Museum of the Bible Exhibit Traces Heart Shield Bibles and Wartime Faith Museum of the Bible's Bible in Times of War exhibit traces how American service members used Scripture, including Heart Shield Bibles, for strength in conflict. The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., is showcasing how American service members turned to Scripture for strength through generations of conflict in its Bible in Times of War exhibit. The display features artifacts such as Heart Shield Bibles, small pocket-sized Bibles with thin metal covers carried by some troops during World War II and the Korean War. Early Modern Curator Wesley Viner shared insights with Fox News Digital on how these items preserve deeply personal stories of faith and service. Heart Shield Bibles and Their Symbolic PowerAmong the most recognizable artifacts are Heart Shield Bibles, which were often purchased by relatives for departing service members. Designed to fit into a breast pocket over the heart, these metal-covered books fueled stories that they could theoretically stop a bullet. Viner explained that while the thin metal covers were unlikely to stop high-speed World War II-era ammunition, he did not rule out the possibility that one could have protected a service member from shrapnel or flying debris.Viner said that many tales surrounding the Heart Shield Bibles are likely exaggerated, but the exaggeration may obscure what the books represented to families. He described the metal shield as largely symbolic, stating that it was a source of protection, strength, and safety for those who carried it. The Bibles were frequently produced on a large scale during the first half of the 20th century, allowing families to purchase them for sons, brothers, and husbands preparing to deploy.Some of the most affecting evidence of hope survives in handwritten messages inside the covers. One Bible simply says, praying for you at Christmas, while another bears the words, To my loved one. In many cases, Viner noted, historians do not know who wrote the messages or who received them, and this anonymity can make them even more powerful.Personal Stories and Historical ContextViner shared that some of the most powerful stories preserved in the collection belong not to famous generals or celebrated heroes, but to ordinary Americans whose names may have otherwise disappeared from history. He emphasized that as he reads these inscriptions, he thinks about how profound and serious and meaningful that was for the family members who sent their kids and loved ones off to war and gave them this as they left.A historic Bible is displayed in the exhibit, which traces how American service members engaged with Scripture during generations of conflict. Visitors can listen to tours on the second floor of the museum, which houses the permanent exhibition Impact of the Bible, unveiled on July 3 and featuring colonial-era artifacts.One notable artifact is a metal-covered Heart Shield Bible bearing the inscription, To my loved one, displayed at the museum. These pocket-sized Bibles were carried by some U.S. service members during World War II and the Korean War, serving as a tangible link to their faith and the hopes of their families.Enduring Legacy of Faith in ConflictSince the Declaration of Independence, the Bible in Times of War exhibit is using surviving artifacts to trace how American service members turned to God's Word for strength and hope through generations of conflict. The exhibit includes items like handwritten prayers for troops to come home, preserving deeply personal stories of faith and service.Viner highlighted the story of John Weissenheimer, who served in the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a largely German-speaking unit that endured bloody Civil War battles, including Gettysburg. Weissenheimer was already in his late 40s when he enlisted, older than what was typical for a soldier, and enlistment records show he joined before many of the unit's major engagements. Years later, an inscription in his Bible places him at Lincoln Hospital in Washington, D.C.The museum's display underscores how ordinary Americans sought divine protection and comfort, with artifacts that continue to resonate. Through these Bibles and messages, the exhibit offers a window into the personal faith that sustained many through the hardships of war.