Happy First Birthday Shin Bok Moon

Hak Ja Han
June 11, 1983

True Mother with her grandson Shin Bok Moon on June 11, 1983, celebrating his first birthday. Shin Bok is the first son of Ye Jin Moon and Jin Whi Hong.

Mother's Public Role and the Joy of Victory - Sharing the Joy of Victory - The many facets of love

March 1983

Mother:

Now that I have come to this point, when I look back, all those memories of hardship have turned into joy, something about which I can converse and have fellowship with Father.

(Between Father and Mother there are endless subjects of conversation, limitless realms of understanding. Even though they don't talk too much, they understand each other's situation so deeply because the circumstances which they have passed through are very similar. They understood one common purpose, and they have persevered and were victorious. They overcame the difficulties, reached out for perfection and attained it, and now satanic infiltration is no longer possible. When Father and Mother see each other, they have such a victorious feeling, and that gives them tremendous comfort and peace at this time.)

Father:

I have in a way trained Mother. She was often so tired, wanting to rest, but I would just pull her around every place and make her do everything. She would be almost exhausted, but she was always willing to obey her husband, and whatever I did she would try to do; wherever I went, she would follow. And in proportion to her loyalty to the heavenly way of life and to her husband, she will he greatly blessed.

If she prays hard, if she asks for something from God, that will be fulfilled, and by her living that way of life, her children will be more blessed.
12/22/76

Today Mother has become 34 years old. Jesus Christ could not go over the age of 33. He wanted to celebrate his 34th birthday with God, but he could not, because of his crucifixion. Now that Mother has turned 34, she is going beyond the level of Jesus' 33 years of physical life. Therefore, today is an even more momentous occasion. From this time on, Satan has no right to bring accusation to the throne of God; heaven will not allow it.
2/23/77

When you look at Mother and me, do we appear to be a happy couple? Actually, I do not care whether you say yes or no; I only care whether Mother says yes or no. I should also be in a position to answer yes if Mother would ask me the same question.
3/6/77

Mother and my own children have become a sacrifice, but I cannot give up the mission. Even if I were to die before winning the final victory, the purpose and course of the providence would not be over. Once the dispensation for which I sacrificed myself and my family was fulfilled, God would be responsible to restore me and my family.
3/20/77

The one who knows me best is Mother, because she is the only one who watches over me 24 hours a day. Mother respects me because she has seen that I act first and then speak. When I speak, Mother always knows that it matches my actions. Mother is in a position to be with me on this level. She already leads a difficult life. I have to really give her credit because she simply does not have time to pray much and keep up with the children as well.
4/1/77

Whenever I can spare a little bit of time at home, then I play with the children; but unfortunately, I do not have much time to do that. I have had a dual mission all these years. One has been to build the spiritual foundation of the Unification Church and get the message out to the world. But my internal mission is to build my own home and the central point of the kingdom of heaven on earth. To do that, I had to find Mother and raise her up, so together we can nurture our children to make a perfect family which can be a model of the kingdom of God.

I have already received persecution in the course of erecting the tradition of the Unification Church, and now I am willing to do whatever may be necessary to build the tradition of the home and the family.

When I look at Mother and the children, I am gazing at eternity; she is my God-given wife for eternity, and they are my God-given children for eternity. There are always physical limitations and personality clashes in human behavior, and if you quibble and complain, you can find dozens and hundreds of instances every day. But when you look at eternity and your role of serving others, you bind yourself to these people, and you see only their beauty, grace and God-given blessing.
4/17/77

Mother sometimes thinks that I am made of iron, that God built my body in such a way that I do not feel fatigue. Her nickname for me is "The Brass General."
6/5/77

Sometimes Mother tries to get me to stay home and pay more attention to our family. She tells me, "As soon as you open your eyes, you talk about going out to meet the members somewhere; can't you spend a little more time at home?" However, I am in the parent's position, while you are in the position of children. Children inherit the foundation and tradition of their parents, and by working harder than anyone else, I am leaving you even greater assets to inherit.
6/17/77

I must be sympathetic with Mother, because she has borne ten children and her energy has been drained. Her body has become an absolute offering to God. Sometimes people think Mother must be made of iron, but that's not so. In Korean custom, the wife usually gives her husband a massage, but never the other way around. Sometimes, however, I must ignore that custom and massage Mother's legs because she is too tired to continue.
10/1/77

I never think of myself as one man or of Mother as one woman; I look at the entire universe and the consequences every action will have in the spirit world. Whether Mother goes to a certain place or not makes a tremendous difference in the spirit world. If she is left behind, all of womanhood in the spirit world would be disappointed, and we just cannot leave this stigma in history.

Wherever I go, I want to be with Mother so we can feel sorrow together and feel ecstatic joy together. We will look at people from God's position and weep from the position of God.

I have had to apologize to my own children. One day I asked them, "I am always going out with Mother. I don't leave her at home so much, but you are often left behind. Do you still want me to take Mother with me?"

The children all said, "Father, we don't want you to go alone. Always go with Mother."

When I replied, "But we won't be here to take care of you," they said, "That's all right. For you to be with Mother is far more important than us staying at home alone." Basically, they know that if Mother and I go away, something important is being fulfilled. They know where our hearts are and what we are doing.

When we come home very late, maybe at 2:00 a.m., we go to the children's rooms and look at their peacefully sleeping faces. Then I really feel parental love in a silent way, more than at any other time. Distance can be comforting; separation means nothing as long as both are linked by God's love and express genuine trust and honesty.
12/4/77

Heaven's image reflected through Mother
Mrs. Won Pok Choi:

When I look at Mother, she reminds me of calm and clear water. When a lake is calm and clear, it reflects the whole sky. As the moon reflects the sun, Father's image is reflected by Mother shining back to reach the rest of the people. I always feel that. When I pray for Father I feel aroused and dynamic. When I pray for Mother, I become calm, tranquil, profound and serene. Sometimes I feel more of the image of heaven reflected to me through Mother. Compared to the wind, her character is like a breeze. Compared to a flower, her character is fragrance. In the balmy spring air, you feel something embracing and warm, so in your mind, you feel that there is something beautiful hatching in the world. Mother Nature gives out life after life. Our Mother reflects Father's active nature, but in a passive way, returning it and shining out to reach everyone.

Mother is always soft and fragrantly calm and reflective. When she is deeply hurt or when she feels that she must scold the members around us or her immediate children, she looks very sad. Sad, that is all. She looks at the members or her children without saying a word and with a deep tearful heart. Sometimes she says a word or two in a whispering tone. She always says, "I trust you." When you are told that you are trusted and that you are expected to do something for others by someone who loves you, you are more encouraged and more repentant than when you are ordered to do something or when you are scolded or even punished.

Father is not only the father of love but also of judgment, but he always withholds judgment until the last minute, hoping that the conditions for judgment will be dissolved. Before he scolds someone, he prays first, forgetting his sleep or his food. Sometimes we feel that Father is so loving that we can relax and take it for granted. Then the next moment we may feel dark inside, holding something fearful that we dare not take to him. But in Mother, we find the soothing element coming to her children. Whenever we are hurt, we turn to her. Even just looking at her would calm our hearts. Still we feel the great sereneness, fragrance and soothing tone coming to us in full vibration.

Father is like the light; Mother is like the warmth. Father is like the sun; Mother is like the moon. Father is cause and Mother is the effect. God wanted Adam to have a bride to complete himself. We must have our True Parents' reflection in ourselves. In doing that, we must be receptive. We must have the same frequency, the same resonance, so that they can perform the act of give and take with us. Sometimes we may complain that the sun is not shining. But in every case it is the clouds created in our own minds that are blocking the sunbeams from reaching us. But the sun is always shining there, just and fair to everyone. Even when they are away, we feel their vibration all around us, if our spiritual posture is facing them.

You must always set aside a place for Father and Mother. In Korea, the blessed families always have Parents' room ready; when they eat, they have the Parents' food there. They eat, sleep and live with them. Spiritually living together in that way is vet.), important. We must encourage ourselves and each other to remember our True Parents and live with them in heart.

Remember, your Parents are with you
Father:

The path of restoration is so difficult and so extraordinary. You don't know anything about it. In your case, your heart will be the deciding factor. It is the same in my own dispensation; when my own heart is set right, when your heart is oriented properly in relation to the True Parents and God, everything will start to work out around you. Until your heart is settled, however, nothing will happen.

As you can see, Mother and Grandmother were both chosen for a glorious responsibility and position, but they started out their journey at the lowest level. This is your lesson. The blessing of the glorious heavenly throne is not given from the highest, most glorious position. That blessing must be won at the lowest level of human misery. Then it will endure for eternity and will embrace all humankind. Blessings never come in high places; blessings come to you in the lowest places.

I have explained that the messiah's role was launched in the depths of the dungeon. Therefore, it cannot be changed for you. That is why I push you. Can you complain? Suppose that in those days of hardship Mother had protested against me and given up in despair saying, "Father, no matter what you are I don't care." Then she could not be a Mother to you at all.

In your case as well, if I place you in a certain position and you start to complain, then you lose your position entirely. When you become self-centered and begin to protest, then you begin to stray. The key to success is selflessness.

Mother:

On your way to heaven, you must expect to experience not only the heavenly side, but also taste the dungeons of hell; in the end, what you go through in hell will be the most precious part of God's grace. In this way you will become strong, and in your process of maturing, you will acquire a wholesome personality that reflects God's own personality. Then you will better appreciate heaven. Someday you will have a record you can be proud of -- the chronicle of your victory and perseverance. It will be your source of greatest pride.

