‘Secret of Skinwalker Ranch’ Owner Reveals Rare Artifact With a Powerful Message

Skinwalker Ranch owner Brandon Fugal shares a rare, inscribed Martin Luther King Jr. book and reflects on its enduring message.

Viewers typically associate The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch with investigations into unexplained phenomena, advanced technology, and long-running mysteries tied to the Utah property. This week, however, ranch owner Brandon Fugal shared something far removed from radar scans or anomalies: a rare historical artifact tied to one of the most influential voices in American history.

In a post shared to Instagram, Fugal revealed a first printing of Strength to Love, the landmark collection of sermons by Martin Luther King Jr., signed and personally inscribed by King himself.

“In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I am pleased to again feature my rare 1st printing of Dr. King’s Strength to Love, signed by King & inscribed to his friend & fellow civil rights champion, Bishop Smallwood Williams,” Fugal wrote.

Fugal explained that King worked on many of the sermons included in the book while jailed in 1962 for holding a prayer vigil outside Albany City Hall. Reflecting on that period, King later described the conditions in stark terms, calling his jail cell “dirty, filthy, and ill-equipped” and “the worst I have ever seen”.

Beyond its personal provenance, Strength to Love holds an important place in American publishing history. As Fugal noted in his post, it was “the first volume of sermons by an African American preacher widely available to a white audience,” helping expand King’s reach far beyond the pulpit.

Fugal also shared a close-up of the handwritten inscription inside the book, offering a rare glimpse into King’s personal relationships. The inscription reads:

1/7/64
To my Dear Friend Smallwood Williams,
With warm personal regards and deep appreciation for your creative ministry.
Martin

Alongside images of the book and its inscription, Fugal highlighted passages from Strength to Love that continue to resonate decades later, particularly King’s reflections on the relationship between science, faith, and moral responsibility. Fugal called them his “favorite quotes.”

Science investigates, religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power, religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts, religion deals with values. The two are not rivals. They are complementary. Science keeps religion from sinking into the valley of crippling irrationalism and paralysing obscurantism. Religion prevents science from falling into the marsh of obsolete materialism and moral nihilism.

and

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

While The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch is best known for probing the unknown, Fugal’s post offered a reminder that some of the most powerful discoveries are rooted in history, reflection, and values rather than mystery. By sharing the rare, inscribed volume from his personal collection, the ranch owner provided a moment of pause—one that connected the present-day curiosity surrounding Skinwalker Ranch with a message that has endured for generations.