Jane Withersteen’s father founded the village of Cottonwoods in southern Utah and left her thousands of cattle and the land that encompasses the Amber Spring, Withersteen House, and many cottages in the village. Since the Mormons came to settle in Utah, there has been tension with non-Mormons. Jane sees how non-Mormon people suffer in poverty and with a lack of community, so she tries to help. However, Mormon leaders do not approve, and this causes problems for Jane. The leaders also expect Jane to marry the church leader, Elder Tull, and are disappointed by her friendship with a non-Mormon man named Bern Venters. She receives a message that Mormon leaders are coming to speak to Venters for his inappropriate behavior with Jane.

Tull arrives with several riders and accuses Jane of seeking to adopt a non-Mormon child named Fay Larkin. When Jane expresses love for the child, Tull accuses Jane of loving Venters, too. Tull’s men summon Venters, and Tull demands that Venters leave Cottonwoods, and he refuses. Tull threatens to whip Venters for taking advantage of Jane. When Jane protests, Tull tells her that her actions with Venters are offensive to her Bishop and an insult to her father’s memory.