Cholera, childbirth, Indian attack, drowning at river crossings, accidents even cannibalism. There were lots of ways for emigrants to die on western trails in the 1800's. However, mother nature was perhaps the most efficient killer of all. The largest, single disaster ever recorded on the Mormon Pioneer Trail, befell two parties of Mormon converts who were pulling handcarts in the late fall of 1856, and this time, it was weather that was the grim reaper.
http://www.tourwyoming.com/articles/handcart.htm
This is interesting. After going after small churches and medium sized towns and school districts, the ACLU feels strong enough to take on the LDS Church. I'm no huge fan of the LDS but this time the ACLU may have bitten off more etc. Smack down time.
The history of that area of the United States is inextricably bound up in the history of the LDS Church. There is no way to know that history without its LDS component. What happened at Martin's Cove is part of the rich tapestry of American History. If the LDS component of the history is taken out, about all that is left is geological history.
My wife's ancestors were part of the handcart company that suffered at Martin's Cove. Her great-great-great grandfather died on the banks of the Platte River near Casper a few days before the company reached Martin's Cove, and his frozen body was found by her great-great grandfather, then only seven years old.
When Brigham Young heard of the plight of the stranded companies he sent a rescue party by horseback through the blizzard and deep snows. Among this vanguard were several young men, about 19-20 years old, some of them sons of prominent LDS leaders. There at the Sweetwater River, ice cold and waist deep but not completely frozen over, these young men carried sick and weak members of the stricken party through the ice cold river waters on their backs, one by one, until all were safely on the other side. These young men then took ill and died from the exposure.
It is the telling of this history that the ACLU finds offensive.
HA! I'd live among one hundred Mormon folk for every one urban piece of liberal human debris...
The ACLU has bit off more than they can chew this time. LDS has money, and they are fighters. By, By, ACLU on this one.
I'm going to enjoy watching the ACLU being taken to task on this one. :)
This aint the boy scouts they're messin with.
The LDS presence is definitely there, as it totally should be, but not overdone in any way.
I wish the rest of our historical sites honored our ancestors and the faith that led them as the LDS people have done.