During your recent fishing expedition with Father, you may have sometimes had the fleeting thought, "Why is Father asking us to do this silly, impossible thing? Who would go into the water in this weather? It is so deep we may die." I am sure that every one of you has had a glimmer of such thoughts.

In such a moment, you must not react quickly or make a hasty judgment. At such times, you must call on the name of God and remind yourself, "This is my opportunity to prove how worthy I am." Then the difficulty can become a joy, and you can take delight in going through that ordeal. My message to you is to persevere and not react quickly or make hasty judgments. Then you can convert all your ordeals into joy and a source of pride.

My tears this morning have two meanings: one is sorrow, but the other is joy -- the joy of victory at being here with Father in this way. In the future I would like to shed only tears of joy, so I beg all of you never again to ask me about the past. Let us talk only of our victorious future and our great vision of the wondrous days to come. Let us rejoice in tears of joy for the future days which we will share together. Thank you.
5/3/77

As soon as I arrived here [at Barrytown] this morning, I was told by Mrs. Choi that you had been expecting me. Actually, though, Father is the one to come.

Today is the 50th day since the birth of Kwon Jin, and I don't know whether or not he is conscious of our preparing to leave him. The other time I left him, he was restless and did not sleep well the previous night. The same thing occurred last night. The reason I'm saying this is because I want you to know how much you are loved by Father -- so much that our immediate children are jealous.

Sooner or later you will experience the same thing. Many of you are blessed couples and some day will also give birth to children. I want you to understand that after giving birth to the eighth child, I feel a little feeble. If you really understand the depths of the Divine Principle, you might realize that Father is going the way of Jacob, so I must give birth to at least twelve children.

Birth control is prevailing in this country, and each time I have a baby, I am warned against having too many children. This time when I was in the hospital, they asked me to bring my husband with me, because they wanted to talk to him about birth control!

You will soon be leaving for your mission countries, and you will assume the role of father and mother in your land, so I will give you a little bit of my experience as a parent.

Whenever I look at the face of a baby, I feel cleansed. There is a Korean saying, "The parents cannot help but be pure through children." Whenever the baby cries more than usual or gets sick, I always look back and reflect on what I have done wrong. When I feel that way, I always sense God's presence and sympathy towards me.

Whenever you witness to people in your land, you must have a parental heart towards them. You must really love them from the position of parents.

As you may know, Father really loves you. Today he rose while it was still dark and said, "I must go to Barrytown. I must go to Barrytown." We are leaving soon [for Korea] and we have many things to straighten out, but he pressed me to come, and here we are.

By the time we return, I think you will have already left, and we love you so much. Father loves you so much. Be confident and win many children.

Please never forget that your Parents are with you.
4/21/75

A Patriotic and Outspoken Wife

His ideals and goals are very high
To ICUS women:

I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to my country in the orient. Rev. Moon and I have wanted to bring you to our homeland for a long time. For ten years we have thought about this. We discussed many things that we wanted to show you and do for you. It is very meaningful that you have come, and I am so grateful to all of you.

Traditionally, Korean people like to wear white suits and dresses. Korean people love God very deeply, and so we like to wear white clothes as a symbol of God's purity. We respect our ancestors very much, and w e are a peace-loving people.

Hundreds of times, other countries have invaded ours, but we always overcame. And in our 5,000-year history, Korea has never attacked another nation. For this reason, we are known as "The Land of the Morning Calm."

During the Korean War, we suffered incredible tragedy. But God really helped us. The young people of 16 nations came to our aid. At that time, all the people of South Korea strongly united with the United Nations forces. With that unity, we were able to save our freedom from Communism.

From the 1970's on, our people have been working very hard. Today Korea is recognized as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Because of our growth, Korea was chosen as the site of the 1988 Olympics. We are grateful to be the host country for this global event.

They say that behind every great man, there is a woman. In this sense, I respect you all very much. You have helped your husbands create many things to help mankind.

I also try to be a wonderful helper for my husband, Rev. Moon. But it is hard, because, as you know, his ideals and goals are very high. Sometimes I wonder how good a job I am doing to help my husband. I never get a report card. If you have a chance to ask him, please do so, and let me know his answer!

Anyhow, I gave him twelve lovely children, so I hope he will give me one medal at least.

In Korean history we have had many wonderful women who have been greatly respected. They gave honor to their families. During times when Korea was attacked by other countries, many women gave their lives helping their husbands fight.

Today, the world situation is becoming dark. Many families are breaking up. My heart is so sad to see this. I think women must give love and practice a sacrificial spirit. When God dwells in every home, then parents and children will have God's love and hope. With families as the cornerstone of society, then our nations and world will become very beautiful and filled with God's love. We will all be one family under one God.

Today, you and your husbands came here to combine all of your spirit and strength to build a better world for our children.

I hope I can become closer to you all. I want to share love and friendship with you, even after you go back to your own countries.

I hope your time in our country will be remembered with joy all your life. Thank you very much.

Constant message of love and forgiveness
To Judge Goettel:

My name is Hak Ja Han, and I am Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. My husband and I were married in 1960 and just two weeks ago we had our thirteenth child, a little girl named Jeung Jin. We have six daughters and seven sons, all of whom provide great joy for our lives. Our eldest daughter, Ye Jin, was married last year to a young man named Jin Hwi, who is studying at Columbia University. They recently had their first child, our first grandson. Our eldest son, Hyo Jin, was also married in January of this year.

I believe that I have had the most blessed life of any woman who has ever lived in being married to my husband. He has totally dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity. As the head of our household, he has provided an example which has inspired each of our children to live noble and virtuous lives that we can be proud of. In just the same way, as the head of our church family, he has provided an example which had led millions of people throughout the world to live good and holy lives.

From the time I was a young girl, I prayed fervently to live a pious life and to marry a pious man. God listened to every one of my prayers and blessed me more abundantly than I could have ever imagined. My husband is a man who brings great joy to God and great joy to all the many people we have worked with to expand our faith.

Throughout our life together, he has always encouraged me with his faith and his compassion. As you may know, many people have said hostile things to and about my husband. I have never once heard him say one hostile thing back to anyone, or even say one hostile thing about anyone. Many times when I believed that my husband was being unjustly persecuted, I expected that he would express some negative response. Instead, I would find that every time he would give the church members a sermon [it was] about love and forgiveness. The message that Christ taught about loving your enemy has always been a central theme which he has emphasized.

Our own children have been so moved to see their father speak and teach a message that they could also be inspired by. It has never been easy for them to know that there has been a great deal of negative publicity about their father. However, they have always moved me to tears with their own maturity in forgiving people. I am grateful to God that all of them inherited this virtuous nature from their father.

Our children have been surrounded by church members their entire lives. Our home is always filled with church members. Every single day begins with early morning prayer and then an early morning breakfast meeting with church members. In fact, the children have learned t9 expect to eat away from their father, sitting in the kitchen, so that the church members can sit with him in the dining room and share about the work of the church throughout the world. We have led this kind of totally public life since we have been married. I have talked to early church members who knew my husband even before I did, and they say that he has always lived this kind of life. It is for this reason that we all love him so deeply and feel always motivated to live similar lives of devotion and public service.

The proceedings of the recent trial were very difficult. Although I was in the final months of my pregnancy, I chose to sit by my husband's side every day.

During each break we were joined by elder members of the church in the small waiting room. We were all amazed that my husband continued to inspire us with messages of forgiveness and compassion. My husband would not allow any of us to harbor any hostility towards the government, the prosecutors or any of the witnesses. I can honestly say that, even though this is entirely what we could have expected from him, we were awe-struck by his commitment to his ideals.

Immediately after the conviction my husband gathered all the church members because he felt the need to minister to them and encourage them. He knows how sad they all feel because of this recent conviction and does not want them to be discouraged. The message which he shared on that day, and in every sermon he has given since, continues to be about love and forgiveness. During every sermon I have been moved to tears, and as I look around the room I see that all our brothers and sisters in the faith are also crying. It is a tragedy to them, and he continues to be so sensitive to them and their feelings. As the head of our church, they call him "Father," as the Catholics call the Pope "Holy Father."

Judge Goettel, I am writing you as his wife, as the mother of his thirteen children, as the grandmother of his grandson, and as the holy "Mother" of our church. I know what this conviction means to our brothers and sisters in the faith, as I know what it means to our own children and to me. I petition you to consider these things which I have described, to pray about them, and to ask God to guide you in your deliberations. Please be compassionate and lenient.

Very sincerely yours,
Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon
June 28, 1982

Korea was protected by God's grace
To World Media Conference women:

Korea is blessed with four distinct seasons. Springtime is warm; summer very hot; autumn is pleasant; and winter is brisk and cold, with lots of snow. The Korean people have always taken great delight in this variety of weather.

We also enjoy a variety of cultural traditions. You will find here in our country the Buddhist, Confucian, Christian and Islamic cultures. In Korea, faith in God is very strong, and our people are very religious. We believe that throughout her entire history, and especially during the Korean War, our country was protected by the special grace of God, and for a special purpose.

The Korean people are deeply peace-loving. During our five thousand year history, our country has been invaded numerous times. At these times, the Korean people have shown a great deal of courage in defending their land; yet we have never once invaded another country. The Korean people love to wear white clothes as a symbol of their love of peace.

Women in Korea are known for three traditional virtues: filial piety toward parents, total fidelity to the husband, and sacrificial love toward the children. Korean women are generally shy and somewhat reticent in their manner; yet many times in the past, when the country's fate was in peril, Korean women stood up bravely, defending their homeland with their lives. There are countless Korean "Joan of Arcs."

