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Members of the family are gathered in the living room after dinner. Mary-Ellen turns off the radio which broadcasts news of the war stating that it is depressing. The family is upset that Jim-Bob has been running around wild lately since their Mama has gone away to the sanatorium. He arrives home and Mary Ellen tries to reason with him. He storms off to his room and his father follows to have words with him.
Jim-Bob and his friend Tinker nearly run over Corabeth outside of the store as they drive through the community. He backs up and apologizes to Corabeth who is visibly upset and vows to speak to his father. She makes her way to the Walton house to advise John of the situation. Jim-Bob pulls up in his car and explains that his brakes aren’t working too well. He apologizes to Corabeth again. His father warns him that he will take away his car if he doesn’t get it fixed.
Later Jim-Bob works under the car without having secured the car properly. His Daddy warns him to block it up. As soon as John turns away the car falls on Jim-Bob and the family races to his aid and remove him from under the car. Jim-Bob is dazed but physically okay. The experience has rattled him and he spends a fair bit of time reflecting on the events. The next day he stops in to talk to Rev. Bradshaw, the new minster before church. Later during the service the Reverend announces to the congregation’s surprise that Jim-Bob has chosen to become a preacher.
Grandma gives Jim-Bob the Bible she received for her christening in 1883. He is grateful for her precious gift. He goes to Boatwright University to learn about the requirements for going to seminary but learns that he needs to complete 4 years of college first and learn latin. He is discouraged by the news because he wants to start preaching as soon as possible.
At home he gives his car to Ben as he is letting go of all his worldly riches. Jim-Bob has become a walking scripture quoting machine.
At dinner Daddy asks Jim-Bob to bless the food and he blesses everyone but forgets to less the food. He then exchanges words with his father when he debates the ownership of his car and who is responsible to fix the brakes.
After dinner Jim-Bob continues to rid himself of his possesions and gives his shortwave radio to Erin and his aviator cap to Elizabeth. They don't want his items but he has no interest in them either.
The next day, after a night of drinking a visibly drunk Tinker finds Jim-Bob outside the church and coaxes him to practice some preaching inside. Tinker taunts and ridicules him. The family finds a note from Jim-Bob that he has left home to become a preacher.
Later, Elizabeth discovers Jim-Bob sitting on the ground near the little pond. She runs to tell her Daddy who goes and talks to him. Jim-Bob feels like a failure and explains why he felt compelled to become a preacher. He believed that all the bad things that have happened like Grandma getting sick, Grandpa and Curt dying and his Mama going away were because he needed to become a better person. His father admits having some of those thoughts himself but convinces him to take things as they come.
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