SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said today it is pleased the ACLU agreed to drop its lawsuit over management of BLM land at Martin’s Cove.
Martin’s Cove is historically significant because of the tragic story of the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies who were marooned there in 1856. The courage and sacrifice of these Mormon pioneers, and of their rescuers, is one of America’s great heroic stories.
The ACLU originally brought suit because of concerns over management of BLM property by a religious organization. However, once the Church’s plans for managing the property became clear, the parties agreed that legal action was no longer necessary.
The Church subsequently signed a document with the ACLU and the BLM confirming its plans for managing Martin’s Cove. Von Keetch, a lawyer with Kirton and McConkie acting for the Church, said, “Although the document is nonbinding, the Church has already implemented most of its provisions.”
The document confirms the Church’s willingness to do the following:
- Maintain existing signs explaining the role of the Church in managing the BLM property and demarcating BLM and Church property lines.
- Set aside a few parking spaces so that visitors may conveniently access the trail to Martin’s Cove without encountering Church-owned sites.
- Establish visitation guidelines that affirm the right of the public to engage in free expression on BLM property to the same extent permitted on other BLM land.
- Ensure that missionaries on BLM property will focus their activities on protecting public safety, preventing damage to the fragile desert environment and answering questions, rather than proselytizing.