Just between you and me, I can tell you that the real power in Korea is very much in the hands of women. I would say that Korean wives know how to handle their husbands. All except me, that is. I certainly cannot handle my husband, Rev. Moon!

My husband is such an extraordinary man -- a man of strong will, totally dedicated to God -- that it is very hard for me to keep up with his pace. Sometimes I wonder how good a job I am doing in helping my husband. I never get a report card! If you get a chance to ask him, please do so, and let me know his answer.

One thing I can say, I have given my husband thirteen lovely children. I think that maybe he ill give me a medal just for that!

This afternoon, 1 would also like to make one serious plea to you. As you know, my husband has been treated rather harshly by the media of the world. I sincerely believe that he has been totally misunderstood and misrepresented. I feel that if he were honestly understood, the media would have no problem in presenting a fair and accurate picture of his life and work.

I want to ask you lady journalists to try to better understand my husband. I am sure that the ladies of the press will find it easier to understand him than the men.

I would also like to appeal to you good wives of great journalists and professors to tell your husbands that Rev. Moon is definitely a good man, because his wife says so!

In essence, what my husband is trying to accomplish is to build a society, nation and world in which God dwells in every home. He believes that the family is the building block of the kingdom of God, so he feels that creating a 0,d-centered family is the most urgent task of all. When God-centered families have been established, then a God-centered nation and world can be built, and human beings can live as one family of man under one parenthood of God.

In closing, I hope that I can become closer to you all. I want to share continuous friendship with you, even after you return to your own countries. May God bless you, your husbands and families.

Thank you very much.

My husband's joy is my joy

To a Korean women's magazine:

Raised in a devout Christian family, I was kept busy reading the books about men and women saints handed to me by my mother. Without allowing me any moments to think of any other dreams, my mother pushed me to read only those books, as if they were homework assignments given by a school teacher. As a result, I anticipated that I myself would become like such women-saints as I grew up. When I married Rev. Moon, I believed it was God's will and accepted it.

My husband's joy was indescribable whenever I delivered him a baby; it was really difficult for me to carry an infant almost every year. No matter how great the difficulty, if that was the way I could bring happiness to my husband, I felt I could endure anything. Isn't his joy mine?

He has been really mercilessly and cruelly treated by the mass media worldwide, but that is because they do not know my husband well. As you witnessed through the World Media Conference, the current world has changed a great deal. He definitely will be understood properly by the world. In the midst of tremendous tribulations, he does something incredible, things which no one else in human history could ever do. When we examine people of the past, we find that whoever was great was also lonely. In that sense, isn't it natural that he should be in such a situation? Although my power is weak, still I try to let him understand that there is a woman at his side who always wants to share the same destiny of life and death. Wouldn't that small power of a woman become the source of courage to a man? I believe this is my duty as a supportive wife to her husband.

My husband works so hard, day and night, even forgetting to eat and sleep. He sleeps only two hours a day. So often he prays all night long. But fortunately, he is not fussy about food and eats any kind of food. So I do not need to worry about that too much. Yet, I always prepare Ginseng, so he can take it whenever he needs spiritual relaxation. I mix one portion of Ginseng extract with four portions of honey, making a thin syrup, and serve him a spoonful of it every morning and evening. I also urge him to drink sufficient amounts of natural water.

In order for my husband to be able to work hard outside, without being bothered by family affairs, I try to be patient and tolerant, no matter what difficult matters may come up in my family. Don't you think that is one of a wife's virtues? I also believe that it is important not to lose the bright smile on my face.

Mother's First Seven-Year Course

February 1983

Mother:

From an external perspective, knowing who Father is, people commonly come to the conclusion that I must feel very honored and happy to have Father as my husband. They think that God made me in such a way that I was born perfect and that I have not had to make any effort. They think that I just happened to meet Father and we have been leading a very happy family life and that now I am just enjoying my position.

This is the general view people often have of me. But on the contrary, as much as Father walked the road of the cross and tribulation to be ordained in his position, I was also given an incredible cross to bear in order to become Mother; I had to reach for perfection. That standard is so high that sometimes I felt it was virtually impossible to attain the goal. Throughout that tremendous ordeal and hardship, patience, perseverance and extraordinary faith were needed to achieve the expectation of God.

[Overcome by tears, Mother paused.]

(Thinking of the path she walked automatically brings tears to Mother's eyes, because it reminds her of all the hardships and tribulations she has suffered. This is why, as you can see, she is very emotional and sorrowful this morning. Just recalling the things she passed through is incredible torture. God tested her again and again, just as much as He tested our Father. Also, Satan was always trying to test her, just as he tested Jesus and Father. This delicate young lady had to go through the same ordeals as they did; it is all recorded in a secret chapter of history. Knowing the Principle, we can imagine how hard her path must have been.)

After just a glimpse of my mission of being married to such an extraordinary person who was carrying such a universal burden, I felt it was virtually impossible even to think of fulfilling it.

(Furthermore, she had grown up like a beautiful flower in a greenhouse, in the most peaceful surroundings and atmosphere. She felt almost like she had been plucked out of the greenhouse and thrown into a desert. There were all kinds of temptations and tests, and all kinds of incredible political and spiritual circumstances around her. She was like a little ship in a rugged sea.)

But during this period I felt the grace of God constantly upon me. When I was in agony God revealed Himself to me and gave me messages and guidance; even in the times when I was not receiving such guidance from Him directly, God worked through those around me, many wonderful loving and protecting people. Through them God gave me constant guidance, daily instruction and leadership. Those days were a tremendous ordeal of difficulties and tribulations; but at the same time, those were truly the most beautiful days, a priceless time of grace when God's presence... as indeed with me.

(Through her experiences, Mother has learned so much about God and God's way of doing things. She passed through hell as well as heaven. Both experiences were needed to make her perfect and mature enough to match heavenly expectation. If she had lived through only the joyful and heavenly side, she would not have appreciated that heaven, but she also went through the bottom of hell. Sometimes she felt that it was impossible to continue, just absolutely impossible! Such situations were too numerous even to count.)

Father:

Knowing that some of the other members were jealous of Mother and her mother, following the holy wedding I asked Mother's mother to restrain herself; she was not to come to see her own daughter too often, or if she did, she should only come secretly, through the back door. That put Mother's mother in such a miserable, outcast position that nobody envied her role. Everyone had thought that to be Mother's mother would be a glorious honor, something like being the mother of an empress. But I silenced all those expectations and pushed her into a sacrificial role, not even letting her come freely to see her daughter.

Furthermore, during the first year I treated Mother almost like a servant, instead of a wife. We were bride and bridegroom, but that honeymoon period was nothing but an ordeal on Mother's part. She started out as a servant because I wanted her to start out from the very bottom.

The important internal meaning behind my actions during that period was a test of faith for Grandmother Hong and Mother. No matter what the circumstances, they should not complain or rebel against me; they had to accept and persevere. That was my real desire, and they met that expectation.

It was a reenactment of the Cain-Abel relationship. In order to understand Cain's position, you have to suffer for the sake of Cain; otherwise, you can never become Abel. Grandmother and Mother were in the Abel position to all other people, but they had to be capable of embracing all those who were despondent. I had already become victorious in all levels of the dispensation, from the individual to the universal scale; thus Satan had no right to accuse me. Mother, however, had to start from the beginning, so those first seven years were Mother's training session, Mother's seven-year fishing expedition. The first three years were destined to be her struggle to gain the victory as an individual woman, to become triumphant in the sight of God by overcoming Satan. During the following four years, the whole family had to go through that incredible testing period. Mother started out at the bottom, heading toward perfection.

During those years, all kinds of things were said of Mother, even that she was a failure and that I was going to hand-pick a new bride. You can imagine how heartbreaking that kind of rumor was to her. Furthermore, when it was known that our birthdays fell on the same day, some people accused her saying, "She is just creating a false birthday to make the days the same." It was all Satan's doing. Under those circumstances, Mother had to be silent, persevere and win.

As the days and years passed, what happened? Since Mother continually persevered, since she was patient and silent and maintained her faith in me, eventually the whole environment of accusation was reversed and became one of respect and admiration. By then, everyone was nodding and saying, "She really deserves to be the Mother of the universe. She really is Mother."

Because all of this was necessary in order to restore the center of love, you can imagine how extreme the passions became. Heavenly love and heavenly jealousy were entwined; the battle was quite fierce. I came in order to conquer love and restore it to God, to conquer the heart and restore it as well. Therefore, I had to pay indemnity for love and gain the victory over it, in order to restore all love for heaven. That was truly a cross of love, the most extraordinary cross of all.

During this time, Mother and I never even discussed this situation. I never told her, "You must understand this, persevere and win because I am doing this on purpose." If I had explained things to her and comforted her in that way, then even though she had won the victory, it would have had no value. Mother had to figure it out herself, persevere in her own understanding, in her own right. Today, for the first time in my life, I am explaining the situation in depth, revealing to you things I never mentioned even to Mother.

Through their victorious demonstration of faith, their untiring devotion and absolute dedication to me, Mother and Grandmother Hong became victorious. Therefore, after achieving this condition of universal victory, I have decided to give Grandmother glory as the mother of Mother. In her own lifetime she must receive the respect, admiration and glory that are due her. If she had died without receiving that glory, the coming generation of children would have been affected. From the Principle point of view, I am now treating her differently.

