Christopher Columbus

[jbalm]

39 y.o. Kids are 16 and 14.

I'm a sinner. I enjoy South Park. (Eric Cartman says "kewl.")

[ChelC]

My first thought was that my guess was close... my second thought was, wait! I'm less than a decade behind, so if he's middle aged what am I? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Actually I look forward to the next few decades - it's the few after those I'm not sure about.

[CHH]

FDR's work was done for him by somebody.

So was Hitler's

[CHH]

What a big fat mess, your own founders didn't even believe their own constitution.

Which bears witness to the fact that it had to have been divinely inspired!

Their response was the typical yeah but he "can't" win.

That one drives me nuts, too. When I hear, "He's unelectable", I sweetly reply, "Only if you don't vote for him."

It’s tough for a republican to cross-over.
Monday, February 11th 2008 — Mark Andrews

A year ago, a friend (republican) took exception with me for my unwillingness to join forces with republicans and support one of the republicans seeking the party nomination for president. At the time my response was that I couldn’t make a choice yet, since my own political party had not yet held its own convention, and therefore I was unable to know yet whom I thought would be most worthy of my vote. My friend’s unhappiness revolved around the idea that us ‘independents waste your votes and then steal them from the republicans’ and that ‘you (independents) are the ones to blame when the democrats win’ and ‘besides, your guy can’t win.’

I told him that I could never vote for the lesser of two evils, since that would just be voting for … well, you know what. My vote is precious and I can spend it only once – I will therefore spend it well, regardless of whether I am voting for a sure winner or a sure loser.

Now, a year later, after all the donations, time spent and caucus settled, his republican has abruptly quit the nomination race and his vote turns out to be wasted. He now is also disgusted that john mcCAIN seems to be the best that the supposedly ‘conservative’ republicans can come up with. I agree with this conclusion.

He says he wants to know when our party has chosen its best candidate so he can vote with us. My friend now says he never thought that he could vote for something other than the lesser of two evils. He now understands what a wasted vote is … and would be. I welcome his decision to cross over and join with me, and realize it is a difficult thing for him to do. He therefore has earned even deeper respect from me.

You republicans out there: I have an invitation for you. I believe that many of you are driven by principles that you have long believed you were holding close to your hearts. Those principles have now been long betrayed by your party (I was once a member of your party). The principles of liberty, personal freedom and responsibility (self-reliance) still live … they live in the Independent American Party, where the Constitution is still honored. Join with us and learn where you may cast a vote that is truly not wasted nor spent on imposters.

**********

How pathetic that a national party that thinks itself to be conservative has overwhelmingly decided that a thing like a mcCAIN is representative of itself. And, it appears, in truth … a mcCAIN actually is representative of that party.

**********

The reader may wonder about my grammar skills due to the abnormal use of capitalization in the preceding text. Do not wonder.

[CHH]

39 y.o. Kids are 16 and 14.

I'm a sinner. I enjoy South Park. (Eric Cartman says "kewl.")

Anyone that does not watch South Park misses out on the Greatest politic commentary of our day!

"How do you kill that which has no life." "OH ON They killed Kenny!"

[CHH]

My first thought was that my guess was close... my second thought was, wait! I'm less than a decade behind, so if he's middle aged what am I? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Actually I look forward to the next few decades - it's the few after those I'm not sure about.

Fight the government and your life is never anything but EXCITING.

Run for office and it is more fun than going to the beach.

Life is GREAT when you are doing the Lord's work no matter what AGE you are.

Pick up your sword and fight the BEAST. It is the greatest video game on EARTH! And you know what? WE WIN in the End!

Wiikwaji'o The Great Tauren Shaman. See you at Thunder Bluff!

[jbalm]

so if he's middle aged what am I?

Almost middle aged.

Actually, if you maintain your physical health, things just seem to get better.

[ShawnC]

Here is part of a good email I got today from Shaun Knapp that some of you know. Thought you might like it.

