Lds first presidency biography of christopher columbus

See this page in the original 1992 publication.

Author: Hanson, Louise G.

Latter-day Saints generally regard Columbus as having fulfilled a prophecy contained early in the Book of Mormon. Nephi ₁ recorded a vision of the future of his father's descendants.

Columbus: Fulfillment of Book of Mormon Prophecy

After foreseeing the destruction of his own seed, Nephi beheld a gentile "separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters," and saw that the Spirit of God "came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the Promised Land" (1 Ne. 13:12).

Nephi appears to give an accurate account of Columbus's motives.

Even though he was well-acquainted with the sciences of his day and his voyages have been viewed by some historians as primarily an economic triumph of Spain over Portugal, Columbus apparently had bigger motives for his voyage and felt himself spiritually driven to discover new lands. Newly acknowledged documents show First Presidency - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

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