Severely criticized
Mother's mother [Soon-Ae Hong – Dae Mo Nim]:

I think it is impossible for anyone except a man or woman of God to accept an 18-year-old girl in the position of True Mother. True Mother's course over the seven years following the Blessing was so hard that I can find no words to express it. People scrutinized Mother severely. Some of the older people did not know how to approach her, because she was so young and beautiful, but 18-year-old Mother accepted everything in silence, and in the end she won the victory. I had a recurring dream in which True Mother would come to me and say, "Oh, I'm so tired and sleepy."

After the end of the seven-year course, True Father asked me to serve True Mother and her children, but I lacked the confidence to do so. This violated heavenly law, and afterwards I was always sick and many times even found myself close to death. I then realized that if we disobey Heavenly Father, heavenly indemnity will be given to us. It has been my experience that Heavenly Father dislikes arrogance more than anything else.

After accomplishing this seven-year course, True Father established God's Day and blessed True Mother with tears, saying, "Heavenly Father, look at Your daughter who has achieved victory."

God's course of restoration included the search for one True Eve. Even though True Father was perfect, if we had been unable to find the victorious daughter of God, everything would have been meaningless. If he had not found True Mother when he was between the ages of 40 and 60, he would have failed everything.

A cross which others cannot fathom
Mrs. Mee Shick Choi:

Mrs. Hong is so strong and has never shown any of her feelings to the members. She often said that she was surprised that Mother was her daughter, and that she was a little bit worried. Mother had just graduated from high school when she received such a great mission to carry out.

You know that Eve failed at the top of the growth stage, so Mother, representing Eve, had to pass through that growth stage during the following three years, by the time she was 21. Her first baby, Ye Jin Nim, was born before Mother was 21. Since everything has to follow the Principle, we thought that the first baby would be a prince. "A prince has come, a prince has come," we sang and sang, waiting for the birth of the first child. But it was a princess.

Speaking to us later, Father marveled at how Heavenly Father truly loved us; he knew that everybody had expected a son, but Father was worried about trouble during this three-year period. If the first baby had been a boy, it would have represented Cain's position, and there might have been a lot of fighting.

For one year, I lived with Mother, sharing her room, because I was taking care of Hyo Jin Nim after he was born. I also had the special privilege of sleeping in the same bed with Mother for three nights after my Blessing, so I had a kind of skin-touch experience with her.

I cannot talk to you about the kind of suffering and burden Mother has had to carry. She has had to bear a cross which others cannot fathom. Her smile is very sweet, but from the moment of her Blessing until 1967, her seven-year course was the hardest torture. Many times I saw her crying. I never asked why she was crying; I knew how she had never gone on a 40-day mission, how she had never done any pioneer mission, witnessing, street preaching or fundraising. Although she never had this kind of experience, I knew she paid indemnity. Through the seven years, she went through great suffering, but her strong will and strict mind carried her through.

We members were surrounded and sheltered by great blessing and great love; of course we suffered very much as we were growing spiritually, but we never felt that suffering, because we lived together with Father, and around him something exciting was always happening. Father told us that if we did not know what way to go or how to reach our destination, we could always ride on his shoulder; then the path would be easier. For myself, I feel that I did not suffer, but rather it was Father, the one who knew all things, who bore the suffering. Now, if you know how to ride on his shoulder, you can grow easily.

When I joined, I just thought of Father as teacher; never as father. Then after his Blessing, he told us that he stood in the position of father. On day he was an individual; the next day there were two in the pivotal point, Father and Mother. They represent six thousand years of human hope, the longing to meet True Parents. Our ultimate goal is not to find our teacher, but to meet our parents. That is why the book of Revelation concludes with the Marriage of the Lamb, the establishment of parents. If we do not have parents, we cannot change our blood lineage, and we can never be a heavenly child.

Through Father's family, I can see what Heavenly Father originally wanted. Because Mother is here, we can really feel hope and happiness. There are many things I do not know about Mother, but still I am so grateful that Heavenly Father provided our Mother. God kept her hidden for a long time, but one day Father gave her to us, for our benefit and for the benefit of all mankind.

From our point of view, we wondered why Mother did not know how to lecture Principle, the reason why she had not been on an MFT, how come she did not pass the VOC test; but I am so happy and grateful when I see Mother. Mother's conversation is just like the original word, not the fallen word. She is the original woman and has been given tremendous love by her subject. What more could you ask for than the love and beauty of this original subject-and-object relationship?

No place to sleep
Rev. Won Pil Kim

We can look to our True Parents' course for an example of the perspective we should maintain. Usually we suppose that a couple's married life should include some private time for conversation, but our Father and Mother rarely had such time together. Even after their Blessing, they did not live in the same house; in the beginning, Mother lived separately, and Father sometimes went to visit her. As you are aware, Father leads a totally public life, spending all his time with the members. Even after the first children were born, only occasionally did he go to visit Mother. Although he had a wife and children, his public life did not diminish, but became ever busier.

Father's house was next to the church building, and we often held the leaders' meetings there. Even then, our church's activities extended beyond Korea and included many different departments. At all hours, leaders would come to ask Father's guidance. Whether it was a special day or not, whether a meeting was in progress or not, people would come to seek Father's advice, and his room was always crowded.

Sometimes the church building was too small for Father's activities, causing many inconveniences, but Father would not build a new one. Furthermore, Father's room had poor ventilation, and in the summer it became quite hot.

After about three years, Mother moved to the church building to live with Father. But as they had more children, for Mother to find even a corner in which she could give birth to her baby was so difficult; there was not enough space for her. Nevertheless, her first concern always went for Father's welfare.

Before True Parents set out on their first world tour, Mother called me and quietly discussed her plan for rearranging the rooms, because her heart was so pained at seeing Father living in such inconvenient circumstances. While they were traveling, the members and I rearranged the rooms. However, when Father returned and saw this new set-up, he became quite angry; the room held so much historical significance, he said, and our changing it without his permission upset him. From our point of view, it was much better to rearrange the room for Father's convenience, but Father's perspective was different from ours; he did not want to alter the room, because of God's heart which was planted there.

At that time, all meetings were held in Father's room, which was of course Mother's room as well, for she slept there. The leaders would linger there with Father until he dismissed the meeting, usually late at night. When Mother was pregnant, she often needed a place to rest, and since there was nowhere in their room for her to rest, we arranged a small bathroom next door, where she could lie down. In our church life, we rarely have had to sleep in a bathroom, but when True Mother was tired, that was the only place she could find to sleep. We should never forget this point.

Still, Mother always considered the meetings so important for the advancement of God's will that she willingly offered her place as a meeting room. Father was aware that Mother had to rest in the bathroom, but still he had to fulfill God's will, regardless of the circumstances. Although he knew Mother's situation, he had to sacrifice it for God's will.

Sometimes we held our meetings at another location, but we were limited by the midnight-to-morning curfew. One night when the meeting was still in progress at 11:30, Mother became concerned about Father's health. She tried to signal the members to end the meeting early, but we did not recognize her preoccupation and care for Father. Finally she said, "The curfew will begin soon. Will you please end the meeting and go home?" Still, Father would not close the meeting. Mother was pregnant and because of that often felt tired. Father knew her condition, so he told her to go to the next room and rest while the meeting continued. Just before the curfew, the meeting closed and they took a car home. This is just one testimony of Father's sacrificial course to gain the victory through home church.

An incredibly lonely path
Father:

Mother is probably the loneliest person under the sun. Her history has been an incredibly lonely path, but that was her destiny. She had to be like that. Now she has become a mother and has a respected position, and she looks like a tremendously fortunate person, but until she reached that point, she was a most miserable, lonely woman.

Placed in a difficult position at such a young age, Mother went through training to be totally obedient and totally sacrificial for the sake of her husband. She had to fulfill that condition and give total love to her husband. If she had had everything in life and had come from a big family, she could very easily have become arrogant. But she could not protest that her father or her elder brother was superior to her husband. She could not even consider any comparison; she could not think that any man -- whether he be her grandfather or any teacher or professor -- was better than her husband. In the garden of Eden, Eve had only one choice. There were no other men around, and she had to focus on just one man, Adam. This is why I picked an innocent young lady like Mother.

Before I could be a husband to her, I was a father and elder brother. Eve had to be restored in the proper sequence. Eve had lost God her Father, so she must first be restored to God and her father. When they were growing up, Adam was supposed to be her elder brother, so next she had to be restored to her brother. Finally, she could be restored to her husband.

I was not looking for a worldly woman. In order to accomplish the perfect pattern and meet God's formula, I picked an innocent young lady, aged 17, to whom I could be a father, elder brother and then husband. I educated Mother on three levels: as a father, as an elder brother, and ultimately as a husband, in the tradition of total obedience, total sacrifice and total love. This was the road I myself had walked, and she was to travel it as well. By indemnifying what Eve lost in the Garden of Eden, I could restore everything at once, through one person.

There are many crosses of love. The Mother you see today has experienced a lot of pain. She met many tests and tribulations and has had to overcome each step of the way. I was very ruthless and cruel in testing Mother. One day I would be kind and loving, and the next day ice cold and tyrannical. She would cry for many hours. After the Blessing, we lived like separate persons for almost three years, not even in the same house. She could not even come to me freely.

I gave such harsh treatment to her mother as well. She was given strict orders not to enter through the front door for three years. I told the mother of the bride, "You must not tell your daughter that she is to be pitied and that you wish she never had this position. You must never speak like that. If you do, you would be committing a tremendous crime, not only against yourself but against all women on the same level in the spirit world." I was so severe all those years that even now Grandmother Hong is very reserved and hesitant about coming before me.

