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LDS church would get sacred site, Martin’s Cove, under proposed BLM land trade now gaining steam
Advocates say the swap would give the public equal acreage, improve wildlife habitat and preserve access to the historic site.
- Wyoming state representative Lloyd Larsen and the nonprofit group Wyoming Friends for Martin's Cove proposed a land exchange to transfer 933 Bureau of Land Management acres surrounding Martin's Cove to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Martin's Cove holds historical significance as the 1856 refuge site for a stranded handcart company; the church currently holds a 25-year lease from the Bureau of Land Management, though previous management efforts sparked controversy and litigation.
- Parcels identified for the exchange include a 358-acre tract near Independence Rock and 575 acres between Miller Springs and Savage Peak, which proponents argue secures wildlife habitat and preserves historic sites.
- Support from three former Wyoming governors—Matt Mead, Dave Freudenthal, and Mike Sullivan—and former Interior Department appointee Rob Wallace strengthens the effort, with the Bureau of Land Management stating it will follow Congressional direction.
- Julia Stuble, Wyoming director for The Wilderness Society, praised the proponents' "sound process" for prioritizing public interest, while advocates draft legislation aiming for congressional introduction this summer.
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15 Articles
LDS church would get sacred site, Martin's Cove, under proposed BLM land trade now gaining steam
A Wyoming state lawmaker is leading efforts to transfer Martin's Cove, a site significant to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from public to church ownership.
·Melville, United States
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Associated Press News+12 Reposted by 12 other sources
LDS church would get sacred site, Martin’s Cove, under proposed BLM land trade now gaining steam
Driving eastbound toward Martin’s Cove, Lloyd Larsen tried to hammer home the profound cultural significance of the place he was headed.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources15
Leaning Left8Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Left
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Left
53% Left
L 53%
C 47%
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