After Nephi's vision of the destruction of his people, he was shown the future of the Lamanite people. He also saw what was happening among the Gentile nations of the world. In a few short verses, Nephi explains how God will not forget Israel and will inspire good men and women among the Gentiles. God will bring them, guided by the Holy Spirit, to this land, choice above all other lands.
Columbus
Columbus regarded himself as the Christ-carrier, the source of his name, Christopher. He credited God with giving him the skills as a navigator. He wrote in his journal on many occasions that he felt directed by the Holy Ghost. He would quote favorite scriptures that influenced him throughout his life. Three that are mentioned specifically are:
- Isaiah 14: 1
- For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
- Isaiah 66:19
- And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape them unto the nations . . . and to the isles afar off, that have not heard of my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
- John 10:16
- And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
It seems to me that Columbus understood at some level that his mission was not simply to explore and fill Spain's coffers, but to take Jesus Christ to the peoples in other lands and to reclaim the House of Israel.*
Columbus had a close friend who shared his vision. He was the explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. Columbus wrote to Vespucci: I feel persuaded by the many and wonderful manifestations of Divine Providence that I am a chosen instrument of God . . . **
Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was another Italian explorer contemporary with Columbus. He was born in Florence, Italy, to a wealthy family who saw to it that he was well educated. Vespucci was a brilliant scientist and mathematician. His role in the discovery was that, unlike Columbus, who thought he had landed on the far side of the old world continent, Vespucci hypothesized that it was an entirely new continent. Using his vast mathematical and scientific skills as a to be able to confirm that it was, indeed, a new world.
As a young person I used to wonder why they named the new lands after Amerigo instead of Christopher. Perhaps that it why. This was a significant discovery because it showed the world that this was a unique and choice land.
Wilford Woodruff
President Wilford Woodruff was an apostle President of the St. George Temple when he had a remarkable vision. He was visited by many of the great men of our nation. He wrote: Before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, '. . . nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.'
President Woodruff went into the temple and was baptized for 100 honored men who contributed to the founding of our nation, preparatory to the gathering of Israel. Both Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci were among those for whom temple work was done.
For more information regarding these founders, you may want to read President Ezra Taft Benson's conference talk about the Constitution at the link below. The above quote from President Woodruff's journal was taken from President Benson's address.
©January 2020, Dr. Kathleen Rawlings
Buntin Danielson
*Ballard, Timothy. The American Covenant, 2011, Digital Legend, NY. pp 92-108
** Edwards, Lester. The Life and Voyages of Vespucci, quoted in Ballard, p 102
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