You can imagine how many women in our church were jealous of Mother during those years. Many felt that the one who had been chosen was not capable or qualified for the role. Everyone criticized Mother for having this or that deficiency, and noted how her first child was a girl and not a boy. During the first three years all kinds of gossip floated about. Some even said that Mother was only in the John the Baptist position, and that the real bride was still to come. Can you imagine such jealousy of love that existed? All of this fell within the strategy I had mapped out for those three years. When people felt intensely jealous of them, I was strict with Mother and her mother, demanding total obedience, total sacrifice and total love. They gave themselves completely for three years. After those three years, everyone bowed down to Mother and confessed, "Yes, Father's choice was right, and Mother and her mother must be respected. They are the genuine central family of heaven." After three years they were given open recognition.
3/26/78

Even though Mother was installed as True Mother, we could not live as a happy family right away. A three-year period of purification and separation was necessary, a period which was crucial before moving on to the next stage of the dispensation. In order to begin the second seven-year course, all conceivable indemnity was paid on the family level. In this first seven-year course, Mother had to be perfected as the True Mother; it was the period of growth for Mother herself.

As you know, the human fall occurred in the perfection level of the growth stage. Therefore, during the seven-year course which Mother and I went through together, we had to cross through the growth stage and reach the perfection stage; during this time I had to restore and install Parents' Day, Children's Day and Day of All Things. In the seven-year course, the most important condition Mother and I had to set was never to complain, no matter how difficult the obstacles and hardships which came our way. We could not even feel discouraged, anguished or rebellious in any way.

In this manner, God used Satan to give Mother and me the worst kind of test and tribulation. In this way I had to be tested and hardened as the True Parent. Satan created incredible situations one after another, not only for me but for Mother as well, during these first seven years. Mother could easily have given up and said, "Father, you are too great a husband; I simply cannot follow you. I am not worthy of you, so let me pack up and go." She could very well have done that many times during those seven years.

To make things worse, when Mother was so heavily burdened, I was not even a comforting husband to her. At the beginning, I had to act as the worst kind of cruel husband and put her through tests that were harder than even Satan's tests. Knowing that Satan was going to test her, I had to test her first myself. But even though my tests were worse than Satan's, still she could perceive some purpose behind them and understand the reason for them. That made them easier to bear than Satan's tests. In this way, we grew closer and closer together, in those first seven years.

In the sight of both God and Satan, our victorious foundation finally proved that I was an invincible husband and that Mother was an invincible wife. No matter how difficult a standard Satan used to challenge us, God could justifiably proclaim that we had passed the test. The many other couples who were blessed during those seven years knew that the True Parents had set the true standard, and they followed that standard and united with us, serving us without a word of complaint. In this way, they could obtain the same degree of perfection.

Those blessed couples, particularly the wives, could have protested to me, "I just don't understand you. What kind of husband are you? How can you treat your wife like that?" But the couples who passed the test had no doubt about one thing: regardless of how many incomprehensible things I did, I was undeniably and absolutely God-centered; whatever I did, it was for God. The 36, 72, 120 and 430 couples who were blessed within that seven-year period knew something of the difficult path Mother and I trod. Knowing the difficulties we had to overcome, they could never complain.
1/1/80

When Mother first became my wife I was very stern and serious with her. I never gave her any freedom, because I was determined to make her perfect. If I followed her in some way without realizing the effect of such action, the consequences would have been very grave. Women always want to have pretty things and to fix their hair and wear make-up. Now Mother is free, and if she wants to do her hair in a certain style, that is fine. Even if she wears red or black clothes now, that is all right; she can buy clothes on her own now. But this was not always so. It was a long time before she was permitted to go shopping, and even now she only goes once in a while. People have thought of Mother as very happy and carefree, and everybody envied her; but Mother has had a more difficult time than any other woman. If she had not paid all the necessary indemnity in Korea, then she could not have come to a foreign country and worked with me. Even now, her role is not simple.

Only a few years ago, Mother was required to give a full bow to me every morning. She has to live according to a strict code. Even though she loves me very much she cannot freely express her feelings as an ordinary woman would. She cannot kiss me at will, and even though she is tired, she cannot just sleep whenever she wishes. She always has to watch me. I made sure Mother could be free to do certain things. She had to pass through seven years of very rigid steps in order to pay the historical indemnity for all women and be liberated herself. I was the sternest of all husbands, a most fearful man during those seven years. Later, I became the one who loves her the most. It was not fair to her, but for the sake of all women, I had to do this.

This is why Mother respects me. She truly knows how principled I am and how everything that I do has its cause in God's will. She feels that I am like God. Once she became like that, then I could reciprocate and feel the same way towards her.
7/4/78

Mother's Early Life - Mother's Birth And Childhood

January 1983

Sheltered from danger Mother:

I would like to talk for a few moments on the background of my birth. Many special dispensational events took place secretly and internally in order to welcome the True Parents here on earth.

[Mother was born to a very special spiritual family which had constantly been the instrument of God, receiving revelations of the coming of the Lord and the New Day, and of what would unfold once he came.]

It grieves me to think that those heavenly chosen instruments, who were absolutely dedicated to God's revelations and whose one hope was to some day meet the messiah, never saw that day. God had unfolded to them His plan for sending His son here on earth, and under untold hardships they prepared for the day of the Lord. But unfortunately, they did not see that day, and one after another, they died. Yet their mission continued on for three generations.

As the culmination of one spiritual group which had received revelations and instructions to prepare for the second coming, I was born. The final spiritualist to inherit the mission of unfolding God's plan to send His son here on earth recognized me at the age of six, and she said that I would be the bride of the Lord.

In those days the circumstances in Korea were so difficult that it was almost impossible for anyone to maintain his faith in God and Christ.

[We were at that time under the Japanese occupation, and they denied all religions, particularly Christianity. At that time, Mother was living in North Korea, which was under especially rigid control.]

I was born in the province of South Pyongyang. We call this Pyongyang Nam Do.

[This is one of the provinces of North Korea now. It is the same province where Father was born, and Mother's birthplace, Ahn Joo, was quite close to Father's own birthplace in Jeong Joo. They were born on the same day, January 6 by the lunar calendar.]

Mother's mother (Soon-Ae Hong – Dae Mo Nim):

My mother was a zealous Christian. The minister of my mother's church named me Junni ("love and order") when I was born. I became a Christian through my mother's guidance. I was not satisfied with one church; I was looking for a higher spiritual level and studied under various teachers.

True Mother was born January 6, 1943, at 4:30 p.m., when I was 30 years old. True Mother's father had received a revelation: if his child was a boy, he would be the king of the universe; if the child was a girl, she would be the queen of the universe.

In my lineage, seven consecutive generations had accumulated merits of goodness. This was the third generation in which only one daughter was born, although I have a brother who went abroad to study in Japan. My parents tried to welcome Mr. Han as an adopted son, but he could not accept that; so he left, even before True Mother was born. After True Mother's birth, my parents wanted to continue to care for her; therefore, under these circumstances, it was difficult for me to reunite with my husband, and we separated.

In Korea, after childbirth, it was the custom to eat a bowl of brown algae soup. While I was drinking the soup, Satan came to me and threatened me, "If you let your daughter live, the world will be in a serious condition, so you should kill her." I protested and asked why he should want to destroy my daughter; I embraced her tightly. Just then, my mother came and asked what I was doing, so I told her about Satan appearing and trying to kill my baby. After a week of wondering why Satan tried to take away my child, I was told from the spiritual world, "The child is the daughter of God, and you are to raise her as her nurse or babysitter."

When True Mother was six years old, we were captured by the Communist Party. At this time, True Mother was a very strong and lovely girl. Even when she was a child, she was always straightforward, never telling lies. At that time in North Korea, there were some apples, but the Communist Party would not sell them to adults. However, if True Mother went to buy apples, they always sold some to her.

I knew through revelations that the Lord of the Second Advent was in the South, and I had a profound desire to meet the messiah. My father and mother advised me to flee to the South with True Mother. After spending eleven days in prison, we escaped at midnight and headed towards the border between South and North Korea. When we arrived, True Mother asked, "Is there no need to sing a song of Kim Il Sung any more? May I sing a song of Korea?" I assured her that she could, and she began to sing.

When we approached the border, the soldiers of the South shot at us, but upon hearing True Mother's song, they stopped firing. When we met them and told them that we had escaped from the North, they welcomed us warmly and said, "You must have had a hard time traveling with such a lively little child." They gave us the money we needed to continue on our way to Seoul. I have realized since then that God was guarding each step of our way to safety.

Since we knew that the Lord of the Second Advent was in the South, we made the journey with the attitude of coming to meet True Father, bowing three times in succession at many places on the way.

This was my first visit to Seoul, and in the crowded city I began to search for my brother, who was a soldier in the army. Just then, my brother's friend passed by and through him I was able to locate my brother.

For several years, True Mother lived in my brother's home in Seoul and attended primary school there. A short while later, the Korean War broke out. When Seoul was threatened, the families of the soldiers were put on trains to escape the war zone. On our way, just after we passed through one village and crossed an iron bridge, United Nations troops blew up the bridge behind us.

In a revelation, I was told that this child is the daughter of God, so I brought her up to remain pure and unblemished. True Mother became a beauty by the time she was ten or twelve. She was a good student and quite popular, attracting the attention of many people. Many satanic men would send her letters, so I took her out of the national school after the sixth grade, and she and I went to live on an island. In the mountains of that island, we lived as vegetarians and led a life of prayer. Having been notified through revelation of the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven in Korea, I brought her up to remain pure and virgin until she met the messiah.

