The man among the gentiles, significant in the history of the Promised Land according to the Book of Mormon, is depicted as driven by the Spirit of God to cross extensive waters to reach the descendants of Nephi's brethren in the said land (1 Ne. 13:12). This person isn't explicitly identified within the text, but Christopher Columbus is often presumed as the man according to interpretations by leaders and scholars within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nephi's vision posits the arrival of this Man Among Gentiles as a crucial turning point prompting interactions between the people of the Promised Land and far-off Gentile nations. Though the Book of Mormon doesn't offer further detail beyond this vision, Columbus' legacy aligns with the prophecy in Nephi's vision, discovering the Promised Land, and triggering a series of consequential events that altered the trajectory of world history.
However, this association of the man among the gentiles with Christopher Columbus isn't only interpretation, and it is not a definitive identification. Other figures, like John Smith and Leif Erikson, along with historically unidentified individuals, have also been suggested as potential interpretations.
In Latter-day Saint teachings, the man among the Gentiles is considered not merely an explorer but one directed by God to fulfill prophecies and pave the way for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in later times. This portrayal underlines the belief in divine intervention over key historical events and figures, emphasizing the Man Among Gentiles as a prophetically significant person whose inspired actions have had enduring impact in the execution of God's plan for the dwellers of the Promised Land and ultimately the world.