The Museum of the Bible reflects how generations of American service members have turned to the Bible for strength and hope during conflict. The ‘Bible in Times of War’ exhibit showcases artifacts like the ‘Heart Shield Bible,’ a small pocket-sized Bible with a metal cover carried by soldiers during World War II and the Korean War. These Bibles were designed to fit over the heart and were purchased by relatives seeking protection for their loved ones going to war.

Such Bibles were unlikely to stop bullets but symbolized protection and strength. The heartfelt messages inside these Bibles have survived time, revealing the profound connections they created between service members and their families. Messages like, ‘To my dear boy, may God keep you safe,’ carried emotional weight, even when the identities of the senders and recipients remain unknown.

One poignant story highlighted is that of John Weissenheimer, a Union soldier whose presence is well-documented because of the worn Bible he left behind. Serving with the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, Weissenheimer is remembered primarily because of this Bible, revealing how such artifacts can surface stories of individuals otherwise lost to history.

Not all Bibles in the exhibit traveled into battle. In the 1950s, a Bible was gifted by Navy chaplain Peter Boal during Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. This artifact traveled with servicemen into isolated regions, imbuing Scripture with a sense of hope and return.

Among the oldest featured Bibles is the ‘Gun-Wad Bible,’ printed in Philadelphia in 1776, which holds legends suggesting British soldiers used its pages for musket wadding. Though these tales might be exaggerated, they reflect how disrespecting the Bible could impact a side’s reputation in the time when Scripture was of great significance.

Bibles also served practical purposes, as evidenced by a World War I soldier who recorded his movements within his Bible. This documentation illustrates the varied responses soldiers had toward war’s challenges, often turning to Scripture for strength, courage, relief, and hope.

The exhibit’s Bibles help trace how families sent spiritual security with servicemen and reveal modern interpretations of past prayers and hopes, ensuring their stories remain recognizable.