With great thoroughness I taught her to live a disciplined life, just at the age when children most love to play. Sometimes she would cry, but I continued to train her strictly. Heavenly Father must have been sympathetic towards her, since He sent us back to live at my brother's home. There True Mother graduated from primary school.

Since I was always looking into new religions, I finally met the Unification Church. Reading Divine Principle, I thought that the man who wrote this had to be more than an ordinary person and wondered whether he was the one whom we had thought that I must devote myself to a lifetime of service in the Unification Church, because of the depth of its teachings. Therefore, my brother took care of True Mother.

I had been serving True Father as a cook for about eight months when I became ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. Many spiritual experiences occurred around that time. One of the leaders of the family had a vision in which True Father saluted me with a royal crown and golden cloth. I also dreamed that all of the women of the Unification Church lined up and filed into Father's room, all wearing white ceremonial dresses decorated with pink flowers.

Looking behind me, I noticed women who were not members of the Unification Church also standing in line. I then realized that God had lost women, and for the past six thousand years had been looking for one true woman. Then I saw True Mother walking directly to the place where True Father sat. The heavens lit up and lightning flashed across the sky from all directions; claps of thunder followed. Tens of thousands of people looked on enviously. I pondered the meaning of this vision, little realizing that my daughter would become the bride of True Father.

Mrs. Mee Shik Choi:

Mrs. Hong (mother's mother) had a Christian background, originally being a Presbyterian. North Korean Presbyterians are very famous and very strong; many of them received revelations that the messiah was coming very soon and that the New Jerusalem was Pyongyang, now the capital of North Korea. They were waiting in prayers and tears for the Second Coming.

Mother was born in Ahn Joo. Her mother was born there, and her grandmother as well. Mother was the only daughter of her parents. Moreover, in the two generations before her, only one daughter was born. Father said that there were many conditions which played a role in choosing the bride; one of these was a very simple lineage, in this case, only one daughter in each generation. Also, she had to have a certain last name. Father pointed to four or five names, and the name Han was among them.

While Mother was growing up, Mrs. Hong said she never caused any trouble; she was always an exemplary child and much beloved by her grandmother, great grandmother and grandfather. Mother was such a good child at school and at home. Mrs. Hong always spent her time at church, so Mother was actually raised by her grandmother and her uncle.

Father passed through much suffering and by overcoming paid indemnity for us, finally bringing us this victorious foundation. In contrast, Mother was somehow sheltered by God from the satanic world; from her birth and during her childhood, she was protected by Heavenly Father. Although many dangerous events happened around them, when Mrs. Hong was with Mother, everything went smoothly. In those days, Mrs. Hong never dreamed that someday her daughter would be the True Mother of all mankind, but later she remembered all these experiences.

In everything, Mother was protected by God, so she herself did not have to endure physical suffering in the way Father had to. Our Father treats Mother with so much love.

Father And Mother Meet

Selfless obedience and deep understanding Mother:

I did not meet Father in North Korea, although we were not far apart physically; I first met him in Seoul when I was 13. I had just graduated from primary school and was a child about In Jin's age. I had just finished sixth grade.

[Of course, at that time Mother had absolutely no idea what was going to happen in 1960. She had just joined the church with her own mother.]

The first time I met Father, he looked at me and asked, "What is your name?" I answered, "My name is Hak Ja Han." Then Father closed his eyes and meditated for a moment and then said, "Oh God, You have given such a woman, Hak Ja Han, to this country of Korea!" At that time it seemed strange that this religious leader should have a special feeling or revelation concerning my future.

Mother's mother:

As True Mother was brought up for a meeting with True Father, after quite a while, she was able to obey him completely. When she was a junior high school student I told her I would take her to meet the Lord of the Second Advent. Upon meeting Father, she bowed very deeply. "You have such a lovely daughter," Father commented. "Does she study well?"

Mother:

When I was a high school student, I was living in Chun Chon, in the northeastern part of South Korea; Father was staying at his headquarters in the church at Chung Pa Dong in Seoul, so there was quite a distance between us. I continued to attend church and go to school, finishing middle school and then high school. In 1960, one month prior to the day of the Blessing, which was March 16 by the lunar calendar, a formal notification came to me, saying, "You shall hereby prepare for a heavenly engagement and forthcoming wedding."

[This first heavenly proposal was more than a proposal; it was a heavenly mandate.]

When this instruction came from Father, I felt totally selfless. I thought, "Who am I to decide whether this is good or bad? So far my life has been governed directly by God. Whatever the will of God, whatever His purpose or dispensation, I shall be His servant. I shall obey in everything." That was my feeling.

Father knew me well. Particularly in those days, in that early springtime, I just did not want to analyze the situation, preferring to give myself totally for the heavenly will. At that time I had the reputation of being rather on the quiet side. I enjoyed tranquility and quietness, reading and music. I was known also as a rather intellectual young lady. I was not too emotional, not too excitable. In a way, I seemed slightly chilly and cold toward strangers who met me. My basic character was not outgoing. I always withheld myself and isolated myself from the outside world. I enjoyed my own world and was almost scornful of the world of men.

[Everyone recognized her brilliant academic ability, but at that time she lived almost like a nun. She shied away from all activities with men, feeling it was somewhat sinful and impure even to look at men. Like a beautiful flower in a greenhouse, she absolutely isolated herself from the external environment. Of course, we know now that this was heavenly preparation to purify her to meet the Lord one day. However, she did not know all these things.]

Mother's mother:

After their initial introduction, True Mother had no further opportunity to meet Father until she was 17. Around that time, many spiritual people were very alert, saying that the bride of Mr. Moon had arrived. The engagement of March 1 was near at hand, but still no bride had appeared. Father and heaven were impatient; the marriage banquet was indispensable to the providence of God.

In a dream, I saw a bird descend from heaven and another bird just like it ascend from the earth; in the sky they made a oneness. The eye of the heavenly bird was Father and the earthly bird was Mother. I said, "Heavenly Father, we are no longer orphans, for True Parents have now arrived! We have become children of True Parents." I danced and rejoiced, and from that moment the idea that she was my daughter was taken away.

After that, new revelations came every day. The heavenly marriage ceremony was already decided, but the bird was not yet announced; only I knew who she was to be. So I bowed to True Mother, who was staying in the lodgings of the high school, and she bowed in the direction of Father. When she was 16 years old, Mother seemed like a child, but when she became 17, she looked like an adult. When she came to the church, the church brightened, and after the service, Father gazed at Mother in front of many people. Then he asked me to bring my daughter to see him.

There she faced Father, and for nine hours he sat and asked her questions. I was very surprised to see True Mother answering so boldly. Finally, Father said to her, "From this day on, I will prepare a tutor for you." When Father's meals were brought, people asked, "Who is that child?" Some people who were filled with faith thought that the girl must be an important person. For one month, until March 1, Mother lived with and served her tutor.

Father:

Before the heavenly wedding in 1960, for more than 15 years I had been working single-mindedly for the mission. Yet everyone who understood Divine Principle knew that I would marry some day. That was apparent to everyone, and also many of our members received revelation that they would be chosen for the position of bride of heaven. God gave such revelations because in a certain respect everyone takes the role of bride to the messiah. Therefore, God can certainly say to anyone, "You shall be a candidate for the heavenly bride." But through the Divine Principle we can also see that this prophecy will culminate in one physical person, and that is Mother.

Knowing the Divine Principle, I am sure you can understand that when God sent His son in the position of True Parent, that means he is truly the bridegroom of all mankind. Since the messiah is in a position of bridegroom to all, God wanted to have more people adore him than anyone else in history. In order to set that record, such phenomena occurred. This was the background of the heavenly wedding.

When I suddenly chose Mother -- who was living in Chun Chon at that time and therefore relatively unknown to church members -- to be the heavenly bride, you can imagine the shock wave that went through our church. There were many families who believed that the heavenly bride might come out of their own home, because of the revelations they had received. Not only one family, but many families firmly believed that. Think what a shocking event it was to those families to have Mother chosen. So many young women, fully qualified from a worldly point of view, were certain that they would be hand-picked for this honor. They had great beauty, university degrees, all kinds of social graces and good family backgrounds. They thought, "The messiah must come to me; someone like me shall become his bride."

Furthermore, in 1960, I was 40 years old, a most significant providential age. In their thinking, the people concluded that the heavenly bride should be somewhere around 35 -- maybe 34, or perhaps even as young as 30. As a result, the people in that age group thought they were the most blessed and that one of them would be chosen.

In addition, they knew that the position of heavenly bride would be a role of tremendous leadership. They did not consider that a young woman in her teens or her twenties could fulfill that position. Thinking of Mother's role in the church, they thought that the candidate should be mature, somewhere between 30 and 40 years old.

When such great hopes and such high expectations were betrayed, their reaction was equally deep. Their disappointment and disenchantment were profound.
5/3/77

When Mother was chosen to become my bride, she was 17 by American calculations and 18 by Korean reckoning. Mother was like a little girl and knew nothing about the world of men or about love. I was 40 at that time and planning for the universal mission, the worldwide providence. Common sense would have required someone more qualified than Mother, but I chose a young innocent girl.

