Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself in the middle of a surprising debate over religion when he recited a prayer after being reelected as Speaker of the House. The issue, however, wasn’t about praying in the U.S. Capitol. The controversy kicked off because Johnson claimed that the prayer he shared was something former President Thomas Jefferson had said daily during his presidency—and for the rest of his life.
Johnson explained that the prayer was a reflection of what Jefferson, the third President of the U.S. and the author of the Declaration of Independence, considered vital enough to repeat every day. “This is a reminder of what Jefferson thought was so important that it should be a daily recitation,” he said before reading the prayer aloud.
A Prayer for Peace and Guidance
The prayer that Johnson read was one of gratitude and a request for divine guidance. It asked for wisdom and peace, hoping that leaders would be protected from “violence, discord, confusion, pride, and arrogance.” It’s a beautiful sentiment that resonates with many. But there’s one big question: Did Jefferson actually say these words?
Jefferson Scholars Weigh In
Historians and Jefferson scholars have raised some doubts. While the prayer is widely recognized, many question whether Jefferson was the real author or whether he ever even recited it. The Jefferson Foundation has pointed out that, though the prayer is often tied to the former president, there’s no concrete evidence he wrote or prayed these words. In fact, Jefferson was known for considering religion a personal matter, and he once said that the U.S. government should steer clear of religious practices.
Interestingly, the prayer didn’t show up in historical records until the early 1900s, long after Jefferson’s death. So, it’s safe to say that this prayer might not have come directly from the former president himself.
A Familiar Controversy
Speaker Johnson isn’t the first person to link the prayer to Jefferson, but his statement still sparked a wave of responses on social media. Critics, like Rep. Jared Huffman from California, took to X (formerly Twitter) to challenge Johnson’s claim: “Dear Speaker Johnson, Please don’t make stuff up. The prayer you read in the House today was not written by Thomas Jefferson, and your claim that he recited it ‘every day’ is false.”
As of now, Speaker Johnson hasn’t addressed the confusion around the origins of the prayer.
What’s the Takeaway?
At the end of the day, the debate surrounding the prayer is less about the content and more about its true origin. Whether or not Jefferson ever said those words doesn’t change the fact that the prayer calls for unity, peace, and wisdom—values that resonate with many Americans today. It’s just a reminder that sometimes, even the best intentions can lead to unexpected questions.
What do you think? Does it matter if Jefferson wrote the prayer, or does the message still hold weight today?