Sun Myung Moon
July 25, 1984
Sun Myung Moon, May 15, 2011
My beloved brothers and sisters under God:
I regret I cannot be with you tonight in person. But know that I am with you in spirit. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations for coming to the nation's capital to stand up for religious freedom.
From my earliest days as a teenager in the poverty-stricken land of Korea, I was driven in my quest for truth and my search for God. From that point on I have always felt so deeply the preciousness of religious freedom.
Even when I was arrested and beaten nearly to death by the North Korean communists, and later when I was sent to die in a communist concentration camp, I had no fear. I felt deeply that God was with me. I felt so close to God and had daily communion with Him for the three years I was in the death camp. I did not pray for God to come and rescue me. Knowing that my Father in heaven already knew my suffering, I spent every minute of the day reassuring Him that I would not be defeated by this suffering.
I am now in America and I am now in an American prison. In my twelve years of living in this country, I have never felt as close to God as I do now. I love America more than ever. If his will is being served by my imprisonment, then I am here in gratitude. When I serve my fellow prisoners their food or scrape the plates after dinner or scrub the kitchen floor, I am doing it for my Heavenly Father. I am serving His children. And I am serving America and the world. I am therefore doing my chores with joy.
I came to America in 1971 at God's command. God told me that America is His final hope, His precious jewel which He prepared for the final battle against the atheistic communism in the last days. However, America needs help. America is turning away from God. God cannot afford to lose America. God told me to go to America to wake people from their spiritual sleep before atheistic communism takes over the world.
You know that with such a mandate, I did not come to this country to win a popularity contest. I spoke out and I took a stand. I gave America every ounce of my soul. In the process, I became unpopular and have been persecuted and now I have ended up in a U.S. prison. This is no surprise to me, for I almost knew such a cross would come.
I thank God that my situation and that of Pastor Sileven and many others have become rallying points for religious freedom in the United States. God works in mysterious ways. Here in prison God can use me to awaken America more powerfully than ever before. America's religious communities must be united to preserve religious freedom. Our united effort alone, like this pageant, will ensure the survival of America.
Here in prison I will do my part. I encourage you to do your part. Together, we will awaken America. I am willing to suffer any indignity, to go any distance, to do any labor and to bear any cross. I am even willing to give my life if that will ensure that America and the world will survive and do God's will.
My prayers are always with you. Prayers from prison can be powerful. Tonight we mark a new beginning, yet our job lies ahead. Let us move forward together in the spirit of Jesus Christ and claim a glorious victory for America, for the world and for God.
God bless you and God bless America.