they came from the sky

This is an excerpt from the book I'm reading right now - Columbus by Laurence Bergreen. This is less than a week after his first landfall during his first voyage to the New World in October of 1492. He really did think he was in Asia. In this particular passage, they are actually in Cuba. (I'm a tiny bit obsessed with maritime things and I'm on an explorers kick right now. First was Magellan, then Shackleton, and now Columbus.)

Anyway, I read this passage last night, took this picture of it, and texted it to my sister:

 You might guess to what we are referring...

If you can't guess, then I'll make it easy and tell you that today I happened to land on 3 Nephi 11 in my Book of Mormon reading, also known as one of the most revered passages of scripture recording the life and works of the Savior, Jesus Christ. 3 Nephi 11 was (maybe still is) the main passage we as missionaries would mark (along with Moroni 10) when giving copies of the BoM to investigators. It records the beginnings of Christ's visit to the people who lived on the American continent, soon after his crucifixion and resurrection.

The fact that I read these two different passages from two different books, one within 24 hours of the other kind of startled me. Reading them almost side by side is pretty amazing (notice that passages from Columbus in quotations are passages from the journals of the men on the voyage. Firsthand.) Think what you will about Columbus as a man (oh yeah, there's some fodder for discussion there) but it has to be said: Dude kept good records!

And now, a few choice passages that I decided to pair together:

From the Book of Mormon:

 8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

From Columbus:

They were pleased to report that the inhabitants "touched them and kissed their hands and feet, marveling and believing that they came from the sky."

 From the Book of Mormon:

 12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

From Columbus:

[de Xerez and de Torres]  were offered chairs, while their hosts squatted at their feet, as one of their Indian companions explained to the throng that as Christians, their visitors "were good people." A respectful frenzy ensued.

From The Book of Mormon:

 15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

 16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

 17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him

 From Columbus:

"The men went out and the women entered, and squatted in the same fashion around them, kissing their hands and feet, feeling them to ascertain if they were of flesh and bones like themselves; begging them to stay at least five days." 

And this last passage reminded me of another verse in the Book of Mormon. Though not from chapter 11, it occurred during the Savior's visit in chapter 17:

1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand.

 5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

No I know that these 15th century explorer accounts are translated to English from Castilian Spanish, so I don't put to much stock in the similarity of the phrasing...But wow! The similarity of the phrasing is rather striking, is it not?  :)

These two explorers had been instructed by Columbus to "find the Island's king" and they had six days. The men traveled pretty far inland before running onto this large village in which the quoted encounter took place. I imagine the villagers were rather shocked to see an outsider...and the way they treated the outsiders is telling.

We know that between the coming of Christ in 33 (ish) A.D. and the coming of the European explorers in 1492, the people on the American continents went through war and the obliteration of one entire civilization. Those who were left had plenty of stories to tell, to pass on to their children over the next 1500 or so years.

I am no scholar. These little comparisons I make are just for fun, but they do make me think. If I were one of a people ravaged by decades of war and bloodshed, I might want to keep that sliver of bright hope in my mind and the minds of my posterity... as clearly as possible. I might want to remind them of this visit to our land from a great and wonderful man who came from the sky. I might try really hard to pass that on...