I was destined to make many unusual matches in the future, so I wanted one for myself too. Mother was the only daughter of her mother, and she had no brother and no father at time. She was a lonely person. I wanted to dramatize my cm n marriage, showing the example for the future.
3/26/78

Mrs. Won Pok Choi:

For providential reasons, Mother was supposed to be under the age of 20 when she met Father. Father was to take a blossoming virgin maid as Eve before the fall. He could have been blessed when he was 20, 30 or 40, but he had to wait so long in order to find a really qualified and prepared young lady of divine choice. It happened in such a way that it seemed like a flash.

Before the engagement took place, Father asked me to live in the same house with Mother, near the church, so I could observe her closely and so we could deeply touch each other heart to heart. Father meant for me to talk with her about the Principle, especially his search for a bride and what she should be like. But I did not need to do so, because she was prepared. She was such a blossoming, innocent young girl. Her way of observing things had great depth; she would speak little, but whatever she believed in she would act out.

I would accompany her to Father's place to meet him. I shall never forget the occasion when she met Father. She was in the traditional Korean dress: a yellow chogori, with a red ribbon to match her red skirt. All of a sudden, Father asked her to sing. Mother sang a folk song with the following words, "When spring comes, mountains and fields, valleys and river banks are decorated with azaleas. My mind, too, is blooming like azaleas. When you come and pluck the flowers, don't leave me alone; pluck mine too." It is very meaningful when I think of that now. She was not embarrassed at that moment but sang so nicely, so full of zeal and beauty. After that, Father took her up to his room and asked several questions. Mother was not at all shy, but articulately responded to the questions one after another. Then Father wanted her to make a drawing, so she drew a landscape with a figure.

Every day, Father would take her out to the mountainside. They talked and talked, mainly about the core of Divine Principle. Mother's understanding was so illuminated that she could answer every question. It was a thrilling experience. In this way, Father nurtured her, bringing her up to the stage when he thought the engagement ceremony could be held.

Engagement And Blessing

Courage, strength and maturity

Father:

When I was suffering in North Korea in the worst kind of prison, I always maintained hope, because I knew that the wife God would give me for eternity could come on the foundation that I was laying. My hardship would make her way easier. By thinking this way, I always had hope in the midst of any kind of suffering and hardship. In being tortured by the satanic world, I felt I was paying indemnity for my future wife, and at the same time paying indemnity for the nation in which we would dwell as husband and wife.
6/17/77

The True Parents' wedding in 1960 was not held at my own initiative. God gave me revelation after revelation insisting, "The time has come, my son. You shall prepare the altar to receive holy matrimony, and I shall bless you."

Even Mother never considered herself to be Mother. She was just living as a member of the church, when all of a sudden her name was called to be married.
5/1/77

Mother was very young when she was blessed, and she said that she did not know very much. She did not know about the world of men at all. With a prayerful mind focused just on doing God's will, she accepted the challenge. Mother accepted everything in faith and service to God and came to be the True Mother of the universe.
1/14/79

Mother's mother:

On March 1, 1960 (lunar calendar), the heavenly engagement ceremony took place. On March 16 (lunar calendar), the heavenly wedding ceremony was held twice, during the day and then at night. At the time of the wedding ceremony, holy salt was created. With the arrival of True Parents, we will now treat all things with sanctification.

Mrs. Mee Shick Choi:

I was among the few people able to attend Father's engagement ceremony. Father prayed and explained many kinds of meanings behind the ceremony. At that time, Father told Mother to give some kind of speech. Thinking of how young and inexperienced in church life she was, I waited to see what she would say. When she spoke, she said that she did not have any foundation like we did, but that she would try her best. She said she needed our support, without which she could not accomplish her big mission.

After I heard this, I started to cry, because I realized that finally someone would take the responsibility for the historical position of women. I sensed how difficult this would be. Someone was going to undertake it and sacrifice her life. When I heard this young girl Father had chosen speaking to our members and telling us, "I will try my best, but I need your support," I really appreciated her, because from then on her life would be a sacrifice for me and all women. At that time I decided to try my best to really support her. I felt I would try my best all the time.

The engagement ceremony was followed by a reception. As you know, Father is very capable in every way. Mother, however, had just graduated from high school and did not know much of anything. When Father started to dance, she began dancing with her mother in a very natural way, following the same pattern he was using.

I was surprised by her attitude, first at the engagement ceremony and then at the marriage ceremony. We had been trained directly by Father for five years, but we were not like her. We were not as mature as she was. I was so surprised, because behind her young appearance she was very strong. She had already been given so much by God.

Mrs. Won Pok Choi:

The engagement ceremony took place, with Father and Mother dressed in beautiful garments, surrounded by colorful decorations. It was held in the upstairs of our small church headquarters, with some of the oldest members in attendance.

The heavenly Blessing followed, on April 11, by the solar calendar. The shabby old building which used to be a Japanese temple [the old Chung Pa Dong church] became the greatest historical place, because of Father's own Blessing. The paper screen doors between the rooms were all removed, giving more space. That building will be kept as a museum for all eternity.

Father and Mother marched towards a decorated stage, with all the members in white robes standing by on both sides. Father walked as though his path were strewn with flowers, bowing with his bride every seven steps. We were all very awe-struck; we were happy, but at the same time sad, because the place was so small for such a great event. After making the last bow, they exchanged vows and rings; then Father and Mother went up on the stage. Facing the audience, Father announced his Blessing and offered a tearful, deeply touching prayer.

If he could not have located a bride in that year, when he was 40, where again would he have found one? To find a person who met all the heavenly qualifications was incredibly difficult.

---

Sources

Undated passages by Father and Mother come from True Parents' wedding anniversary, 1977, when Father unexpectedly asked Mother to give her testimony. Parenthetical explanations were given by Col. Pak, who translated for Mother. The date appearing at the end of other sections by Father refer to the Master Speaks of that date.

Mother's mother gave one testimony at Belvedere, in the mid 1970's. Her words are taken from an unofficial transcript of that speech; the tape of that speech is apparently unavailable, and the translation may not be completely accurate. The remaining sections are from testimonies given by Mrs. Mee Shick Choi at Barrytown in 1975 and by Mrs. Won Pok Choi at Belvedere in 1976.

Korean Journalist's Interview with Mother

November, 1982

"Mrs. Hak Ja Han: The Smiling Wings of a Purple [Noble] Crane" Excerpt from Special Interview with the Wife of Rev. Sun Myung Moon Published in Yeou Won [Korean women’s magazine], November 1982 English translation by Hee Hon Oh

[The syllable "Hak" in Hak Ja Han’s name means crane in Korean; therefore, the imagery of a crane throughout the article.]

The power of a wife who brought today’s Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church; the power of a mother who gave birth to 13 children and raised them; the power of a woman who embraces and looks after all the church members through the world—despite all these powers of hers, she was unexpectedly noble, like a crane, with a Rose of Sharon-like natural beauty which can be found in a simple woman living in one’s neighborhood.

Mrs. Hak Ja Han is a still-unfamiliar name to us. Her face is not easily noticeable—like a bright meadow flower hidden by the shade of a gigantic pine tree.

Hiding herself behind Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who has aroused innumerable and diverse reactions throughout the world, Mrs. Moon is like an extremely typical Korean wife who has not yet removed her veil from her face.

That is why the Weou Won Magazine visited Mrs. Moon—not because she is the wife of the founder of a religion, but rather because we believed she could infinitely touch our hearts as a patient and tolerant wife supporting the success of her husband and as a devoted mother to her 13 children.

We could immediately judge what kind of person she is from her gentle and soft voice saying, "I would like to consult with my husband first about your request. Would you please telephone me again?" From this, we could see that she is a wife who trusts and depends on her husband more than anyone else.

Same birthday, same home town, same smile, same religion

There are many points which Rev. and Mrs. Moon have in common. First, their birthdays are the same: Rev. Moon’s birthday is January 6, 1920, whereas Mrs. Moon’s is January 6, 1943. Secondly, Rev. Moon was born in Jeong Joo, Pyung Book province, and Mrs. Moon in the same province in the town of Ahn Joo, not far from Rev. Moon’s hometown. Thirdly, we cannot discover any traces of anger on their faces; they both have a beautiful smile. Last both of them were born in devout Christian families.

There is a saying that if a couple share the same birthday, they are already special people, predestined to marry with the blessing of heaven. If so, was not this couple bound to be brought together by God?

Mrs. Moon was wedded at a tender age on April 15, 1960, at the Unification Church headquarters located at 71-3 Ga, Chung Pa Dong, Seoul, Korea.

I asked her about her inner state at the time of marriage, when she must have still retained many of her girlhood creams.

"Raised in a devout Christian family, I was kept busy reading the books about men and women saints handed to me by my mother. Without allowing me any moments to think of any other dreams, my mother pushed me to read only those books, as if they were homework assignments given by a school teacher. As a result, I anticipated that I myself would become like such women saints as I grew up. When I married Rev. Moon, I believed it was God’s will and accept it."

Because I’m Korean, I like white; because it’s the color of the rose of sharon, I like purple.

On October 5, she invited all the wives of the participants of the World Media Conference to a tea and greeted them as follows:

"Koreans love peace. Throughout its 5,000-year history, Korea has been invaded by foreign countries numerous times; on these occasions our people exhibited remarkable courage. But Korea never attacked others first. The fact that we love the color white is proof of our love for peace….

"Korean women are famous for their traditional three virtues: filial piety for parents, respect for their spouse, and constant care and love for their children. They are generally shy and tend to be quiet. Yet whenever their nation was confronted with danger, they arose boldly and protected their country at the risk of their lives. There are many Korean "Joan of Arcs.’ I want you to realize that the real source of Korea’s power is in the hands of Korean women. They are well aware of how to attend their husbands…."

