Why I Read Columbus Differently in the Book of Mormon

Was Christopher Columbus inspired by God, and does that mean God approved of everything he did? As a Navajo Latter-day Saint, I share my perspective on Columbus Day, some troubling parts of Columbus’s history, and what the Book of Mormon actually says about the Spirit working upon people. I compare Nephi’s description of the man crossing the ocean with the Spirit’s influence on Laman and Lemuel, then explore how reading Nephi’s words through Native eyes brings the condemnation of oppression into focus. I also explain where I stand on Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and letting people choose what they celebrate.