Prayer, Perseverance, Profanity: The Martin Company Crossing the Sweetwater River

Amy B. Loader was one of the survivors of the Martin Handcart Company in 1856.  Too weak to wade across the freezing water, she was carried by one of the rescue party members (probably David P. Kimball).  She was deeply moved by his heroic act of sacrifice, and told him so.  His response, through chattering teeth, was a short burst of profanity that shocked the pious Amy.  It was his way of saying, "You're welcome."   

This episode recounts the Martin Handcart Company's final crossing of the Sweetwater River, November 4, 1856,  

To learn more about the material in this episode, check out the following resources:

Howard A. Christy, "Weather, Disaster and Responsibility: An Essay on the Willie and Martin Handcart Story," 37 BYU Studies 1, 7 (1997-98).

Leonard Arrington & Rebecca Bartholomew, Rescue of the 1856 Handcart Companies (1981).

Chad M. Orton, The Martin Handcart Company at the Sweetwater: Another Look, 45 BYU Studies Quarterly 1 (2006).

David Roberts, Devil's Gate: Brigham Young and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy (2008).