On Jan. 3, 2025, Mike Johnson (R-LA) was reelected as speaker of the House. After his reelection, Johnson recited a prayer that he suggested was written by Thomas Jefferson and recited every day in the House during Jefferson’s presidency.
Johnson’s prayer, which he called Thomas Jefferson’s Prayer for the Nation, is as follows: “Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
” Johnson said he wanted to share the prayer as “a reminder of what our third president and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence thought was so important that it should be a daily recitation.” THE QUESTION Did Thomas Jefferson write the prayer Spea.
