There is a hypothesis that Abraham Lincoln read the Book of Mormon, which influenced him to end slavery.
Timothy Ballard records in his book, The Lincoln Hypothesis, (unproven supposition) that this may well be the case. However, Tim’s research shows that after reading the Book of Mormon, Lincoln’s life was changed in a significant way. Chapter 8 tells the core of his hypothesis (pp 106-124). I highly suggest you read his entire book.
I add more to the validity of his theory in this blog article and tie it to our day and time in an essential way. We will see that Lincoln’s message to Americans back then is much more important to Americans now.
One can think of a Hebrew Midrash, in simple terms, is ancient commentary or added details on Hebrew Scriptures. I learned from my two Jewish convert friends, Rob Kay and David Doane, about the prevalence and importance of Hebrew Midrash in the Book of Mormon. We will see that this amplification was very important as Lincoln read the Book of Mormon; it shows up in his language and insights.
Nephi’s Midrash in the Book of Mormon added details on Isaiah chapters 2-14 and beautifully explains that the USA is the promised land and a covenant land spoken of in the Book of Mormon—Lincoln’s land, his war, and his people, who he was called to preside over in this most war-torn and tumultuous time. The Book of Mormon message touched Lincoln’s heart to the core, as we will see because of the amplification of these Isaiah scriptures in the Book of Mormon.
Lincoln Received Inspiration
We think about how the Lord helped Lincoln with inspiration in all he accomplished, and we see the impact the Book of Mormon had on him in his language and in his accomplishments. His second inaugural address was totally inspired. Forty-two days later he would die, as a monumental martyr to the cause of freedom as our first assassinated President—and only six days after General Lee had surrendered to General Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Earlier, he told his wife, Mary, he was under orders from the Lord. We will see the amazing story of why he would say that to her.
After taking the oath of office, he reached down where his hand was on a special scripture in the Bible that he had chosen and kissed it as recorded by Chief Justice Salmon Chase, who administered the oath. We will see the great significance of that scripture and the events leading up to why this was significant. The scripture he had kissed was Isaiah 5:24-26. Using Hebrew Midrash, Nephi profoundly explains many events that would resonate with Lincoln’s heart, as he wrestled with the great burden he carried as President of this war-torn country, but knowing of the glorious future of the United States of America.
After taking the oath of office, he gave his inspired second inaugural address. The Lord let everyone know how pleased He was with what Lincoln would be sharing, as a “sunburst” broke through the clouds, as Lincoln began to deliver his message. It had been a stormy day until that monumental moment. Lincoln solemnly and reverently declared in the bright sunshine,
The Almighty has his own purposes… Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away… Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, ‘The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’
We have pictures of General George Washington praying at Valley Forge. It seems we need a new view of Lincoln praying with the Book of Mormon in front of him. The Midrash explanation of these Isaiah scriptures would have given him inspiration and clarity, as these scriptures both describe the Civil War—his war—and the hopeful future, as America is unitedly brought back to the “the law of the Lord”—the USA Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which needed his “Emancipation Proclamation” to get rid of the hypocrisy that slavery encroached against the statement, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed…”
Lincoln was an avid reader. Tim Ballard was able to go to the Library of Congress and in the rare book section, study the Book of Mormon that Lincoln had checked out, which had such an enormous impact on Lincoln’s life. Tim learned that Lincoln was prone to turn down (dog-ear) the corner of a page in a book he was reading. Tim noted that 24 pages had been turned down in this copy and the one tied to Isaiah 5:24-26 had noticeably been turned down three times, which is the one in the Bible Lincoln put his hand on.
Time Line of Important Events During the Last Six Years of Lincoln’s Life and his “Damascus Road” Experience:
· 4 November 1860 elected 16th President of the USA.
· 4 March 1861 Lincoln was inaugurated and took his first oath of office.
· Only 39 days later, 12 April 1861, the South fired on Fort Sumter; Lincoln said this war was much worse than Washington’s Revolutionary War—the war Americans won as Washington said with “Divine intervention.” Lincoln could see the Civil War was a purging war, and the Book of Mormon clearly shares that message. The casualties definitely show that the bloody Civil War was much worse than the American Revolution War.
