Hallowed Ground

Martin's Cove

The song "Hallowed Ground" was written by Cheryl Davidsen in 2010. It has become the theme song for the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission and is beloved by all those serving at Martin’s Cove. "As we stand on hallowed ground and sing this song every heart is touched by the sobering sacrifice made by those early pioneers in the Willie and Martin handcart companies."  We hope you too come to love it as we do.  http://www.cheryldavidsen.com/hallowed-ground/


Here we stand on hallowed ground -- hallowed ground,
Where frozen feet have walked,
Where mother's tears have dropped,
While weary hands dug out another grave.
Where trembling knees have knelt
To beg the Lord for help.
Upon these jagged rocks, they fell and prayed.

  Hallowed ground, holy place

Trail of tears -- trail of faith.

    Can you feel them all around,

          As we stand on hallowed ground.

Here we stand on hallowed ground,
Where winter winds have blown
And buried carts in snow,
Where hungry children watched their fathers die,
Where women young and old
Bravely pushed and pulled,
Where boys turned into men and hope survived.

   Hallowed ground, holy place.

Trail of tears -- trail of faith.

    Can you feel them all around,

           As we stand on hallowed ground.

Where snow and ice transpired into refiners fire.
Where angels came and pushed them up the hill.
How God could show his grace
in such a god-forsaken place
And yet, I feel his presence still.

     Hallowed ground, holy place.

  Trail of tears -- trail of faith.

     Can you feel them all around

             As we stand on hallowed ground.

                   As we stand on this hallowed ground.

We have genuinely loved serving at the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission and will cherish the memories we have made...of visitors, of trekkers, of missionary friends but especially of those valiant  handcart pioneers of 1856.

As Soon As They Started, They Ended

Trekkers Learning the Martin Handcart
Story at Fort Seminoe

As anticipated, this has been a busy Trekking Season. During our busiest weeks we had as many as 14 groups on the trails at Martin's Cove.  Cherry Creek Campground was often filled to capacity.  The missionaries volunteering here were kept busy all summer manning the Visitors' Center, working with the trek groups and maintaining the properties, but most of all, we had fun.  And, that is how it should be.  On several occasions, Peggy and I took the opportunity to get out on the trails to enjoy the youth that came here.

Youth Orientation in the Trek Center

(L-R) Jay, Peggy, Aubrey, Kim and Bruce

We were excited to have Peggy's niece and family among one of the trek groups at Martin's Cove!

A Sacred Sweetwater River Crossing

Trek Group Crossing River Crossing Foot Bridge

Most of the groups trekking at Martin's Cove this year had special programs, vignettes and musical numbers.

Youth Program at the Statues

Youth Program at Dan W Jones Amphitheater

Youth saying Good-Bye after a long day of Trekking

And, as soon as the treks had started, they ended, leaving the trails at Martin's Cove once again empty until next year.

Until Next Year!

By Small and Simple Things...

Let The 2018 Treks Begin

Trek Group Passing Martin's Cove

The 2018 Trekking season is now in full swing.  The first group trekked at Martin's Cove on May 31st and it has been nonstop trekking ever since.  There are 106 groups scheduled to come here this year.  These groups represent 16,730 individuals. Though the majority of the trekkers are from Utah, we also have groups coming from Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, California and Canada.

Trek Group hiking out to Devil's Gate

Each group coming to Martin's Cove this year will hike 7-13 miles passing by Devil's Gate, crossing through the Sweet Water River, stopping for programs in the Daniel W. Jones Amphitheater, and hiking into Martin's Cove.

A Young Women's Group Crossing the Sweet Water River

The "Piano Guy" playing at Daniel W. Jones Amphitheater

But, there are more than trek groups coming to Martin's Cove. Others come here to reenact the 1800 Great Western Migration.  The Oregon Trail is a 2,170-miles that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. Parts of the Oregon Trail spanned Kansas, and nearly all of  Nebraska and Wyoming. Emigrants headed for Oregon in the 1800's went with the promise of lush farmlands and a new beginning. This year, wagons pulled by mules passed by Martin's Cove while reenacting the Oregon migration.  The missionaries enjoyed visiting with these modern day pioneers.

One of several Mule Drawn Wagons
passing Devil's Gate by Martin's Cove

In the mid 1960’s a group of California horse and trail enthusiasts banned together and started doing re-enactments of the Pony Express. Each year they extended their ride further east and in 1980 they were riding and carrying mail the entire distance between Sacramento, California and St. Joseph, Missouri. Today the spirit and memory of the Pony Express is kept alive by the "Annual Re-ride", which is held in June of each year. The riders and horses, with the mail they carry, travel east in even numbered years and west in odd numbered years. This year they traveled from Sacramento, stopping at Martin's Cove on June 26th for lunch, and to change riders and horses.

The Pony Express Riding on the
 National Historic Trail near Martin's Cove

The Pony Express  changing Horses and Riders

2018 proves to be a very exciting year at Martin's Cove for those who come here to visit, for those who come here to reenact the Great Western Migration, and those who come here to remember the Martin Handcart Company.  For all those who come to Martin's Cove, regardless the reason, it is a memorable, life changing experience.  We hope you too are having a wonderful summer, by making a difference in the lives of all those you meet.
Elder and Sister Bowden

Wyoming School Groups

Spring has finally arrived at Martin's Cove and with it comes spring flowers and Wyoming School Groups.  These fourth graders come to this historic site, from all over the area, to learn Wyoming history first hand.  The missionaries dress in pioneer style clothes to escort them around Sun Ranch, while explaining about what there is to see and do here.  As part of the tour the children visit the Sweet Water Museum, Blacksmith Shop, Visitors' Center, Bunk House, Wash House, Fort Seminoe, Handcart Prairie Park, and the National Historic Trail.  It is great fun for all those involved. Plus, the missionaries get the opportunity to interact with the children, teachers, and parents.

