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Tim Ballard writes an interesting book that I found very thought provoking. I do like that he puts forth his theories and makes not bones about it - he doesn’t have proof, he just has clues. It leaves the door wide to thought and speculation. And in that space, I found a comfortable place to sit and think.
It is a fact that Abraham Lincoln had checked out a copy of The Book of Mormon from the Library of Congress during the time he clarified his thinking on slavery. It is a fact that Joseph Smith made several prophecies concerning the Civil War. It is a fact Joseph Smith ran for president on a platform that looks much like what Abraham Lincoln later adopted. It is a fact that the South was fighting to maintain their ability to enslave a race. It is a fact the early members of the Church were driven from their homes by mobs on the basis of their religion. It is a fact that mobs martyred Joseph Smith, a prophet of God. It is a fact the government did little to nothing to stop these actions.
It is from these facts Ballard begins his hypothesis. He proposes the United States was under the condemnation of God for the above sins and it would take the Civil War to cleanse the nation and bring them to the blessings of God. He maintains it took President Lincoln going through a spiritual rebirth and conversion of principles to unite the North, changing the purpose of the War from reuniting a nation to eradicating slavery. It wasn’t until this change took place the tide turned and the North began to prevail. The book lays out his evidence, meticulously researched and put together and laid out for the reader to decide.
And what did I decide? I think he is right. I think Abraham Lincoln not only checked out the Book of Mormon, but read it. There are examples where idioms contained only in The Book of Mormon that crept into his speech after that time. How could a nation that condoned the enslavement of its citizens not be under condemnation? Same goes for a nation that kills a prophet and persecuted God’s saints? It definitely put a different spin on the Civil War I had not considered before.
I am very glad I read this book. It was fascinating read into the hypothesis of a man who is on the front lines fighting slavery today. Tim Ballard is the man behind Operation Underground Railroad, dedicated to fighting child slavery in the world today. This is a man who understands what it is like to fight slavers, to look evil in the eye, not flinch and take them down. He has saved so many children. I am proud to do what I can to fund his efforts. Please join me in supporting Operation Underground Railroad in saving children from slavery.
It is a fact that Abraham Lincoln had checked out a copy of The Book of Mormon from the Library of Congress during the time he clarified his thinking on slavery. It is a fact that Joseph Smith made several prophecies concerning the Civil War. It is a fact Joseph Smith ran for president on a platform that looks much like what Abraham Lincoln later adopted. It is a fact that the South was fighting to maintain their ability to enslave a race. It is a fact the early members of the Church were driven from their homes by mobs on the basis of their religion. It is a fact that mobs martyred Joseph Smith, a prophet of God. It is a fact the government did little to nothing to stop these actions.
It is from these facts Ballard begins his hypothesis. He proposes the United States was under the condemnation of God for the above sins and it would take the Civil War to cleanse the nation and bring them to the blessings of God. He maintains it took President Lincoln going through a spiritual rebirth and conversion of principles to unite the North, changing the purpose of the War from reuniting a nation to eradicating slavery. It wasn’t until this change took place the tide turned and the North began to prevail. The book lays out his evidence, meticulously researched and put together and laid out for the reader to decide.
And what did I decide? I think he is right. I think Abraham Lincoln not only checked out the Book of Mormon, but read it. There are examples where idioms contained only in The Book of Mormon that crept into his speech after that time. How could a nation that condoned the enslavement of its citizens not be under condemnation? Same goes for a nation that kills a prophet and persecuted God’s saints? It definitely put a different spin on the Civil War I had not considered before.
I am very glad I read this book. It was fascinating read into the hypothesis of a man who is on the front lines fighting slavery today. Tim Ballard is the man behind Operation Underground Railroad, dedicated to fighting child slavery in the world today. This is a man who understands what it is like to fight slavers, to look evil in the eye, not flinch and take them down. He has saved so many children. I am proud to do what I can to fund his efforts. Please join me in supporting Operation Underground Railroad in saving children from slavery.