I heard Vickie Joe Anderson speak at BYU Education Week over a decade ago, and she had absolutely remarkable historical information. Some of what she shared was taken from Christopher Columbus' original writings which she and her husband were able to view in archives in Spain. Recorded is Columbus' account that he had prayed and fasted and was up praying through the night as his crew were plotting mutiny. As this devout and faithful man prayed, he was given a vision or visitation, which is recorded but has not seen the light of day given historical censorship and the Great Whore who keeps back the "plain and precious" not only from scripture but history. What was that vision? He was given a new name, and told that on the morrow, he would discover a land where upon would be built the "New Jerusalem." This is just part of what occurred. There is much that took place in Divinity guiding Columbus. Sister Anderson also told of letters Columbus wrote to the king and queen of Spain demanding that the native people have the same rights before the law as any other Spaniard.

Clearly, historical revisionism has turned Columbus into a monster. Sister Anderson illustrated this fact, and quoted from standard history textbooks through 100 years of our recent history. She began with a textbook in 1893 and gave all that it said about Columbus. It had pages and pages of direct quotations from Columbus' journal, his very own words. (I was astounded, I didn't even know---given my Prussian model of education, a dumbed down and Marxist school system---that Columbus knew how to read or write, let alone that he did so. I recall being amazed that anyone was literate in that age beyond a few monks. What ignorance on my part. Since graduating high school I've become much more aware at my ignorance and what opportunities in youth were lost, as well as damage done because of the "enforced priestcraft" to which I was subject.) Sister Anderson then gave the typical textbook samplings of history pertaining to Columbus every 20 years from that time. Much reduced were the quotations of Columbus in the early 20th century textbooks. By the 1950's all original quotations were gone, as were any mention of God and the Holy Ghost, which Columbus spoke of frequently as being his guide and giving him courage for his undertaking. Then, the 1993 textbook (100 years later) contained about two sentences and described Columbus as a monster, a butcher and murderer of natives, a man full of greed and evil intent. Clearly, the propagandists had changed history, and today Columbus is vilified by most in Academia, and all roots to who the man truly was have been cut and severed in the modern "government propaganda centers" as Charlotte Iserbyte from Ronald Reagan's Dept. of Education calls the modern government schools.

Sister Anderson is the author of "The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff." It is of note that when the Signers of the Declaration of Independence appeared in the St George Temple and demanded their work be done saying they had not "apostatized" from the constitutionally protected Liberty the God of Heaven set up, that there were 4 men at that time ordained High Priests: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Wesley, and Christopher Columbus.

For Columbus to appear in a sacred temple of God, and be able to "demand" along with the others to have his work done denotes some power and influence before the God of Heaven, let alone his being ordained at that time to the High Priesthood. (We are also left to ponder what it means to not "apostatize" from the US Constitution, and it would seem, far too many today uphold Satanic, tyrannical systems, therefore "many are called but few are chosen," and as Elder H. Verlan Anderson points out, "why are they not chosen?," because they uphold to some degree Satan's plan of force and compulsion upon their fellow beings, even allowing such compulsion to be implemented through their name by government working outside it's "proper role.")

Shawn

[caddis]

Thanks Shawn! That was an interesting read. Overall the whole topic has had lots of great thoughts. Thanks to everyone for helping me view the topic from different angles.

[WhisperFox]

I didn't have time to read the whole thread (hope it hasn't already been posted) but here are a couple of my favorite quotes on the subject from "Christopher Columbus, An LDS Perspective", Appendix A:Statements by Modern-Day Prophets and Apostles on Columbus. this is a great book for understanding some deeper insights into the man.

