A few weeks ago, we took a trip up to the North Coast of our island with our friends the Eickbushes (from Lindon) and visited the ruins of La Isabela, Columbus's first settlement in the New World.
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| Excuse my hat hair! |
Then last week we had a wonderful FHE fireside in Santo Domingo with Kent Rappleye. Brother Rappleye, the Caribbean Area Director, gave a presentation to all the senior couples there about Columbus and the discovery of the New World. He’s been here in the DR for 4 years working for the church in Seminaries and Institutes and has studied in depth the history of this special land. He shared quotes from Columbus’s writings where he talks about being inspired by the Holy Ghost in his quest for discovery. I don't have his exact quotes but here are some quotes I found in my own research from books on the internet.
"It was the Lord who put it into my mind, (I could feel His hand upon me), the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures...
For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied...
I am the most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous Presence. No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will even though He gives advice. Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things for which He holds Himself responsible. Day and night, moment by moment, everyone should express their most devoted gratitude to Him."
from "Columbus's Book of Prophecies".
It has never been published in the English speaking world. Some excerpts have been privately translated into English by August J. Kling. He quoted the passage above from Columbus's diary in an article which appeared in the October 1971 issue of "The Presbyterian Layman".
The author goes on to say "Columbus's reference to Isaiah's prophecy was probably Isaiah 40:22. In this scripture passage the prophet Isaiah made reference to "the circle of the earth".
"It is He who sits above the circle of the earth".
(Isaiah 40:22)
Read 1 Nephi 13:12. It's profound, huh!
For all you history buffs...a little refresher history 101 here. If you’re not buff or in the buff…hmm...well, just skip to the photos.
“During the economic competition between European kingdoms seeking wealth through the establishment of trade routes and colonies, Columbus's speculative proposal, to reach the East Indies by sailing westward, eventually received the support of the Spanish crown, which saw in it a promise, however remote, of gaining the upper hand over rival powers in the contest for the lucrative spice trade with Asia.”
During his first voyage in 1492, instead of reaching Japan as he had intended, Columbus first sited land in the Bahamas at an island he name San Salvador in honor of“The Holy Savior.” He brushed by another small Caribbean island and then landed on the North coast of the island they named “Hispañola.” (Now the Dominican Republic and Haiti.) During 4 total voyages, Hispañola was the only island he visited all 4 times. Here he established a settlement he named “La Isabella” in honor of the Queen of Spain. Columbus’s voyages and his efforts to establish permanent settlements on the island of Hispañola started the Spanish colonization of the New World. “They led to the first lasting European contact with the Americas, inaugurating a period of European exploration, conquest, and colonization that lasted for several centuries.”
Although the "conquest" of the Americas was certainly bloody; there was widespread carnage and death for both the conquerors and the conquered, but given the culture and period of history in which he lived (still the dark ages) Brother Rappleye reminded us not to be too critical or lay blame on either side but to remember that Columbus was indeed a tool for the future of the New World. He added as an aside that many of the early explorers, Ponce de Leon, Magellan, Balboa had “condos” in the DR :) mostly down in Santo Domingo which became the Capital because the north coast (Atlantic ocean) was a more difficult landing than in the south with the more calm Caribbean Sea. Very interesting.
And of course we know "the rest of the story"...all the events leading up to the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Rappleye reminded us that we're all "Americans" here in the Caribbean, with many different colored skins but all blessed to be part of the growth of the church in this promised and historic land. We feel much gratitude for that!
Some artifacts. The little museum has no labels on anything so you just walk through and try to figure out what things are.
It's a quiet, beautiful, very peaceful setting. A great spirit there. We felt that we were on sacred ground, in light of all the above history.
“During the economic competition between European kingdoms seeking wealth through the establishment of trade routes and colonies, Columbus's speculative proposal, to reach the East Indies by sailing westward, eventually received the support of the Spanish crown, which saw in it a promise, however remote, of gaining the upper hand over rival powers in the contest for the lucrative spice trade with Asia.”
Although the "conquest" of the Americas was certainly bloody; there was widespread carnage and death for both the conquerors and the conquered, but given the culture and period of history in which he lived (still the dark ages) Brother Rappleye reminded us not to be too critical or lay blame on either side but to remember that Columbus was indeed a tool for the future of the New World. He added as an aside that many of the early explorers, Ponce de Leon, Magellan, Balboa had “condos” in the DR :) mostly down in Santo Domingo which became the Capital because the north coast (Atlantic ocean) was a more difficult landing than in the south with the more calm Caribbean Sea. Very interesting.
And of course we know "the rest of the story"...all the events leading up to the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Rappleye reminded us that we're all "Americans" here in the Caribbean, with many different colored skins but all blessed to be part of the growth of the church in this promised and historic land. We feel much gratitude for that!
Here's a few more photos from the museum and ruins at La Isabella.
Some artifacts. The little museum has no labels on anything so you just walk through and try to figure out what things are.
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| "In this plot of the Americas, the Admiral Christopher Columbus set up in the year of grace 1493 La Isabela First city of the New World." |
It's a quiet, beautiful, very peaceful setting. A great spirit there. We felt that we were on sacred ground, in light of all the above history.
We're in a wonderful place, a chosen land. When we sing "Venid a Cristo"...Come Unto Jesus, I can hardly get the words out when we sing about the isles of the sea. I just cry and feel gratitude to be here in "la islas del mar."
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