Story of Liberty Study Guide

Noah Webster affected the course of education in early America more than any other person. He wrote a series of textbooks including a speller, grammar, reader, and U.S. history. His famous “Blue-Back Speller” sold over 100 million copies from 1783 through the 1800s, and was designed to allow individuals to be self-taught.

There shall be “a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God….”
–1789 Congressional Proclamation

A holiday for celebrating faith, family, and freedom, Thanksgiving Day is both distinctly Christian and exclusively American. Barbara Rainey has created an excellent resource for enabling you and your family to remember the past, recognize God's hand in our history, and express thankfulness to Him for His goodness today.

This story of the Pilgrims' faithfulness and biblical thankfulness is accompanied by a CD of songs of worship and praise that will call your hearts to gratitude. It's a wonderful opportunity to enrich your family's awareness of our nation's Christian heritage, provide models of courage and sacrifice for your children, and establish a tradition of sharing your gratefulness with one another, which will build a legacy of memories for the future.

William Herdon, Lincoln’s law partner for about 18 years, said of him: “As to Mr. Lincoln’s religious views, he was, in short, an infidel….Mr. Lincoln told me a thousand time that he did not believe the Bible was the revelation of God as the Christian world contends.” One biographer records of Lincoln that “when he went to church, he went to mock and came away a mimic.”

Yet, Rev. James Smith, the pastor of the church in Springfield where Lincoln attended for over 10 years, gives a much different picture. He writes: “It is a very easy matter to prove that while I was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Mr. Lincoln did avow his belief in the divine authority and inspiration of the Scriptures.” His pastor while he was President, Dr. Gurley wrote: “I considered him sound not only on the truth of the Christian religion but on all its fundamental doctrines and teaching.”

Which of these views is right? Why the contrary views? These questions and more are answered in Abraham Lincoln’s Faith.