Current Lessons No. Two
Squanto - An Instrument in Preparation for the Restoration
Thanksgiving 2015
Introduction – The Book of Mormon teaches that the founding and colonization of the United States was the work of the Lord. The “spirit of God…wrought upon” the colonists, the Founders of our country, and they “were delivered by the power of God” (1 Nephi 13:12-19).
We are generally familiar with the Mayflower and the Indians who befriended them. But as I was reading the editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal the day before Thanksgiving I learned of another most remarkable example of the Lord’s hand in the establishment of America. I will liberally use the thoughts found in Eric Metaxas’ article entitled “The Miracle of Squanto’s Path to Plymouth” as I am sure there are many like me who know little if anything about this miracle.
Who Squanto was and what he did – Squanto was a Native American from the Patuxet tribe, and he grew up near what is now Plymouth Massachusetts. Numerous trading ships visited this area in the years before the Pilgrims, and about 1608 an English ship dropped anchor and began to trade with the friendly Patuxets. However, the Englishmen’s dark intentions were not to trade but to kidnap slaves. Squanto was among a number of Patuxet braves who were taken to Spain and sold into slavery.
Squanto was purchased by a group of Catholic friars who treated him well and later freed him. Around 1612 Squanto made his way to London. He lived there for about four years and learned the English ways and language, but his great desire was to return home. In 1618, in return for serving as an interpreter, Squanto found a one way passage on a trading ship going to the New World.
Finally, after ten years Squanto returned to the village where he was born only to find that his tribe had perished from disease, probably small pox, which had been brought to them by European traders. Squanto was essentially without a tribe, and he lived alone in the woods.
The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth in November 1620, the very place where Squanto had been born and was now living. Then in the spring of 1621 Squanto and the Pilgrims discovered each other. Squanto spoke English and had lived in London. Miraculously, he had grown up on the very land where the Pilgrims had now settled. Squanto knew how to survive. He taught them what to plant and how to fish. He successfully intermediated on their behalf with other native tribes.
Pilgrims delivered by the power of God – This lone Patuxet survivor had nowhere to go so the Pilgrims adopted him, and he lived the rest of his life with them. On his death he bequeathed all his possessions to the Pilgrims “as remembrances of his love.”
If Squanto had not been kidnaped he would have died with his tribe. But his life was preserved for a divine purpose. Squanto made it possible for the pilgrims not only to survive but to “prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance” (1 Nephi 13:15). Some may think this was all coincidence, but the Pilgrims didn’t think so. To them Squanto was an answer to their fervent prayers. Governor Bradford wrote in his journal: “[Squanto] became a special instrument sent of God.” Eric Metaxas concluded his article:
“These are historical facts. May we be forgiven for interpreting them as the answered prayers of a suffering people, and a warm touch in the cold dawn of our history of an Almighty Hand?”
Squanto was part of the plan to restore the gospel – Latter Day Saints understand why the Lord used Squanto as his instrument in the way he did. The Book of Mormon teaches that the founding of our nation was a necessary prologue to the restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. (See 1 Nephi 13-14) Squanto was one of many instruments used by the Lord to prepare for that restoration.
When Squanto died Governor Bradford wrote that Squanto wanted “the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen’s God in Heaven.” I believe Squanto has received his desired reward. The restoration provides the way and the power for all people, living or dead, to receive the blessings of the gospel. This priesthood power has enabled Squanto to live with “God in Heaven.”