Ezra Taft Benson

God inspired "a man among the Gentiles" (1 Nephi 13:12) who, by the Spirit of God was led to rediscover the land of America and bring this rich new land to the attention of the people in Europe. That man, of course, was Christopher Columbus, who testified that he was inspired in what he did. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson 577)

The temple work for the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence and other founding fathers has been done. All these appeared to Wilford Woodruff when he was President of the St. George Temple. President George Washington was ordained a High Priest at that time. You will also be interested to know that according to Wilford Woodruff's journal, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were also ordained High Priests at the time. When one casts doubt about the character of these noble sons of God, I believe he or she will have to answer to God for it. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson 604)

Joseph Smith

I lead the way like Columbus when he was invited to a banquet where he was assigned the most honorable place at the table, and served with the ceremonials which were observed towards sovereigns. A shallow courtier present, who was meanly jealous of him, abruptly asked him whether he thought that in case he had not discovered the Indies, there were not other men in Spain who would have been capable of the enterprise? Columbus made no reply, but took an egg and invited the company to make it stand on end. They all attempted it, but in vain; whereupon he struck it upon the table so as to break one end, and left it standing on the broken part, illustrating that when he had once shown the way to the new world nothing was easier than to follow it. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 304)
Brigham Young

The Almighty…moved upon Columbus to launch forth upon the trackless deep to discover the American Continent; he moved upon the signers of the Declaration of Independence; and he moved upon Washington to fight and conquer, in the same way as he moved upon ancient and modern Prophets, each being inspired to accomplish the particular work he was called to perform in the times, seasons, and dispensations of the Almighty. God's purpose, in raising up these men and inspiring them with daring sufficient to surmount every opposing power, [p.74] was to prepare the way for the formation of a true Republican government. (JD 7:13)


Parley P. Pratt

Hence we contemplate that small beginning made by the American pioneers, by Columbus, the first pioneer, and by our fathers the pioneers of religion and liberty; we contemplate how that influence has spread and increased in the earth, influencing the feelings of individuals as well as national institutions…until by and by the rest of the world is overwhelmed, that it is obliged to bow to their superior greatness. (JD 1:43)


Orson Pratt

Some of [the religious reformers] were wrought upon to come to this continent for the purpose of securing to themselves religious freedom and religious right; and inspired by the Almighty, as was Columbus, who discovered this land, they planted their feet upon the American soil. (JD 3:72)

While the iron hand of despotism thus held the nations within its withering grasp, enslaving both body and soul, the great God, near the close of the fifteenth century, moved upon the mind of a Columbus, and inspired him to fearlessly launch forth upon the great expanse of unknown waters on the west of Europe; and guided by the invisible agency of the Holy Spirit, he revealed to the down trodden, despairing nations, a new world. (JD 7:214)


John Taylor

Could we have been placed in any better position than we are today? No. What has been the object of God for sometime? In the first place He operated upon Columbus to come and find this land. (JD 23:19) [p.75]
Wilford Woodruff

I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon brother McCallister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others. (JD 19:229)

Columbus was inspired of God to persevere as he did to discover this continent, and thus prepare the way for a class of people upon whom the Spirit of the Lord moved to follow. (JD 23:82)

When Columbus was moved upon by the Spirit of God, to cross the ocean to find a new continent, his object and desires were unpopular with those by whom he was surrounded. (JD 24:4)


George Q. Cannon

Columbus was inspired to penetrate the ocean and discover this Western continent, for the set time for its discovery had come, and the consequences which God desired to follow its discovery have taken place-a free government has been established on it. The men who established that Government were inspired of God-George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and all the fathers of the Republic were inspired to do the work which they did. We believe it was a preparatory work for the establishment of the kingdom of God. This Church and kingdom could not have been established on the earth if their work had not been performed. (JD 14: 55)

This land was kept secret until Columbus was moved upon by the Spirit of God, to go forth and penetrate the western ocean. Then the land was settled and a government was formed under the protecting aegis of liberty, and a place was found for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. (JD 21:201) [p.76]

This land was kept for this purpose. For centuries it was hidden from all the nations of the earth. It was not until the 15th century that God inspired Columbus to go forth and seek a passage across the Atlantic, and land upon some of the islands adjacent to this continent. His track was followed by other. (JD 23:103)


