Marilyn and Doug are in love, thinking about the possibility of marriage, and are encouraged by the words and the example of married friends Michael and Shirley who after several years seem to still be honeymooners. However, their attitudes and expectations reflect their upbringing. He finds her folks on the bohemian side, and she finds his parents to be "Victorian." Marilyn's divorced roommate Esther (who is attending a class on marriage), advises finding common interests, but Doug finds Marilyn's modern dancing dull, and she feels the same way about his fishing. Perhaps more importantly, Marilyn wants a career as well as children and Doug thinks raising a family is a full-time occupation for a wife.

When mechanic Jeff Obold meets the wealthy and mysterious Bruno Rubin, he is exposed for the first time to the finer things in life. But Jeff soon discovers the source of Rubin's power: a caged creature called a "Darkling," which possesses the power to create incredible wealth for the person who will pledge unending "companionship." Now, as Jeff sinks further and further into the blackness of a soul sold to the devil, he will discover there is a high price to pay for the fulfillment of his dreams.

The story of Lehi and his wife Sariah and their four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. Lehi leaves Jerusalem because he prophesied unto the people concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and they sought his life. He journeys into the wilderness with his family. He sends Nephi and his brethren back to Jerusalem after the brass plates and the family of Ishmael. The sons and daughters of Lehi marry the sons and daughters of Ishmael. They take their families and continue into the wilderness. Ishmael dies in the wilderness. They come to the sea. Nephi's brethren rebel against him. He confounds them, and builds a ship. They cross the sea to the promised land in the Americas. Lehi dies in the promised land. Nephi's brethren rebel against him again. Nephi departs again into the wilderness.

A boy is tragically killed in a car accident. Will his father transform into a vengeful monster, or a forgiving wise man?

When his father suffers a heart attack the elders in the Mormon community decide to conduct a priesthood blessing ceremony, gay son David asks to participate.

At nearly 400 pounds, Tracy Orbison is a wide target. When he sets out to pursue his dream of acting, the grocery clerk finds an assortment of people waiting to dash his dreams. Through it all, Tracy remains irrepressibly upbeat, convinced he's destined for something big.

Starting his day in prayer, Rick Thompkins, a Mormon missionary in Europe, pleads for his parents' troubled marriage to heal when his father Jack consults a lawyer about divorce. Back in Utah, the Thompkins' Home Teacher, Jim Slater, asks his Elders Quorum President, Fred Washburn, for release, feeling like he's failing the inactive families for whom he has responsibility. Fred says he will comply, but only if Jim tries one last time.