Sally Penn Barton — Protection and Peace with Local Indians

During the early settlement of Southern Utah, Sally Penn Barton often found herself alone with her children while her husband was away. During a period of high tension with local Native American tribes, a group of Indians approached her home in a threatening manner, demanding food. Sally, though frightened, felt a strong impression to treat them with kindness and share her meager supplies. She fed them, and the leader's attitude changed from hostility to respect. She felt a divine shield of protection over her home, and the family remained unmolested throughout the conflict, a circumstance she attributed to the Lord's intervention in response to her prayers for safety. This manuscript-sourced account highlights the pioneer experience of divine protection in the Utah's Dixie region.