William Henry Deuel Sr. — Inspired Guidance to Transport Blacksmith Tools

Before departing for the West, William Henry Deuel Sr. felt a strong spiritual prompting, which was reinforced by counsel from Church leaders, to transport his complete set of blacksmithing tools across the plains. Despite the extreme weight of the anvil and iron-working equipment, which required sacrificing other essential supplies and increased the burden on his team, Deuel persisted in carrying them. This preparation proved to be a 'remarkable providence' for the early pioneers; upon arrival in the Salt Lake Valley and later in the settlements of Centerville and Escalante, his ability to repair wagons and shoe horses with these tools was vital to the survival and economic stability of the isolated communities.