Orson Hyde

This same angel [Moroni] presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world. This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting this New World. Trammelled by poverty and by an unpopular cause, yet his persevering and unyielding heart would not allow any obstacle in his way too great for him to overcome; and the angel of God helped him-was with him on the stormy deep, calmed the troubled elements, and guided his frail vessel to the desired haven. Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water. (JD 6:368)

Observe Christopher Columbus in his silent meditations; mark his untiring and faithful observations! Behold him watching the western breeze, and marking, with zealous eye and anxious heart, every substance that floated on the ocean's eastward bound current.…Inspired of the Almighty God of Heaven, he encountered the ridicule and jeer of a faithless and unbelieving world.…The Spirit Angel was their guardian and their guide, and was with them on the stormy deep. (JD 7:107-08) [p.77]

Compare the coming of the Saints here, with the banishment of Joseph into Egypt, and the manner in which Columbus was sent off on his perilous exploration, and note the conclusion that follows. The world dreaded the germs of greatness which they saw. (JD 10:376)

There must needs be opposition in all things. We are told that in 1492 this American continent was discovered by Christopher Columbus. Look at the exertions made by him to obtain the necessary means to effect the discovery. It required ships, means and men to enable him to make his way across the trackless deep.…The Spirit of God came upon him and he had no rest day or night until he accomplished what the Spirit wrought upon him to do.…He applied to different crowned heads, and received rebuffs and discouragements. He was poor; the plans of Jehovah are mostly carried out by humble and poor individuals. So it was with Columbus; he was poor, but daring and persevering, and with a soul formed within his bosom to understand and prosecute the great enterprise that was to bring to light a vast continent reserved in the providence of God. (JD 10:375)


Joseph F. Smith

Christ taught the gospel to Adam, and made known his truths to Abraham and the prophets. He was the inspirer of the ancient philosophers, Pagan or Israelite, as well as of the great characters of modern times. Columbus, in discovery; Washington, in the struggle for freedom; Lincoln, in emancipation and union; Bacon, in philosophy; Franklin, in statesmanship and diplomacy; Stephenson, in steam; Watts, in song; Edison, in electricity, and Joseph Smith, in theology and religion, found in Christ the source of their wisdom and the marvelous truths which they advocated. (Gospel Doctrine 31) [p.78]


Orson F. Whitney

We believe…that Joseph Smith was inspired to begin this work, just as Gallileo [sic], Columbus, and other mighty men of old, whom I have not mentioned, were inspired to gradually pave the way leading to this dispensation. (JD 24:201)


John A. Widtsoe

The world owes most to the men, great and small, who in the name of truth have dared to challenge tradition.…In the public square of Genoa, 120 miles north of Pisa, stands a heroic monument to Christopher Columbus, one of the finest in Europe. Columbus spent the years of his young manhood in Genoa, and dreamed his great dreams there. A few miles northward, a little village puffs and blows because in it Columbus was born. Yet, when he challenged the geographical tradition of his day, he was scorned by his compatriots; and even when he had discovered America, jealousy and misunderstanding landed him in prison and left him broken-hearted. Nevertheless, the great era of geographical exploration and discovery may well be dated from Columbus. The history of human progress is indeed but the story of the men who have loved truth above all else, and who have refused to be coerced by unsupported tradition, however powerful its advocates have been. (Man and the Dragon 67-69)


Mark E. Petersen

The vision [1 Nephi 13:12] then became more specific. Says Nephi:

And 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 upon the many waters; even unto the seed of my brethren who were in the promised land. [p.79]

It was Christopher Columbus whom he saw, and he observed that the discoverer was guided by divine power on his journey. (The Great Prologue 3)


Spencer W. Kimball

Columbus was led by God. I'm sure that he inspired a little boy, Christopher Columbus, to stand on the quays in Genoa, Italy, and yearn for the sea. He was filled with the desire to sail the seas, and he fulfilled a great prophecy made long, long ago that this land, chosen above all other lands, should be discovered. And so when he was mature, opportunity was granted to him to brave the unknown seas, to find this land which had been cut off from the rest of the world long centuries, and to open the door, as it were. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball 427)