"Abraham Lincoln, God's Humble Instrument," A Mormon author's look at Lincoln

A Mormon author's look at Lincoln
By Sharon Haddock
Mormon Times
Published: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009

In his book, "Abraham Lincoln, God's Humble Instrument," Ron L. Andersen describes a 14-year-old boy who didn't find any of the existing churches in the mid-1800s to his liking, so he didn't join any of them. He relied instead on the God of his prayers for answers.

He didn't smoke, swear, chew tobacco, drink or despise minorities.

He lost people dear to him, including his mother and two young sons.

He was called "peculiar-some."

He enjoyed a good wrestle, liked playing with children, laughed easily and often.

He believed the Founding Fathers designed the Constitution with divine guidance and that America was founded for a wise purpose, a purpose in which he felt he would play a significant role.

He had a hunger for learning and truth but not a great business head. Instead of amassing wealth, he more often gave his money away to those he felt needed his help.

Sound familiar?

Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Smith had more in common than most people realize.

Andersen, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the similarities between the 16th president of the United States and the founder of the LDS Church are almost uncanny.

Andersen's research about Lincoln, whose bicentennial birth date is celebrated Feb. 12, began three years ago, when he read a book on the president's speeches.

"I was really impressed with the spiritual nature of his words," Andersen said. "I actually didn't intend to write a book. I really just suddenly and unintentionally found myself working on one. I'd wake at 4:30 in the morning and begin writing."

Andersen was struck with the parallels he found to Smith and to Mormonism. In fact, he found enough ties that he intends to build them into a second book, one that will include details about interaction between Lincoln and Brigham Young.

"There are three things I discovered about Lincoln. We all know he was Honest Abe," Andersen said. "What struck me was the magnitude of his integrity, the depth of his honesty. I was also struck by his deep faith in God. During his presidency he issued nine proclamations calling Americans to fasting and prayer."



Andersen said Lincoln took on a sort of prophet's role in that he was concerned about the nation's sin and told Americans they had forgotten God and the Civil War was in consequence of their mistakes.

"The one thing that drove Lincoln to the presidency was his concern for the Constitution," he added. "He went on a six-year campaign following Sen. Steven Douglas around and talking about the threat to the Constitution."

Andersen said while Douglas refused at that time to debate, Lincoln followed up almost every Douglas speech with a rebuttal that rebuked efforts to change the Constitution, particularly to drop the phrase "All men are created equal."

"Lincoln put the Constitution back on the pedestal where it should be," Andersen said.

__AD__His first book project, a richly detailed account of Lincoln's journey from a poor farmhouse to the White House, is based on extensive research in Springfield, Ill., the Washington, D.C., national archives and more than 40 written sources.

Patty Sullivan, a past business associate and ardent Lincoln fan, said Andersen recognizes Lincoln's spiritual side, which is too often played down or ignored by other writers.

"I've never seen anyone immerse himself in the life of someone like Andersen did with Lincoln," Sullivan said.

The book includes anecdotes, both famous and lesser known -- when asked if he was planning to go to heaven or hell, he said he was going to Congress -- and stories that paint a picture of a man deeply troubled by injustice.

Lincoln would turn away clients who refused to tell him the truth. As a lawyer, he often returned a portion of fees when he felt they were too high.

It chronicles his battle against slavery and his fight to keep the United States united rather than divided. The story of attempted secession/rebellion against the ideals of the Constitution and the subsequent Civil War is enlightening.

A first-time author, Andersen, who is the manager of field operations for LDS Employment Resource Services, is pleased to have found a publisher willing to take a chance on his book -- currently scheduled for release this April. It's immediately available from the Web site www.discoverlincoln.net.

Andersen, who helped found the Lincoln Leadership Society, has had a number of speaking engagements leading up to the bicentennial celebration. He says his book is "written from a nondenominational viewpoint," though there are elements that will be of particular interest to Mormons.

"Latter-day Saints will find Lincoln's religious beliefs and his reliance upon God throughout his life and especially during the Civil War to be compelling," Andersen said.

The book will be available in April at Amazon.com, Deseret Book and Barnes and Noble bookstores.

This article was particularly interesting about President Lincoln. Today is the 200th anniversary of his birth. Anna