Crístobal Colon
Okay, so it is the Spanish spelling.
Today is the observance of Columbus Day, when federal employees are paid to not work, (or paid double) and protests blow up around the nation. The actual date that Colon landed on Hispaniola was October 12. I suspect more protests are in store.
Columbus is one of those figures that was built up through history, and is now being torn down. All Columbus wanted to do, besides find a shorter route to the Indies, was to bring Christianity to the native people. Of course, one may think that was terribly privileged of him, but spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the signs of a Christian. I would hope no one would fault him for that. Many of course see a different Columbus, the one that intentionally brought smallpox infected blankets to slaughter the natives, and then to enslave the ones that lived. Please.
Columbus was no son of wealth. He was a sailor that learned his craft from the Italians and the Portuguese. The Portuguese at the time were the experts. Columbus wanted to do more than sail and trade. He had a divine purpose. And by that, I mean literally.
Two thousand years ago, a prophet of the Lord saw Columbus in vision. He saw Columbus as the one that would be the forerunner for gentiles on this land, the western hemisphere. He saw the Revolutionary War, and the Restoration of the Gospel. How are those connected? The prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon saw and recorded this about Columbus:
"I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth among the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land." 1st Nephi 13:12
The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, accompanies the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Holy Bible, as scripture for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a work translated by the prophet Joseph Smith through the power of God. So what does Columbus have to do with the revolution?
It was the establishment of Europeans on this the American continent that allowed for freedom to flourish, far from England. It was this freedom that drove the colonists to war to be free of the King of England. Freedom of Religion is not just in the Bill of Rights, it is the first right enumerated in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. It was essential to have that freedom, so that God could reveal Himself to the prophet Joseph Smith in 1820. In 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was established in New York. From the humble beginning of 6 members at the meeting, the restored church has grown to over 16 million.
Focusing on Columbus, he was truly driven. Failing to convince the King of Portugal to fund his voyage, he petitioned the King and Queen of Spain, whose kingdoms were in the process of defeating the Moors. He had numerous petitions, and they failed, until finally they funded a very modest expedition. Three very small ships and crew.
Were he not so inspired, he would likely have given up, but he truly felt that he was doing God's work. Taking a crew into the open ocean was risky business. It was unknown, and Columbus faced mutiny more than once. But he had a vision, and needed to follow through.
Finally, I made a little slide presentation to the wonderful work of Lex de Azevedo and Doug Stewart. It comes from Threads of Glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i__K79bahU
A little different perspective.
Today is the observance of Columbus Day, when federal employees are paid to not work, (or paid double) and protests blow up around the nation. The actual date that Colon landed on Hispaniola was October 12. I suspect more protests are in store.
Columbus is one of those figures that was built up through history, and is now being torn down. All Columbus wanted to do, besides find a shorter route to the Indies, was to bring Christianity to the native people. Of course, one may think that was terribly privileged of him, but spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the signs of a Christian. I would hope no one would fault him for that. Many of course see a different Columbus, the one that intentionally brought smallpox infected blankets to slaughter the natives, and then to enslave the ones that lived. Please.
Columbus was no son of wealth. He was a sailor that learned his craft from the Italians and the Portuguese. The Portuguese at the time were the experts. Columbus wanted to do more than sail and trade. He had a divine purpose. And by that, I mean literally.
Two thousand years ago, a prophet of the Lord saw Columbus in vision. He saw Columbus as the one that would be the forerunner for gentiles on this land, the western hemisphere. He saw the Revolutionary War, and the Restoration of the Gospel. How are those connected? The prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon saw and recorded this about Columbus:
"I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth among the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land." 1st Nephi 13:12
The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, accompanies the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Holy Bible, as scripture for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a work translated by the prophet Joseph Smith through the power of God. So what does Columbus have to do with the revolution?
It was the establishment of Europeans on this the American continent that allowed for freedom to flourish, far from England. It was this freedom that drove the colonists to war to be free of the King of England. Freedom of Religion is not just in the Bill of Rights, it is the first right enumerated in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. It was essential to have that freedom, so that God could reveal Himself to the prophet Joseph Smith in 1820. In 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was established in New York. From the humble beginning of 6 members at the meeting, the restored church has grown to over 16 million.
Focusing on Columbus, he was truly driven. Failing to convince the King of Portugal to fund his voyage, he petitioned the King and Queen of Spain, whose kingdoms were in the process of defeating the Moors. He had numerous petitions, and they failed, until finally they funded a very modest expedition. Three very small ships and crew.
Were he not so inspired, he would likely have given up, but he truly felt that he was doing God's work. Taking a crew into the open ocean was risky business. It was unknown, and Columbus faced mutiny more than once. But he had a vision, and needed to follow through.
Finally, I made a little slide presentation to the wonderful work of Lex de Azevedo and Doug Stewart. It comes from Threads of Glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i__K79bahU
A little different perspective.
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