Passage to Zarahemla
Encyclopedia
Passage to Zarahemla is an adventure film directed and written by Chris Heimerdinger
. It tells the story of a young pair of siblings seeking to find a new life following the abrupt death of their mother. Their exploits lead them to a relative's home in Utah
and eventually a thrilling confrontation with their past and the merger of time. It is based partly on Book of Mormon
people, including the Zarahemla
of the title.
This movie is based on the novel by the same name, originally published by Heimerdinger Entertainment in November 2003. The movie version of Passage to Zarahemla, was released to theaters October 15, 2007. Originally intended only as a film, the working title of this film was "Summer of the Nephite," but after unsuccessful attempts to gain backing for its production, the title and was reworked and released in novel form as Passage to Zarahemla.
The film ranked 4th overall in Utah the first week of its release According to BoxOfficeMojo the film ranks 46th on the all-time highest gross box office for a Christian film coming in just behind Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy, ahead of Noëlle and in the top 100 for Fantasy Live-Action.
The film was released to DVD in June 2008.
s cross paths with the residents of a sleepy Utah town.
in its fleet. After some amount of exploration he finds his elk...hanging over a branch, shot by an arrow. Hearing noises he turns around to an arrow shot at him and screams.
Kerra and Brock are introduced to the story line at their mother's funeral. With their father having apparently disappeared for some unknown reason years ago, their mother recently dying, and no other known relatives within the area, the two are set to become wards of the state. In an effort to keep the two together, Kerra decides that they must pack up their belongings and escape before the return of the social worker assigned to their case. Brock, having prior association with a local gang and a criminal record, assists his sister in stealing the social worker's vehicle. The two drive off in a fury in an effort to escape.
Remembering a relative from early on in her childhood, Kerra plots a course for Leeds, Utah
, a small LDS rich community in the southern part of the state. Arriving at their aunt and uncle's house, the two concoct a story indicating that they are traveling across the country to meet up with their mother who had recently acquired a new place of employment. With the stolen car having problems, the pair is unable to travel any further until it is fixed, and are offered a place to stay until repairs are completed.
Shortly after their arrival, Kerra is confronted by her cousins with stories from her early childhood days. These stories recall "strange noises" in the woods behind their house and dealings with an "imaginary" being whom Kerra had termed to be "Kid Donni." One night after the siblings arrival, an earthquake shakes the area with the epicenter believed to be near the property of their Aunt Corrine and Uncle Drew.
Following the quake, Kerra is reunited with her "imaginary" childhood friend Kiddoni, who is in reality a noted being from the Book of Mormon
. The earthquake is revealed to have caused a "rift" in time - allowing Kerra contact with the ancient Nephite peoples and their adversaries, and allowing Kiddoni and his people to cross the time gap into the modern world.
As the story progresses, the time portal gap expands and eventually allows the Nephite
and Gadianton armies
to exit the past near the Whitman's home. Brock on the other hand is unaware of this time rift and eventually finds himself captured by the Gadianton armies. It is at this time that he comes into contact with a scraggly-bearded individual from "modern" times named Chris.
Meanwhile, during their escape from California, Brock had been given a bag by a former gang-member to take out of the area, which is later revealed to be a bag full of illegal drugs. Upon realizing who was in possession of the bag, the gang leader decides to make a trip to the small Utah community to recover the bag.
Near the end of the story the two worlds clash as the rift in time grows very large. The Gadianton army
crosses the time border into the present day in an effort to find food for their armies. Through sheer coincidence Chris and Brock reunite with Kerra near the Whitman home, where it is revealed that Chris is the siblings father, who had disappeared during a hunting trip many years earlier. A major Nephite
-Gadianton
battle eventually ensues near the Whitman home while the trio of family retreats into hiding. Shortly thereafter, another quake hits the area and the division between the time periods is restored. Kerra is heartbroken at not getting to say goodbye to her Nephite friend, but both families are happy that they were kept safe and that father and children were reunited again.
Chris Heimerdinger
Chris Heimerdinger is an American author and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has written sixteen novels for young people and adults, the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series, most of which center on religious themes familiar to Latter-day Saints.-Early life:Heimerdinger's...
