The Fighting Preacher

In 1915, Willard Bean, a former boxing champion, and his wife Rebecca arrive in Palmyra, New York, to take care of the Joseph Smith home and farm, including the Sacred Grove. They are called by LDS Church President Joseph F. Smith to serve a five-year mission and are given a challenging task to promote the church in the area.

Upon their arrival, the Beans encounter immediate hostility from local residents who refuse to sell goods and shun the mission. Rebecca, pregnant at the time, struggles to find a midwife, but eventually receives help from a kind-hearted woman who offers assistance just before her due date.

Rebecca gives birth to a daughter named Palmyra, in a difficult environment with little local support. The family faces ongoing prejudice and isolation but remains committed to their mission.

Willard meets the two owners of the Hill Cumorah. One demands an unreachably high price for selling their land, while the other owner resists selling, threatening to never sell to the Mormons.

Six years into their mission, the Beans still struggle to gain acceptance. Their daughter Palmyra is bullied and shunned at school, facing adversity but remaining resilient. The family continues to try to win the community’s trust.

Willard uses his boxing skills to challenge locals to matches, defeating all challengers quickly. While some see this as a victory, it only further fuels local animosity against the mission.

Rebecca bakes pies for neighbors, Willard helps with farm chores and repairs, and Palmyra offers a cloth doll to a teasing girl. These acts of love gradually soften the community's attitude toward the Beans.

The owner of part of Hill Cumorah who demanded a high price dies, and his heirs sell their share at a reasonable price. The other owner, 'Never,' surprisingly gifts his portion to the church, influenced by the Beans’ kindness.

In 1939, 24 years after arriving, the Beans are officially released from their mission, receiving a heartfelt farewell from the community that had grown to love them. Willard becomes president of the Lions Club, symbolizing their integration.

The community hosts a farewell ceremony honoring the Beans, stating they will never be forgotten. The family leaves Palmyra, having transformed from outsiders to beloved members of the local community.