On the boggy banks of the Mississippi River, the Mormon community is plagued by "swamp fever", and their eldest son, Jarvie, soon falls ill with the same disease.

Joseph Smith is imprisoned and killed after ordering the destruction of a printing press, and church leadership transitions to Brigham Young.

Realizing that the only way she can retain power in her family and her marriage is to play along, Mercy maintains a tense relationship with her new sister-wife.

Mobs begin setting fire to homes, including the Bakers', and they are forced to move into Charlot's house.

[6] According to Stephen Carter, her biographer, She discusses the growth that comes from change and love, which is seen when Joseph Smith introduces the doctrine of plural marriage to Simon Baker and Eliza Snow.

[6] LuDene Dallimore wrote that Mercy "[represents] a kind of spiritual life that is opposed to the spirit of religion".

[5] The success of the novel outside of Utah was credited in some part to the open way Sorensen portrayed this early Mormon culture in a human, unthreatening way.

[5] Critic Lewis Gannet praised Sorensen's ability to "write stories within the longer narrative so complete they could stand alone".

[5] Helynne Hansen wrote: "Sorensen's creativity in allowing readers to see the true sentiments and perceptions beneath the surface of male-dominated doctrines, and beyond the silences of courageous women, is an early foray into the now-prolific realm of feminist language and expression" or Écriture féminine.