. It tells the story of a young pair of siblings seeking to find a new life following the abrupt death of their mother. Their exploits lead them to a relative's home in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and eventually a thrilling confrontation with their past and the merger of time. It is based partly on Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
people, including the Zarahemla
Zarahemla
Zarahemla is the name of a prominent land, a capital city, and a leader in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is revered by members of various Latter Day Saint churches as sacred scripture....
of the title.
This movie is based on the novel by the same name, originally published by Heimerdinger Entertainment in November 2003. The movie version of Passage to Zarahemla, was released to theaters October 15, 2007. Originally intended only as a film, the working title of this film was "Summer of the Nephite," but after unsuccessful attempts to gain backing for its production, the title and was reworked and released in novel form as Passage to Zarahemla.
The film ranked 4th overall in Utah the first week of its release According to BoxOfficeMojo the film ranks 46th on the all-time highest gross box office for a Christian film coming in just behind Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy, ahead of Noëlle and in the top 100 for Fantasy Live-Action.
The film was released to DVD in June 2008.
Overview
Kerra (Sakerra) and Brock McConnell are orphans on the run. To keep from being separated by state authorities, Kerra flees to the only relative she remembers from her earliest childhood - an LDS aunt and uncle who live near a wondrous place in the woods where parallel realities collide and where an ancient people called NephiteNephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
s cross paths with the residents of a sleepy Utah town.
Plot
The story begins with its focus on a group of hunters illegally hunting game out in the woods. Originally thought to be dead, the hunter's target springs back to life and flees into the heavy brush and trees. Determined not to let the game suffer, one of the hunters decides to pursue the elkElk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
in its fleet. After some amount of exploration he finds his elk...hanging over a branch, shot by an arrow. Hearing noises he turns around to an arrow shot at him and screams.
Kerra and Brock are introduced to the story line at their mother's funeral. With their father having apparently disappeared for some unknown reason years ago, their mother recently dying, and no other known relatives within the area, the two are set to become wards of the state. In an effort to keep the two together, Kerra decides that they must pack up their belongings and escape before the return of the social worker assigned to their case. Brock, having prior association with a local gang and a criminal record, assists his sister in stealing the social worker's vehicle. The two drive off in a fury in an effort to escape.
Remembering a relative from early on in her childhood, Kerra plots a course for Leeds, Utah
Leeds, Utah
Leeds is a town in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Leeds is located at ....
, a small LDS rich community in the southern part of the state. Arriving at their aunt and uncle's house, the two concoct a story indicating that they are traveling across the country to meet up with their mother who had recently acquired a new place of employment. With the stolen car having problems, the pair is unable to travel any further until it is fixed, and are offered a place to stay until repairs are completed.
Shortly after their arrival, Kerra is confronted by her cousins with stories from her early childhood days. These stories recall "strange noises" in the woods behind their house and dealings with an "imaginary" being whom Kerra had termed to be "Kid Donni." One night after the siblings arrival, an earthquake shakes the area with the epicenter believed to be near the property of their Aunt Corrine and Uncle Drew.
Following the quake, Kerra is reunited with her "imaginary" childhood friend Kiddoni, who is in reality a noted being from the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. The earthquake is revealed to have caused a "rift" in time - allowing Kerra contact with the ancient Nephite peoples and their adversaries, and allowing Kiddoni and his people to cross the time gap into the modern world.
As the story progresses, the time portal gap expands and eventually allows the Nephite
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
and Gadianton armies
Gadianton robbers
The Gadianton robbers, according to the Book of Mormon, were a secret criminal organization in ancient America.-Origins and rise to power:The society was founded around 52 BC or 51 BC by Nephite supporters of Paanchi, an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief judge...
to exit the past near the Whitman's home. Brock on the other hand is unaware of this time rift and eventually finds himself captured by the Gadianton armies. It is at this time that he comes into contact with a scraggly-bearded individual from "modern" times named Chris.
