Instead of turning west, they traveled 700 miles south to the Canary Islands off the Northwestern coast of Africa. In that way they were able to catch the northeast trade winds, which would propel them all the way to the Americas. On September 6th, after restocking provisions and making repairs, they left the safety of the civilized world and headed west.
In order to convince the Queen Isabella of Spain to invest in the expedition, Christopher Columbus had promised the trip from the Canaries to the Indies would be a “few days”. He believed that Asia was only 2,400 miles away. But after the few days had past and they traveled further (as they believed) than man had ever sailed, the crew became increasing uncomfortable. To lessen their fears, Columbus purposely reported the length of each day’s voyage as shorter than they had actually traveled. Numerous false sightings of land also caused morale to suffer. By last week of September, the men could see their supplies diminish and it clear signs of mutiny were appearing among the crew. The spirit of adventure and the promise of shared wealth soon turned to whispered threats and grumbling.
On October 8th, the captains of the Nina and Pinta demanded a meeting. They insisted that the search for land be abandoned. Columbus agreed they would turn homeward if land was not found within 3 days. He also avoided complete mutiny of his own crew by agreeing to turn back after 2 or 3 days.
Columbus was resolute! Later, in a letter to the Spanish hierarchy, wrote, “Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my emprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?”[1] His quest for the voyage was also explained in his writings, “The fact that the gospel must be preached in so many lands in such a short time – this is what convinces me.”[2] Unwavering, yet running out of time, Columbus went to his cabin and, in his words, “prayed mightily to the Lord.”[3]
Finally, on October 11th, a little after midnight, crew members found a sprig of green with a tiny white flower floating in the water. Later a piece of floating board was discovered, then a little stick which appeared to have been carved into the shape of a man. Finally, at 2:00 AM on October 12th, under a moon slightly past full, a sailor called out, “Land! Land on the horizon!” The expedition, led by Christopher Columbus had discovered America.
Years later, when alone and frustrated, Columbus told of hearing a “Compassionate voice” that addressed him saying, “O fool, and slow to believe and to serve thy God . . what did He do more for Moses, or for David his servant, than He has done for thee?”[4]
Columbus had opened the doors to the most phenomenal spread of Christianity since the time of the early apostles and set the stage for the greatest nation in the history of the world. To us and generations to come, the words of Columbus continue to encourage us, “No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and the intention is purely for His holy service.”[5]
Learn more at www.TheGloriousCauseOfAmerica.org
[1]
Quoted in Mark E.
Petersen; The Great Prologue, Deseret
Book Co., 1975, p. 26
[2] Don Ferdinand Columbus; History of the Life
and Actions of Admiral Christopher Columbus and of his Discovery of the West
Indies, called the New World.
[3] N. Eldon Tanner, If They
Will But Serve the God of the Land, Ensign,
May 1976, 48
[4] Andres Bernaldez; The
Voyages of Christopher Columbus, Being the Journals of his First and Third, and
the Letters Concerning his First and Last Voyages, to Which is Added the
Account of his Second Voyage. Introduction and Notes, by Cecil Jane. London:
The Argonaut Press, 1930.
[5]
Christopher
Columbus, Book of Prophecies
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