The hand of Providence

In Short

Written explicitly as an accessible alternative to dry, elite histories for working families and young readers, this book spans nearly two millennia of human development from a distinctly Latter-day Saint perspective. It traces the fall of ancient Israel, the rise and decay of the early Christian church, the triumphs of Islamic civilization, and the intellectual awakenings of Western Europe. Through accounts of discovery and revolution, it argues that every major historical turn—from the voyages of Columbus to the founding of the American republic—was providentially orchestrated to lay the groundwork for modern religious liberty.

The Story

The narrative begins amidst the ruins of ancient Judea and the early Christian era. Following the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman forces and the execution of the apostles, the early Christian church falls into a state of total spiritual apostasy. The divine authority of the priesthood vanishes from the earth, and pure Christian worship is gradually corrupted by heathen rituals, superstitious relic-mongering, and the moral decay of monastic institutions.

As Europe sinks into its dark "midnight hour," divine providence fosters enlightenment elsewhere. The rise of Islam under Mahomet creates a vast Saracen empire where science, literature, and religious freedom flourish. Saracen universities and Jewish scholars preserve key philosophical and geographical knowledge, keeping intellectual light alive while Western Europe stagnates under papal tyranny.

Gradually, God prepares Europe for a renewed awakening. The Protestant Reformation, ignited by Martin Luther’s defiance against papal indulgences, shatters the spiritual monopoly of Rome. Meanwhile, adventurous navigators like Christopher Columbus—moved by heavenly visions—break through geographical boundaries to open up the New World. Crucially, the text details the ancient civilizations of America, contrasting their tragic destruction by Spanish conquerors with the horrific tortures of the European Inquisition, maintaining that God recognized the souls of indigenous peoples even as rapacious empires sought to exploit them.

To secure an enduring sanctuary for religious liberty, God prompts the Pilgrims, Quakers, and other oppressed groups to settle North America. Figures like William Penn demonstrate that just governance and peaceful co-existence with indigenous populations are possible. When British tyranny threatens these hard-won liberties, the American Revolution erupts. Led by George Washington, the colonists endure grueling trials to establish a free, self-governing nation. With the successful conclusion of the War of Independence and the subsequent industrial expansion across North America, the stage is finally cleared for the restoration of God’s kingdom and priesthood upon a prepared, free earth.

How It Unfolds

The loss of truth The book opens with the Roman siege of Jerusalem and the total destruction of the holy city. Following these events, the early Christian church loses its priesthood authority, sinking into medieval superstition, debauchery, and relic-worship.

Light in the East While Western Europe suffers through historical darkness, Mahomet establishes a vibrant empire across Arabia, Africa, and Spain. Saracen society preserves science, medicine, and literature, offering civil and religious tolerance to Jewish and Christian subjects alike.

Shattering the Papacy Papal violence culminates in horrific campaigns like the crusade against the Earl of Toulouse and the Albigensians. Indignant at Rome's sale of indulgences, Martin Luther defies the Pope, burning papal decrees and launching the Protestant Reformation across Europe.

Opening the New World Christopher Columbus, inspired by a divine dream, sails across the Atlantic to open new lands. Spanish conquistadors brutally dismantle the sophisticated civilizations of Peru and Mexico, executing native rulers for gold while European inquisitors burn thousands at the stake.

Building a sanctuary of freedom Seeking refuge from English religious persecution, the Pilgrims land at Plymouth while William Penn establishes Pennsylvania on principles of self-governance and fair dealing with local tribes. These settlements establish a thriving asylum for the world's oppressed.

Establishing the American Republic Tired of British tyranny, the American colonies fight a long, bitter war for independence under George Washington. The successful revolution and the adoption of free institutions prepare North America to become a central arena for God's final work on earth.

The People

• Mahomet: A powerful Arabian religious leader who proclaims himself a prophet, unites the tribes of Arabia, and establishes an empire whose scholars preserve global learning, science, and religious tolerance while Europe remains in darkness.
• Martin Luther: A strong-willed German monk who detests human woe and papal corruption. Armed with conviction, he denounces the sale of indulgences and ignites the Reformation, permanently breaking the absolute power of the Roman church.
• Christopher Columbus: A sea captain of majestic appearance who views himself as chosen by heaven to bring the ends of the earth together, securing Spanish backing through Queen Isabella to discover the Americas.
• William Penn: An earnest Quaker leader who relinquishes a royal debt to found Pennsylvania as a self-governing state, treating native tribes with genuine integrity and opening a refuge for persecuted Europeans.
• George Washington: The commander-in-chief of the revolutionary forces who steadfastly guides his soldiers through eight years of bitter conflict, bidding them an emotional farewell before resigning his commission to foster a free nation.

In Its Own Voice

"The light of antiquity had perished. The dawn of modern days had not yet gilded the eastern horizon. The world presented over its whole surface one vast field of contention and bloodshed, with scarcely an object sufficiently prominent to excite interest or deserve attention. It was the midnight hour of human history."

The narrative pauses in the sixth century to capture a world paralyzed by darkness, where true spiritual authority has vanished and human society seems completely given over to chaos.

"From this time forward, Columbus looked upon himself as chosen from among men to accomplish the purposes of heaven; to bring the ends of the earth together, that all nations, and peoples, and tongues might be united under the banner of the Redeemer."

Here the author illustrates his central thesis, showing how even secular explorers were moved by divine promptings to fulfill a much larger, heavenly design.

What It's Really About

Beneath its chronicle of world history, the book argues that human events are never random. History is an unfolding, divine strategy designed to prepare humanity for the restoration of God’s true gospel. Empires rise, flourish, and decay, but God uses their advancements—whether Saracen geography, English common law, or American constitutional liberty—to build a world where truth can eventually flourish.

The text mounts a sharp critique of mainstream Christian orthodoxy, portraying the historic Catholic and Protestant churches as flawed, apostate institutions. True religious progress requires total liberty of conscience, which could only be realized once the oppressive structures of the Old World were broken by revolutionary freedom in the New.

Why Read It Today

This work offers a fascinating window into late nineteenth-century Latter-day Saint historiography and popular religious education. Readers interested in church history, Victorian-era prose, or alternative interpretations of world events will appreciate its sweeping narrative scope. Rather than offering a standard secular summary, it presents history as an intentional, dramatic epic filled with moral stakes.

The reading experience is fast-paced, direct, and unabashedly didactic, explicitly tailored for working-class families rather than academic specialists. It treats complex global events with broad, energetic strokes, occasionally favoring dramatic moral lessons over nuanced socio-economic analysis.

Modern readers must navigate period-specific attitudes, including nineteenth-century romanticizations of historical figures, straightforward theological biases against medieval Catholicism, and dated terminology regarding indigenous populations. Yet, its earnest defense of religious tolerance, respect for Islamic contributions to science, and passionate condemnation of state-sponsored tyranny give the text a surprisingly warm, distinct, and memorable voice.

<ElicitationsGroup message="Explore this historical work further:"> <Elicitation label="Analyze its view of Islamic history" query="Analyze how J. H. Ward portrays Islamic history and Saracen culture compared to contemporary 19th-century Christian authors."/> <Elicitation label="Examine its LDS theological themes" query="Detail the specific Latter-day Saint theological themes present in The Hand of Providence, focusing on the Great Apostasy and Restoration."/> </ElicitationsGroup>