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We can be THANKful for the Pilgrims!

  • Writer: Shayna
    Shayna
  • Jun 25, 2024
  • 5 min read

A pilgrim is someone who journeys to a special or sacred place for religious reasons.


While many like Captain John Smith were voyaging to the New World for gold and land, and settling in Jamestown, there were others in England who were hoping for religious freedom.


In Europe, the Catholic church was the main Christian church and was established as such a few hundred years after Jesus Christ lived on the earth. Later, the Church of England was established by King Henry VIII because he wanted to be able to change things about the church in his own way. He wasn't a prophet but he established the Church of England and it became the state church. This did not allow for freedom to believe or belong to any church you wanted--you were required to follow certain rules and attend the Church of England.


A group from Nottinghamshire (yes, Robin Hood's people!) wanted to break away from the church. They wanted the freedom to believe as they liked and to establish their own church with more pure beliefs from the bible. They wanted to separate themselves from the Church of England--they were called Separatists.


In a place without religious freedom, often one church or one leader (like a king) can make the rules and then force people to follow them. They may be a bad king (think King Noah) or a good king (like King Benjamin) but without freedom of religion, people were unable to choose what to believe.


These people, the Separatists left Nottinghamshire and travelled to the Dutch world (modern day Netherlands). They lived there for a few years but it was a challenge for them--they did not speak Dutch and it was difficult to find work there. They sent men back to England to ask the King if they could obtain land in the New World to establish a colony.


The King of England gave his permission and they worked with a merchant company to obtain a ship and passage to the New World.


The ship was called the Mayflower.


102 people (plus crew) boarded the Mayflower. Not all were Separatists who were looking for religious freedom, there were some who were looking for land and a new life.


The voyage began on September 6, 1620. The voyage took 66 days they landed at Cape Cod on Massachusetts Bay.


Mayflower Compact

Before leaving the ship they met together and established what was called the Mayflower Compact. It proclaimed self-governance (because they were so far from England and being governed by the King). They had annual elections and women would run the settlement. They wanted to keep the colony together by self governing and promised just and fair laws in the future--the laws must benefit everyone. They were required to live in accordance with the Christian faith. Although not everyone was a Separatist, most would have been Christian and believed in living a Christian lifestyle.


41 men signed the document on 11 November 1620.


They established their Settlement in a place they called Plymouth Plantation. It became a thriving community. They elected a governor every year. The first governor passed away during his first year but William Bradford was elected and over the next 35 years was elected 30 times! William Bradford is our ancestor.


THANKSGIVING

Many people passed away during the first winter. Some children were left orphans. They landed late in the season and further north than planned (they were supposed to land in Virginia where there was already an established settlement--Jamestown). However, landing in Massachussets where it was colder and a different climate, they were unable to plant crops for the colony.

The following year the pilgrims planted crops and had help from the Indians as well. Corn was a new vegetable to the pilgrims. It was late in the Autumn after a bounteous harvest that over 90 Indians and 52 settlers met and ate.


Two years later in 1623 the settlers and indians again celebrated a bountiful harvest--they had suffered a two year drought and came together to pray to give thanks to God and celebrate their harveest. They ate venison (that means deer), wild turkey, pork, corn (which was not grown in England so this was new to them!) They ate potatoes and carrots and other fruits and vegetables.


This is where they gave THANKS to God for providing for them and preserving them. We celebrate this every year at THANKSGIVING!


ANCESTORS

You can go to FamilySearch (link below) to see how we are related to those who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower.


We descend through the Haag line from the governor, William Bradford (elected 30 times!)




Another ancestor we descend from is Constance Hopkins, who was 14 years old when she travelled on the Mayflower--her little brother was born during the voyage on the ocean! They named him, Oceanus. Most of our connections are direct ancestors 10th or 12th great grandparents.


As the records show, it wasn't one of the more famous individuals, leaders or even a future governor who stepped off of the Mayflower and onto the land in the New World--it was a young girl, thirteen year old Mary Chilton. She is our 11th great grandmother!



FREEDOM OF RELIGION

The most valuable lesson we can learn from the Pilgrims is their desire to serve God through religious freedom. The Pilgrims and many other immigrants to the new nation were the beginning of the religious freedom that we still have. As we learn more about the Founding Fathers and the beginnings of the United States of America it is clear that this foundation was laid in order that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church could be restored again to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith.


“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” --- 11th Article of Faith

It is beautiful to see so clearly the hand of the Lord in the history of the world. These men and women (and their children), our ancestors, were part of creating a settlement, then a colony and ultimately an entire government and country based on this freedom.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ---First Amendment



ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS






Basically you print off the board (it looks like bingo) then you take candy (m&ms or skittles, chocolate chips, cheerios...) and fill in each square. One person is chosen to leave the room. While they are gone teh group chooses which square to name "Pete." When the person comes in they begin to eat each candy on each square. When they get to "Pete" and go to pick up the candy, the group yells "Don't eat Pete!"


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