· The following November 1861 Lincoln checked out the Book of Mormon from the Library of Congress. He kept it for more than eight months. He called this time his “process of crystallization,” and has been described as his “Damascus Road Experience.” He turned in the “overdue book” on 29 July 1862, just “seven days after he submitted the first draft of his Emancipation Proclamation.” We will see that he had received orders from the Lord to do so.
· 1-3 July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, PA, was the “Highwater mark” with 55,000 casualties—much more than the total casualties in this three-day battle than during the entire Revolutionary War.
· 19 November 1863, where he expressed the ideals of the Founding Fathers most eloquently in his inspired Gettysburg address. With General Lee’s Defeat at Gettysburg, the war turned around but the purging continued for a year and a half.
· 8 November 1864, because of the war this election was extremely tumultuous, and many were wanting to push Lincoln out. Then Lincoln sent General Sherman on his “March to the Sea” dividing the South and capturing Atlanta sealed the election and Lincoln won every state except Kentucky, Delaware, and New Jersey.
· 31 January 1865 Congress ratifies the 13th Amendment ending slavery in America—a day of great rejoicing. Lincoln’s tenacious follow-through won the day. He was on the Lord’s errand.
· 4 March 1865—the most monumental and inspired inauguration in US history—both in the oath of office and in his inauguration address following. The Lord through the Book of Mormon made it so is my fundamental hypothesis as well, along with Tim Ballard’s.
· 9 April 1865, only thirty-six days after Lincoln’s paramount inauguration, General Lee surrendered to General Grant at the Appomattox Court House, VA.
· Six days later, on 15 April 1865, Lincoln gave his successful report to the Lord, as he crossed over. I believe the Lord said, “Well done thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt.25:21).
· Lincoln had done everything that needed to be done to obtain the state’s ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, and it came to pass on 6 December 1865.
Going back to Lincoln’s “Damascus Road Experience,” Tim shares, and is it a coincidence, “Exactly eight days before issuing his first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation and exactly fifteen days before returning his Book of Mormon to the Library. Lincoln had one of the longest nights of his life. He locked himself in his study and asked not to be disturbed.” Finally, a close friend, Orville Browning, knocked on his door in the morning. Browning could see that he was weary, care-worn, and troubled, and asked him how he was. Lincoln replied, “tolerably well,” as he gave him a hardy hand clasp and holding on. Browning holding Lincoln’s big hand told him he needed to take better care of himself. Lincoln emotionally responded, “Browning, I must die sometime.” Both had tears in their eyes. I believe during this epoch night; the Lord gave Lincoln his commission.
As Tim records, “He had submitted [himself to the Lord], and he would not look back. He once told a friend [by late 1862]
The purposes of the Almighty are perfect and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this, but God knows best and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein. Meanwhile, we must work earnestly in the best light He gives us, trusting that so working still conduces to the great end He ordains. Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay. [Here we see him alluding to the great promises for America described in the Book of Mormon and touched on in Isaiah.]
When his wife, Mary, asked, “Will you really go through with it?” Lincoln, “With a glance to heaven, then to Mary, he simply replied: ‘I am a man under orders; I cannot do otherwise.’”
Wake up American
Wake up Americans. Ye are now more morally corrupt than ever before. Lincoln’s counsel is most apropos for America today and critically needed, otherwise, we will be “cut off” at the Lord’s Coming (Ether 2:8-12):
It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power to confess our national sins [and personal sins], and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. Let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins [and personal sins], and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country.
Moroni, the prophet who saw our day more clearly than any other told Joseph Smith speaking of our day and time, “They who would not hear his [Christ’s] voice should be cut off from among the people” (JS-H 40). The key then for us today is to repent, develop a valiant testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and live and share His glorious “Message of Gladness.”
Lincoln learned from the Book of Mormon that America is a covenant land, and only those who keep God’s commandments will be blessed; otherwise, they will be destroyed. All Americans should know that America is a covenant land and that this vital message from the Book of Mormon helped Lincoln eliminate slavery. “For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land, and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence” (2 Nephi 4:4).
David W. Allan
PS I don’t think Lincoln had to pay the late fee at the library!
Photo: CC Pixabay