The St. George Manna — Provision in Famine

In the summer of 1864, the settlers of St. George and the surrounding Cotton Mission faced extreme food shortages and a total lack of sugar. During this period of hardship, a mysterious 'sweet substance' or 'honey-dew' suddenly appeared, coating the leaves of the willow and cottonwood trees along the Virgin and Santa Clara Rivers. Ella J. Seegmiller and other early residents recorded that the pioneers gathered these leaves, soaked them in water, and boiled the resulting liquid down to produce a high-quality sweet syrup and sugar. This 'manna' provided essential sustenance and a rare luxury during a time of intense poverty. The settlers viewed the phenomenon as a divine provision, directly comparing it to the manna provided to the ancient Israelites in the wilderness.