Meanwhile, during their escape from California, Brock had been given a bag by a former gang-member to take out of the area, which is later revealed to be a bag full of illegal drugs. Upon realizing who was in possession of the bag, the gang leader decides to make a trip to the small Utah community to recover the bag.
Near the end of the story the two worlds clash as the rift in time grows very large. The Gadianton army
Gadianton robbers
The Gadianton robbers, according to the Book of Mormon, were a secret criminal organization in ancient America.-Origins and rise to power:The society was founded around 52 BC or 51 BC by Nephite supporters of Paanchi, an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief judge...
crosses the time border into the present day in an effort to find food for their armies. Through sheer coincidence Chris and Brock reunite with Kerra near the Whitman home, where it is revealed that Chris is the siblings father, who had disappeared during a hunting trip many years earlier. A major Nephite
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
-Gadianton
Gadianton robbers
The Gadianton robbers, according to the Book of Mormon, were a secret criminal organization in ancient America.-Origins and rise to power:The society was founded around 52 BC or 51 BC by Nephite supporters of Paanchi, an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief judge...
battle eventually ensues near the Whitman home while the trio of family retreats into hiding. Shortly thereafter, another quake hits the area and the division between the time periods is restored. Kerra is heartbroken at not getting to say goodbye to her Nephite friend, but both families are happy that they were kept safe and that father and children were reunited again.
Cast
- Summer Naomi SmartSummer Naomi SmartSummer Naomi Smart is an actor who has starred in such movies as Passage to Zarahemla, Esther and the King and Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-day Tale. She has also been involved in many stage productions. Smart has also sung some commercially produced music.Smart grew up in Salt Lake City as...
as Kerra McConnell - Moronai Kanekoa as Kiddoni
- Brian Kary as Brock McConnell
- Jan Felt as Aunt Corrine
- Seth Packard as Spree
- Alex Petrovitch as Hitch
- Bryce Chamberlain as Grandpa Lee
- Spencer King as Lobo
- Jose Bacio as Adder
- Jenny Latimer as Natasha
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is titled Whispered Visions and is a compilation of songs with music and lyrics by Chris HeimerdingerChris Heimerdinger
Chris Heimerdinger is an American author and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has written sixteen novels for young people and adults, the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series, most of which center on religious themes familiar to Latter-day Saints.-Early life:Heimerdinger's...
| # | Title | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Fly Free" | Chris Heimerdinger Chris Heimerdinger Chris Heimerdinger is an American author and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has written sixteen novels for young people and adults, the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series, most of which center on religious themes familiar to Latter-day Saints.-Early life:Heimerdinger's... , Katherine Nelson Thompson |
| 2 | "Whispered Visions" | Katherine Nelson Thompson, Chris Heimerdinger |
| 3 | "Simple Fellow" | Chris Heimerdinger, Donre Sampson |
| 4 | "Sons of Fire" | Chris Heimerdinger, Alex Boye Alex Boyé Alex Boyé is a British-born Latter-day Saint singer and actor of Nigerian descent.Boyé was born in London, England. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 16. He served as a missionary in the England Bristol Mission. He was then the lead singer in the boy band Awesome,... , Jared Haddock, Michael Sorenson |
| 5 | "The Way I Feel Inside" | Chris Heimerdinger, Kenneth Cope Kenneth Cope Kenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :... , Barry Gibbons, Jim Funk, Lori Gibbons, Felicia Sorenson, Katherine Nelson Thompson, Jessie Clark Funk, Tanya Barkdull, Jared Haddock, Daniel Beck |
| 6 | "Good Vs. Evil" | Chris Heimerdinger |
| 7 | "BYU Security Police" | Chris Heimerdinger, Jessie Clark Funk, Tonya Barkdull |
| 8 | "Finally" | Chris Heimerdinger, Jessie Clark Funk |
| 9 | "Savior, Redeemer" | Chris Heimerdinger |
Reviews
- Movie Review: Passage to Zarahemla Film Finder.
- Passage to Zarahemla Tops List of Current Releases Meridian Magazine.
- Head Humdinger from Heimerdinger? Utah County Daily Herald. 5 Oct 2007.