Gentiles Upon the Water

Non-Israelite Explorers of the Promised Land

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Gentiles Upon the Water

Gentiles Upon the Water is a term used symbolically in the Book of Mormon to refer to a group of individuals who, under the guidance of the Spirit of God, traveled across many waters from captivity to a promised land (1 Nephi 13:13). This passage is generally interpreted to symbolize the journey of European settlers, particularly those from the Iberian Peninsula such as Christopher Columbus, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the Promised Land. These Gentiles are mentioned in a vision of the prophet Nephi, wherein he sees the future events that would lead to the colonization of the Promised Land. The voyage of the Gentiles Upon the Water is considered a significant part of the unfolding of Book of Mormon prophecy, setting the stage for the Restoration of the Gospel and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the latter days.

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