Upon returning to their schools, the children often write letters of appreciation.  It is a nice touch that is greatly appreciated by all the missionaries.  Below are three such letters, from Des, Lizabeth and Kamila.  Not only did we find their letters heart warming, but the drawings added a special insight into their experiences here.  It is letters like these that add to our missionary experience.  We hope you too enjoy them.

We agree with these children, Martin's Cove and the Sun Ranch is fun and we have learned so much about the pioneers, handcarts and Wyoming history.  Though their stories maybe sad, they are inspirational.  We love being here and look forward to another trekking season!


Elder and Sister Bowden

Remember, Remember

Martin's Cove Visitors' Center

Martin's Cove Visitors' Center

Bernard Sun approached representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in August 1994 and asked if the Church would be interested purchasing the Sun Ranch.  The terms of the sale were finalized in April 1996 and the Purchase-Sell Agreement was signed on July 22, 1996.  An important part of the negotiations was President Gordon B. Hinckley's promise that the ranch would forever be known as the "Sun Ranch", that it would remain a working cattle ranch, and the Sun name would forever be honored and remembered.  The property's purchase comprised 12,500 deeded acres, plus 80,000 acres of grazing rights. The Sun Ranch was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960.  It is one of several ranches in the United States to be given this recognition.  At that time, it was regarded as one of the best preserved 19th century cattle ranches in America. 

After purchasing the property, the Church renovated the ranch house and made it into a visitors' center.  This building along with the barn, bunkhouse, washhouse and blacksmith shop date back to 1880's.  Interestingly, the Mormon, Oregon, California and Pony Express Trails pass through the Sun Ranch property near the Visitors' Center. Visitors can see remnants of the trail as it passes through ranch property.

Express Rider searching for the Martin Handcart Company

The Martin's Cove Visitors' Center was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on May 3, 1997.  In that Dedicatory Prayer he said:

 Hungry and Cold and Dying from Sheer Exhaustion

"We are here at the Sun Ranch -- a place that speaks history.  We are here to dedicate this Visitors' Center, which has been established to honor those who passed this way long ago and, particularly, the very many who gave their lives on that long journey, particularly during the fall of 1856.  Some of them are buried in this area.  Their memories are sacred to us.  They gave their lives in the greatest of all sacrifices for a cause they counted more dear than life itself.  We express appreciation to the Sun family who have owned this property through generations.  They have preserved and protected it, and we are deeply grateful.  It is now made available to Thy Church, and we pledge our very best effort in maintaining it, that it shall retain much of its pristine nature".

Crossing the Sweetwater River

We hope you enjoy seeing some of the many paintings and murals found in the Martin's Cove  Visitors' Center, which was dedicated to those who sought "some protection from the heavy storms of a that early winter... Their people hungry and cold and dying from sheer exhaustion... We are so grateful for their faith, their faith in [God] and in [Jesus Christ]... "

Seeking Protection in Martin's Cove

"Hungry, Cold, Freezing, Starving, All alone in this vast area... "

Henry is Sister Bowden's 2nd Great-Grandfather.
This quote from his journal is on the wall of the Visitors' Center

May we never forget the sacrifice of these faithful saints.
Elder and Sister Bowden

Winter in Wyoming Finally Arrives

October 19, 2017 Weather Synopsis: "Forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center released the U.S. 2017-2018 winter outlook for Wyoming.  La Nina conditions are favored to develop late this fall through the winter.  Above normal precipitation is expected across all of Wyoming this winter, while above normal temperatures are favored across southern Wyoming."

Gorgeous Sunsets over the Sweetwater River

As predicted by NOAA, Southern Wyoming has not had much of a winter this year.  With very little snow fall, the temperatures have been a spring-like 45-55 degrees with the night-time temperatures slightly cooler.  Then Sunday, February 18, 2018 the National Weather Service issued the following winter storm warnings for much of Wyoming, including Natrona, Freemont, Sweetwater and Carbon Counties:

The frozen Sweetwater River!

"Up to 12 inches of snow is expected to fall by Sunday afternoon in some areas.  The snow is expected to continue through Monday. Bitter cold temperatures are expected Monday and Tuesday with highs mostly from 5 to 15 degrees and lows Monday night and Tuesday nights down to 10 below zero".

It's hard to imagine, but this is the Sweetwater River

These past few days at Martin's Cove we have been experiencing daytime temperatures of 10-15 degrees with night-time temperatures of 5-10 degrees below zero,  and 12-18 inches for snow on the ground.  Being from Texas-California, Peggy and I have never experienced a winter like this before, and to think we were so much enjoying those La Nina conditions up until now!

Even our signs are frosted!

Curious as to what winters are like in Wyoming?  Perhaps the following pictures will give you some idea!

Cold, but beautiful

Wherever this winter season may find you we hope you stay warm and comfortable
Elder and Sister Bowden