by what they discover to be Lamanites, led by the Nephite traitor-turned-Lamanite-king Amalickiah. While Jenny is picked as a potential future concubine for Amalickiah, Jim and Garth manage to escape, and are saved from re-capture by a Nephite war party led by none other than Captain Teancum. Recognizing the figure, the boys join up and are taken to safety. While traveling, Teancum realizes just how potent their Gift of Tongues is, and a deal is struck; if the boys will serve as translators for the Nephite army - a job that will require going with them to fight Amalickiah but to be relatively safe - then they will help them with rescuing Jenny and returning home.

While in the capital Zarahemla, the boys live with Teancum’s kinship - prompting Jim’s Puppy Love with his niece Menochin - and discover a plot to assassinate the government, which they foil, further adding to their mystique. While on campaign, Jim also makes the acquaintance of Hagoth, a figure who will feature later in the Book of Mormon. The army finally reaches Amalickiah’s and the two clash over the course of a day.

That night, incensed by the loss of life, Teancum devises a plan to walk into the Lamanite camp and kill Amalickiah while he sleeps, and agrees to take Jim with him as this is a good chance to find Jenny. The plan is utterly successful, with Amalickiah dead, Jenny recovered, and the Lamanite army in disarray. While still not defeated, Teancum releases Garth and Jim from their oath since the bulk of their work - unifying the army at the outset - is done, and even arranges for them to meet the prophet Alma, who tells them how to return home and to not share the memory recklessly or it will be removed. The three are guided to a cave that they navigate, and eventually find themselves back in Frost Cave. Having been gone for two months, they brace themselves for a talking to, but simply find that five hours have passed, and their their mothers are worried sick at their staying out so late. Jim and Jenny share their adventures almost immediately, but Garth keep quiet, and years later, Jim finds the account you’re now holding and decides to share it with Garth, surprised he could write something so fanciful at thirteen.

And thus the adventure ends, at least for now...

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