Her interpretation of her creed and her religious activity in fidelity to it, her acceptance of mysterious and holy Mormon truths, were all invested in this Bishop.

Bishop Dyer as an entity was next to God.

He was God's mouthpiece to the little Mormon community at Cottonwoods.

God revealed himself in secret to this mortal.
And Jane Withersteen suddenly suffered a paralyzing affront to her consciousness of reverence by some strange, irresistible twist of thought wherein she saw this Bishop as a man.

And the train of thought hurdled the rising, crying protests of that other self whose poise she had lost.