I've always seen myself as someone who can bring together different types of people.
Both Mormons on "Survivor: South Pacific" are still in the game for $1 million after the Nov. 9 episode — for now.
Dawn Meehan, a BYU English professor from South Jordan, was targeted by some of the tribe members because she is likeable and could possibly have people start gravitating toward her.
"I think Dawn, even though she doesn't seem as overtly dangerous as Jim (Rice) is, is maybe more dangerous than Jim is in a lot of ways because she is more likeable and she is somebody who is slowly but surely eeking her way into our alliance," said Albert Destrade, 26, a former Upolu Tribe member of the two former Savaii Tribe members.
The other Utahn and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aurora rancher Rich Nelson, wasn't in danger of being voted off this week.
It was Day 21 and 22 on the island and there was an immunity challenge and tribal council each day. Previously, the Upolu and Savaii tribes merged into the Te Tuna Tribe, each bringing six members. John Cochran, a Harvard Law School student and a member of the former Savaii Tribe, voted with the six former Upolu members to send Keith Tollefson, a former Savaii Tribe member, to Redemption Island, keeping a surprised Nelson in the game.
Cochran's reasoning was that he hasn't waited this long to play the game to leave his chances of staying in to drawing rocks. If there had been two ties, contestants would have drawn from rocks to see who was out of the game.
On Day 21, the immunity challenge included two rounds. The first round had "Survivor" contestants tossing coconuts a few yards into a ring, with the first four landing a coconut moving to the second round. Meehan, Rice, country singer Whitney Duncan and medical student Sophie Clarke moved to the second round, which involved cracking open a coconut, holding the coconut water in their mouths, going through an obstacle course and spitting the water into a tube until the water reached a line on the tube.
Rice won immunity. At tribal council, Oscar "Ozzy" Lusth was voted out and sent to Redemption Island for the second time this season, promising to rest up and eat well.
Those voted off and sent to Redemption Island will compete against each other in one-on-one challenges for a chance to re-enter the game later.
On Day 22, the immunity challenge included standing on a beam while balancing a ball on the curved part of a bow. The twist was those who didn't think they needed immunity could sit out the challenge and eat the provided pastries and other sweets during the challenge.
Rice, Duncan and Nelson competed for immunity while the other seven contestants got their fill — but they could only eat for as long as the competition lasted.
"I'll stay so you can eat," Meehan said during the challenge as she balanced on the beam.
"I really feel like there is one tribe right now. I get that there are three from the former Savaii tribe but it's not that way," she said. "Eat as much as you can; they're good muffins."
Several of those eating started cheering her on. Duncan won immunity.
"I've always seen myself as someone who can bring together different types of people," Meehan said later. "I'm probably a good person to get in with the former Upolu Tribe members. It's just a matter of whether I can hang on long enough."
Later, "Survivor" alum Benjamin "Coach" Wade noticed that others were liking her and said that could be dangerous for the tribe because she is a strong player.
Using a nature analogy, he said Rice was more like a rhinoceros and would come straight out and Meehan is sneakier like a snake.
"They both can kill," he said.
At tribal council, it was obvious that either Meehan or Rice was going to be voted off and that they are both very strong players. The former Upolu Tribe members said they would continue voting off the former Savaii Tribe members one at a time.
In the end, Rice was voted off and sent to Redemption Island.
Cochran, Meehan and Duncan are the only former Savaii members left.
"The big question is, was anything revealed that might help Dawn or Whitney," said host Jeff Probst of the Tribal Council.
"Survivor: South Pacific" is on CBS Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Email: rappleye@desnews.com