JAMESTOWN, Va. — The 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607 has received worldwide attention, bringing heads of nations and thousands of visitors here during 2007 celebrations in the "Cradle of America."
Much of the yearlong celebration is taking place within the boundaries of the Newport News Virginia Stake, and a number of its members are involved as volunteers or participants.
One of the participants is young Meagan Hoag of the Jamestown Ward. She was among the children of the Jamestown/Williamsburg area invited to meet Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who came in May to the shores of the James River where the first colony was built and the little structures of the first settlement are now rebuilt. Amy presented the queen with a long-stemmed white rose.
Organized in 1976, the Newport News Virginia Stake encompasses the entire historic area of the first settlement of English people in America. The colonial capital was in Williamsburg where the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights were deliberated among founders of the nation: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson Jr. and Richard and Henry Lee.
The Yorktown Ward is near the battlefields where the Revolutionary War ended as George Washington's army defeated Cornwallis and England lost claim to America, just 14 miles from Jamestown where the claim was first pronounced.
President Bradley R. Hansen of the Newport News stake has joined members assisting as tourist guides and transport of visitors through the outdoor museums of archaeology and the replicated Indian village.
"We have a sense for our area," President Hansen said. "Many of our members routinely volunteer and will be helping throughout the yearlong celebrations. We see the Lord's hand in what happened in this historic place as we constantly learn more about the formation of our nation and development of our freedom, which opened the way for the Church to be established. We like to think that Nephi describes this place in 1 Nephi 13: 13-19, which begins, "And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters...."
Anchored on the James River, the scale models of the three historic ships in which the colonists came are a marvel to visitors who see the small size of the vessels in which 104 colonists and the crew endured the journey across the Atlantic.
In December 1606, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and the Discovery, were anchored on the Downs in the English Channel, ready to transport the colonists to Virginia, but waiting out fierce storms. When the seas became safer they still waited, missing several good tides, until the minister assigned to be aboard, Rev. Robert Hunt, was able to travel. They waited because the colonizing project entailed explicit instruction that the gospel of Jesus Christ was to be preached to the native American Indians.
A scholar in Virginia history, and of eastern Virginia Indian tribes, Bishop Stephen A. Daugherty of Mount Vernon Virginia Stake has cited numerous Book of Mormon prophecies concerning coming to this land of the "Gentiles."
"Clearly, it was within the hearts of these gentiles to present the testimony of Jesus Christ to an unconverted population in keeping with (Book of Mormon) prophesies," he said.
History of the voyage, the first landing, the suffering and deaths from starvation, disease, Indian attacks, and exposure as a new nation was born were recorded by several historians, the chief account by Captain John Smith who was aboard the Susan Constant.
Indian Chief Powhatan in 1608 explained tribal customs, religion and government to John Smith. Powhatan explained Indian belief in the "Great Spirit" who was in the sky, creator of all things, directing all that happens.
When Smith asked about their carved wooden god named Okee, Powhatan said Okee was only a representation of the great spirit in the sky, not a god. "I cannot help it," Powhatan said, "if some of the more ignorant of my people worship the wooden image."
Powhatan's descendants now in hundreds of thousands dwell in all states and in England.
Powhatan is ancestor of governors, of several Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and presidents of the United States.
In his studies of rather obscure records Bishop Daugherty related writings of faith of the colonists to visions of Nephi who said, "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them."
Minister Alexander Whittaker, in Virginia in 1611, said: "Wherefore, you right wise and noble adventurers in Virginia, whose hearts God hath stirred up to build Him a temple, to make Him an house, to conquer a kingdom for Him here, be not discouraged with those many lamentable assaults that the devil hath made against us. He now rageth most because he knoweth his kingdom is to have a short end. Go forward boldly and remember that you fight under the banner of Jesus Christ, that you plant His kingdom who hath already broken the serpent's head. God may defer His temporal reward for a season, but be assured that in the end you shall find riches and honor in this world and blessed immortality in the world to come."
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