Porters Place of Lehi is now coming to Nephi, so steak lovers get ready.

Even if you a non-Mormon you may have heard of the Book of Mormon figures named Lehi and Nephi. You may have also heard of Orrin Porter Rockwell-the Territorial Marshall of Utah when the Mormons first came here. It all depends on who is writing the history of Old Port, but the general consensus is he shot and killed more hoodlums and ruffians than the Earp Brothers; Pat Garrett and Bat Masterson combined. People in the know list his gun notches at forty, but on the death of Rockwell, the Salt Lake Tribune thought the number was over a hundred, but they may have stretched it when they called Rockwell a notorious outlaw, along with the funeral speaker-Joseph F. Smith. In his later years, Porter said "I never killed anyone who didn't need killin". Although some folks didn't like his long hair, Joseph Smith did and gave him a prophesy that "as long as ye shall remain loyal and true to the faith, need fear no enemy. Cut not they hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee". Through 35 years of gun battles, he was unmarred, but he did cut his hair to make a wig for the widow of Don Carlos Smith when she lost her hair from typhoid fever. It wasn't long before he took to strong drink and liked it so much he made his own "Valley Tan" at his bar called "Hot Springs  Brewery Hotel" near the Jordan Narrows below the Point of the Mountain. Many years ago, this writer was able to located the foundations for that "half-way house", but the area is now obliterated by a gravel pit. It was a stop over for travelers going between Salt Lake and valleys south. Porters Place will be arriving in Nephi in July, 2016, along with all the historical artifacts. Once inside Porters, you can try an Apostle Burger, a Seventy Sandwich or Son-Of-A-Gun Salad. If you are not interested in the best steak west of Haun's Mill, then take a gander at the large painting of Orrin Porter Rockwell. You will be mesmerized by his cool grey and searching eyes, watching your every move. His small hands were given to him for a reason. He was lightening fast in outdrawing a desperado and it was said that in "True Grit" John Wayne borrowed a true life scene of Porter by holding reins in his mouth while shooting through a campfire at bad guys in Rush Valley after kidnapping a young girl. During a feast break, you may hear about Porter and Brigham when they camped at Chicken Creek(Levan) to help settle the dispute with Chief Walkara; of he and Brig's repeated stays in Nephi while heading south; a murder in Sanpete; his cattle ranch in west Juab County, or how about the time when the Atkins brothers were being escorted through Nephi and after escaping, they were somehow killed by "invisible hands"; his discussions with Nephi's Guy Foote; the Skeem family, or how about the two guys chased to Willow Creek(Mona) then they "accidently" drowned in the nearby deep bubbling springs(Burraston's) with rocks in their clothes. How about when O.P. and a hundred of his guerrilla "Mormon Militia" held off Johnson's Army in Echo Canyon when President Buchanan directed them to Utah to suppress a non existent "rebellion" which became known as "The Utah War".