Laurie Garvey, mother of Jill and Tom and wife of Kevin Garvey, lives in Mapleton, a town in the northeastern United States. On October 14, a rapture-like event occurs wherein millions of people suddenly disappear across the globe. Though no one in their immediate family disappears, Jen Sussman, the daughter of Laurie’s best friend, Rosalie, vanishes along with 80 other residents of Mapleton.

Laurie was raised agnostic and doesn’t believe in much “except the foolishness of belief itself” (1). She raised her children agnostic as well. When the rapture occurred, Laurie became suddenly uncertain of her belief system. Though the rapture caused people of indiscriminate religious belief to disappear and was, therefore, not the one believed to be predicted in the Christian Bible, Laurie is still convinced that she was “left behind.” Laurie tries to comfort Rosalie in her grief.

About a year following the rapture, a group called the Guilty Remnant starts up in Mapleton. The members take a vow of silence, wear all-white clothing, walk through the town in same-sex pairs, and smoke cigarettes. When Laurie approaches one pair, they give her a business card that explains the Guilty Remnant as a group awaiting God’s judgment.