Did Christ Visit the Americas? The Legend of the Great White God

Welcome to Day 3 of our 60-Day Challenge! But before we tackle today’s question, let’s take a moment to reflect on the question from Day 30 - Throughout history, cultures across North, Central, and South America have spoken of a great god who visited their ancestors, brought knowledge and peace, and promised to return.

From the Aztecs to the Incas, from the Maya to the Cherokee, similar stories echo through time—of a white, bearded god who descended from the heavens.

When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 1500s, many indigenous peoples initially welcomed them, believing them to be the return of this divine figure.

But who was this great god?
Why do so many civilizations share the same prophecy?
And is it possible that these stories are remnants of Christ’s visit to the Americas after His resurrection?

Let’s talk about it.

The Legend of Quetzalcoatl—The Feathered Serpent

One of the most well-known versions of this legend comes from Mesoamerica, where the Aztecs worshiped a deity called Quetzalcoatl—the Feathered Serpent.

According to legend, Quetzalcoatl:
Was a white, bearded god.
Came from the heavens and taught the people peace, knowledge, and morality.
Promised to return one day in glory.

So when Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519, some Aztecs thought he might be the returning god. This belief, combined with political tensions and alliances, helped Cortés conquer the Aztec Empire with just a few hundred men.

But here’s the real question:

👉 Why did so many different civilizations in the Americas have similar legends of a great white god?

Did Christ Visit the Americas?

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe there’s a profound reason these stories exist.

In the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ visited the Americas after His resurrection.

In 3 Nephi 11, Christ descended from heaven and declared to the Nephites:

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world." (3 Nephi 11:10)

He then:
- Taught His gospel to the people.
- Healed the sick and performed miracles.
- Established His church and called 12 disciples.
- Promised He would return.

Does that sound familiar?

It should. Because it closely mirrors the traditions about Quetzalcoatl and other “great white gods” of the Americas.

What Does the Church Teach About Quetzalcoatl?

Here’s where things get interesting.

While some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints see connections between Quetzalcoatl and Christ, this is not official church doctrine.

The Church firmly teaches that Christ visited the Americas, but it does not teach that Quetzalcoatl was Christ.

So, what does this mean?

Ultimately, any connections between Quetzalcoatl and Christ are seen as speculative and not central to our doctrinal beliefs.

But it does raise some important questions:

👉 Why did so many indigenous civilizations bow down and offer gold to the conquistadors, believing they were returning gods?
👉 Why did they refer to them as great white, bearded gods?

In the Church’s theology, Christ’s visit to the Americas is a foundational event recorded in the Book of Mormon, and any local legends or traditions that resemble this event may be reflections of that divine history.

Next Up: Question 31

Now that we’ve explored Christ’s possible visit to the Americas, let’s ask:

- Is God capable of sending a prophet to the earth today?
- If He did, how would the world receive him?

Hint: You’ll find the answer in Amos 3:7, Ephesians 4:11-13, and Acts 2:17-18.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Transcription:

   Hi, my name is Joe Cirillo with Gospel First, and once again, thanks for your decision to follow me on this exciting journey to find Christ restored church in our day. But before I give you question number 31, did you get the answer to question 30? Why do many North, Central, and Southern American Indian traditions speak of a great god?

Who visited their ancestors and promised to return and why the explorers and conquistadors attribute their ability to conquer the indigenous peoples of the Americas to the belief that they were this returning great god. Well, many myths have cropped up in the centuries since Columbus landed upon the shores of Hispaniola.

While some of these myths have come to be seen for what they are, many more persist in the times of that period. One such myth is that the Aztecs believed that Hernan Cortes, the leader of a band of conquistadors, was in fact a reincarnated deity by the name of Coatzacoatl. Now as the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white bearded god named Coatzacoatl, who long ago had disappeared into the east.

Before he left, however, he promised to return. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought that they were gods. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, the legends of Casa Cuadal have been interpreted as potential evidence of Jesus Christ's visit to the Americas After his resurrection, as described in the Book of Mormon.

The figure of Quetzalcoatl, a deity from Mesoamerican mythology, is seen by some church scholars and members as having parallels to Jesus Christ. For instance, Quetzalcoatl is said to be a god of creation, born of a virgin, associated with light and the heavens, that's Venus, and promised to return, which are elements reminiscent of Christ's life and teachings.

Now, while these similarities have led to some speculation, the church has not taken an official position on whether Quetzalcoatl directly represents Christ. Church leaders in the past have occasionally pointed to these legends as intriguing. But they also caution that the full story of Quetzalcoatl is complex and should not be interpreted too simplistically.

Ultimately, for members of the LDS faith or the church faith, any connections between Quetzalcoatl and Christ are seen as speculative and not central to their doctrinal beliefs. As you reason things out, you might ask yourself, why did the North, Central, and South American Indians bow down and offer gold to the Conquistadors?

And why did they call them the great white bearded gods? Well, in the church's theology, Christ's visit to the Americas is a foundational event recorded in the Book of Mormon, and any local legends or traditions that resemble this event are sometimes viewed as reflections of that divine history. So here's question 31.

Is God capable of sending a prophet to the earth today? If yes, how do you think the prophet would be received? Well, you can find the answer in Amos 3, verse 7, Ephesians 4, 11 13, Matthew 10, verse 41, and Acts 2, verse 17 18. And of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts.