David Donald, in his 1947 Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society article on "The Folklore Lincoln" (later reprinted in his *Lincoln Reconsidered*) notes that it was embarassing to many people that this "soldier of his Captain Christ" had belonged to no Christian church. So various attempts were made after Lincoln's death to prove that he was the adherent of one denomination or other. As Donald remarks, "Reminiscences on this point [Lincoln's religion] probably include more nonsense than can be found anywhere else in the whole tiresome mass of spurious Lincoln recollections...There were those who could demonstrate that Lincoln was a Catholic, a Congregationalist, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Universalist, or a Spiritualist. Conflicting claims became so amusing that the editor of the *Illinois State Register* rejected them as 'all wrong.' 'We are,' he remarked whimsically, 'prepared to prove by indisputable documentary evidence that he was a Mormon, and the boon companion of Joe Smith.'" https://books.google.com/books?id=FkN_CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21
Let's take the facetious suggestion of this editor seriously. What if, in a mood of depression after finishing his term in Congress in 1848, Lincoln turns to a study of religious scriptures for consolation, comes across the Book of Mormon, is enormously impressed (yes, I know it seems unlikely, but history has witnessed many unlikely conversion experiences, whether to Mormonism or to other religions) and joins the Latter Day Saints in Utah (Mary Todd will very likely refuse to go along, so he will have to find himself some other wives)?
So far as Lincoln's national political career is concerned, this will put an end to it--it is really similar to what-ifs where Lincoln dies in an accident or of a disease, and we speculate about Seward or someone else as the Republican nominee in 1860. But what about Lincoln's career among the Saints? Brigham Young often railed against lawyers: http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/070995.html However, much of his ire was directed against "pettifogging" lawyers who stirred up needless litigation--and in this, Lincoln would not have disagreed with him. ("Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser -- in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough. Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket? A moral tone ought to be infused into the profession which should drive such men out of it..." http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lawlect.htm)
Moreover (contrary to what the *Salt Lake Tribune* article I quoted above says) it does seem that Brigham Young eventually softened his attitude toward lawyers:
"In later years, as the gentile presence in Utah increased, Brigham came to realize that honest Mormon lawyers were needed to defend polygamy and Mormons against other constitutional deprivations, as well as to facilitate honestly commercial contracts with the non-Mormon community. In an 1873 conference address he expressed, in what appeared as a radical shift in attitude, the wish "for from one to five thousand of our young and middle-aged men to turn their attention to the study of law. He accompanied this recommendation with an almost-ritual denunciation of lawyers 'who spend their time from morning till night in thinking and planning how they can get up a lawsuit aginst this or that man. Young went on to define the conduct of a righteous lawyer: 'If you draw up a will, deed, mortgage or contract,' he urged, 'do not study to deceive the man who pays you for this, but make out a writing or instrument as strong and firm as the hills, that no man can tear to pieces, and do your business honestly and uprightly, in the fear of God and with the love of truth in your heart.' He concluded: 'We live by law, and I only condemn those among the lawyers who are eternally seeking to take advantage of their neighbors.'" Edwin Brown Firmage and Richard Collin Mangrum, *Zion in the Courts: A Legal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900*, p. 17. https://books.google.com/books?id=mzlVLyebEz8C&pg=PA17 So perhaps Brigham Young could find some use for Lincoln's legal skills after all...
Let's take the facetious suggestion of this editor seriously. What if, in a mood of depression after finishing his term in Congress in 1848, Lincoln turns to a study of religious scriptures for consolation, comes across the Book of Mormon, is enormously impressed (yes, I know it seems unlikely, but history has witnessed many unlikely conversion experiences, whether to Mormonism or to other religions) and joins the Latter Day Saints in Utah (Mary Todd will very likely refuse to go along, so he will have to find himself some other wives)?
So far as Lincoln's national political career is concerned, this will put an end to it--it is really similar to what-ifs where Lincoln dies in an accident or of a disease, and we speculate about Seward or someone else as the Republican nominee in 1860. But what about Lincoln's career among the Saints? Brigham Young often railed against lawyers: http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/070995.html However, much of his ire was directed against "pettifogging" lawyers who stirred up needless litigation--and in this, Lincoln would not have disagreed with him. ("Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser -- in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough. Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket? A moral tone ought to be infused into the profession which should drive such men out of it..." http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lawlect.htm)
Moreover (contrary to what the *Salt Lake Tribune* article I quoted above says) it does seem that Brigham Young eventually softened his attitude toward lawyers:
"In later years, as the gentile presence in Utah increased, Brigham came to realize that honest Mormon lawyers were needed to defend polygamy and Mormons against other constitutional deprivations, as well as to facilitate honestly commercial contracts with the non-Mormon community. In an 1873 conference address he expressed, in what appeared as a radical shift in attitude, the wish "for from one to five thousand of our young and middle-aged men to turn their attention to the study of law. He accompanied this recommendation with an almost-ritual denunciation of lawyers 'who spend their time from morning till night in thinking and planning how they can get up a lawsuit aginst this or that man. Young went on to define the conduct of a righteous lawyer: 'If you draw up a will, deed, mortgage or contract,' he urged, 'do not study to deceive the man who pays you for this, but make out a writing or instrument as strong and firm as the hills, that no man can tear to pieces, and do your business honestly and uprightly, in the fear of God and with the love of truth in your heart.' He concluded: 'We live by law, and I only condemn those among the lawyers who are eternally seeking to take advantage of their neighbors.'" Edwin Brown Firmage and Richard Collin Mangrum, *Zion in the Courts: A Legal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900*, p. 17. https://books.google.com/books?id=mzlVLyebEz8C&pg=PA17 So perhaps Brigham Young could find some use for Lincoln's legal skills after all...
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