The pioneers awakened this June 22, 1847 in the shadow of Devil's Gate, where the Sweetwater River has carved a path through a mountain of rock.

Now, 150-years later, the LDS Church owns the land and has turned it into a visitors center to honor, those pioneers of 1847, but especially the handcart pioneers of 1856.

Nearby is Martin's Cove where the Martin Handcart Company sought refuge from snow and cold that horrible fall, and where about 145 of the handcart pioneers died.

But, that was in the future as Brigham Young's vangaard party of pioneers forged ahead in 1847, passing through the Sweetwater River valley and moving 20 miles closer to their destination.