I could perceive through her short speech her constant efforts to help the strangers from abroad to understand Korea better.

"My husband is very unique. He has committed himself to live only for the sake of God and seems to be crazy for God alone. So it is very difficult to keep pace with him, but it is also with great pride that I can support him as his wife. Nevertheless, I have never been asked to take any course called ‘attendance for spouses’ and to obtain credit for it. However, if by chance you have an opportunity to question my husband about my grade please inform me of the result. One thing I can tell you with confidence is that I offered 13 children to my husband. In that respect I am sure that he will give me a medal."

She spoke in fluent and elegant English, dressed in a white Korean jacket top and light purple long skirt…. At her witty remark about deserving a medal for having given birth to 13 children, all the guests burst into loud laughter, and the atmosphere of the conference room became far softer and warmer….

When Lady Ky, the wife of the former prime minister of Vietnam (previously she had been Miss Vietnam and a stewardess), who seems to be greatly interested in her external appearance, questioned how Mrs. Moon could be so beautiful with clear, fair skin, she replied, "It is thanks to Korean cuisine."…

The life-long companion through ordeals, who sublimates even the pain of giving birth; the source of courage.

Mrs. Moon gave birth to 13 children, approximately one each year—seven sons and six daughters in all. When she was asked about the source of such courage and tolerance, she answered: "My husband’s joy was indescribable whenever I delivered him a baby; it was really difficult for me to carry an infant almost every year." However, when she heard from her husband, "Mother, I thank you very much for your hard work; the more children we have, the better they are; isn’t that God’s blessing for us?"—she felt warmly embraced by him, and all her difficulties disappeared. Thus, she always keeps those precious words in the center of her heart, with deep appreciation. She also added, "No matter how great the difficulty, if that was the way I could bring happiness to my husband, I felt I could endure anything. Isn’t his joy mine?"

Her love for her husband seemed too intense for us to comprehend with our ordinary sensibility.

When Rev. Moon is badly treated by mass media or when he faces hardships, how does she comfort him, I asked her.

"He has been really mercilessly and cruelly treated by the mass media worldwide, but that is because they do not know my husband well. As you witnessed through the World Media Conference, the current world has changed a great deal. He definitely will be understood properly by the world. In the midst of tremendous tribulations, he does something incredible, things which no one else in human history could ever do. When we examine people of the past, we find that whoever was great was also lonely. In that sense, isn’t it natural that he should be in such a situation? Although my power is weak, still I try to let him understand that there is a woman at his side who always wants to share the same destiny of life and death. Wouldn’t that small power of a woman become the source of courage to a man? I believe this is my duty as a supportive wife to her husband."

Her assistance for her husband through Ginseng extract, natural spring water, and bright smiles

I asked the secret of how she takes care of her husband, helping him maintain his health under such difficult circumstances, while conducting important tasks—one of which was the recent World Media Conference.

"My husband works so hard, day and night, even forgetting to eat and sleep. He sleeps only two hours a day. So often he prays all night long. But fortunately, he is not fussy about food and eats any kind of food. So I do not need to worry about that too much. Yet, I always prepare Ginseng, so he can take it whenever h needs spiritual relaxation. I mix one portion of Ginseng extract with four portions of honey, making a thin syrup, and serve him a spoonful of it every morning and evening. I also urge him to drink sufficient amounts of natural water.

Perhaps the reason why Mrs. Moon is still as beautiful as a girl and Rev. Moon looks like a healthy young man is due to their drinking natural spring water.

"In order for my husband to be able to work very hard outside, without being bothered by family affairs, I try to be patient and tolerant, no matter what difficult matters may come up in my family. Don’t you think that is one of a wife’s virtues? I also believe that it is important not to lose the bright smile on my face."

One can imagine how many ordeals she had to undergo in order to rear 13 children, but Mrs. Mon stated that she is doing her best not to lose her smiling face, thinking of her husband working so earnestly, traveling a lonely path.

From her words, I could understand why she could not stop smiling. It was the kind of smile one can carry only when she accepts and digests everything.

A Korean wife who endures with strength, like a pure white crane

Mrs. Hak Ja Han. As her name indicates, she is a woman who could endure many times more than any other ordinary woman.

She seemed to be pure and clear, like an autumn flower, but at the same time, she was a traditional Korean woman who could fly slowly, high in the sky, and at the same time stand firmly on the ground with one leg.

Proud of loving Korea more than anyone else does, she is the kind of wife who regards happiness as being situated in a position where she can love her husband.

Mother's Greetings to ICUS

Hak Ja Han
November 13, 1981
Seoul, Korea

Given at a reception for women during the Science Conference

I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to my country in the orient. Reverend Moon and I have wanted to bring you to our homeland for a long time. For ten years, we have thought about this. We discussed many things that we wanted to show you and do for you. It is very meaningful that you have come, and I am so grateful to all of you.

Traditionally, Korean people like to wear white suits and dresses. Korean people love God very deeply, and so we like to wear white clothes as a symbol of God's purity. We respect our ancestors very much, and we are a peace-loving people.

Hundreds of times, other countries have invaded ours, but we always overcame. And in our 5,000-year history, Korea has never attacked another nation. For this reason, we are known as "The Land of the Morning Calm."

During the Korean War, we suffered incredible tragedy. But God really helped us. The young people of 16 nations came to our aid. At that time, all the people of South Korea strongly united with the United Nation- forces. With that unity, we were able to save our freedom from communism.

From the 1970's on, our people have been working very hard. Today Korea is recognized as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Because of our growth, Korea was chosen as the site of the 1988 Olympics. We are grateful to be the host country for this global event.

They say that behind every great man, there is a woman. In this sense, I respect you all very much. You have helped your husbands create many things to help mankind.

I also try to be a wonderful helper for my husband, Reverend Moon. But it is hard, because, as you know, his ideals and goals are very high. Sometimes I wonder how good a job I am doing to help my husband. I never get a report card. If you have a chance to ask him, please do so, and let me know his answer!

Anyhow, I gave him twelve lovely children, so I hope he will give me one medal at least.

In Korean history we have had many wonderful women who have been greatly respected. They gave honor to their families. During times when Korea was attacked by other countries, many women gave their lives helping their husbands fight.

Today, the world situation is becoming dark. Many families are breaking up. My heart is to sad to see this. I think women must give love and practice a sacrificial spirit. When God dwells in every home, then parents and children will have God's love and hope. With families as the cornerstone of society, then our nations and world will become very beautiful and filled with God's love. We will all be one family under one God.

Today, you and your husbands came here to combine all of your spirit and strength to build a better world for our children.

I hope I can become closer to you all. I want to share love and friendship with you, even after you go back to your own countries.

I hope your time in our country will be remembered with joy all your life.

Thank you very much.

Experience Heaven And Hell

Hak Ja Han
May 3, 1977

On your way to heaven you must expect to experience not only the heavenly side, but also the dungeons of hell; in the end, what you go through in hell will be the most precious part of God's grace. In this way you will become strong, and in your process of maturing, you will acquire a wholesome personality that reflects God's own personality. Then you will better appreciate heaven. Someday you will have a record you can be proud of--the chronicle of your victory and perseverance. It will be your source of greatest pride.

Persevere and not react quickly or make hasty judgments. Then you can convert all your ordeals into joy and a source of pride.

Let us talk only of our victorious future and our great vision of the wondrous days to come. Let us rejoice in tears of joy for the future days which we will share together.

Mother’s Testimony

Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han Moon
At True Parent’s Wedding Anniversary
May 3, 1977, East Garden
Translator: Bo Hi Pak

Bo Hi Pak:

Would you like to hear Mother’s testimony? Father asked her to give you her testimony and also tell you some of her own feelings on this wedding anniversary.

Hak Ja Han Moon (Mother):

I would like to talk for a few moments on the background of my birth. Those who listened to Father’s sermon at Belvedere last Sunday should have recognized that there were many special dispensational events that took place, secretly, internally, in order to welcome the True Parents here on earth. In Korea there were many special spiritual groups which were unlike the conventional Christian churches which just blindly believed in the Bible and Jesus Christ, hoping to go to heaven. Those spiritual groups existed solely to receive revelations from God to prepare the way for the Lord of the Second Advent here on earth, and to search to find the heavenly bride.

Mother was born in such circumstances to a very special spiritual family which had constantly been the instrument of God, receiving revelations of the coming of the Lord and the New Day, and what would unfold once he came.

[Mother was overcome with tears]

Sun Myung Moon (Father):

Mother is very sorrowful because looking back to those days she remembers the impossible tribulation that those people, including Mother’s own mother, went through. Those people who were receiving God’s revelation had to suffer in so many incredible ways. They paved the way of indemnity, and many died in very unfortunate circumstances, sometimes in Prison.

Mother:

I was also sorrowful to once again think that those heavenly chosen instruments who were absolutely dedicated to God’s revelations and whose one hope was to some day meet the Messiah, never saw that day.

Bo Hi Pak:

They had truly prepared everything for the coming of the Lord, even food and clothes.

Mother:

God had precisely unfolded to them His plan for sending His son here on earth, and under untold hardships they prepared for the day of the Lord. But unfortunately they did not see that day, and one after another they died. Yet their mission continued on for three generations. At the culmination of one group which had such revelations, I was born. The final spiritualist to inherit the mission of unfolding God’s plan to send his son here on earth recognized me at the age of six, and she said that I would be the bride of the Lord.

Bo Hi Pak:

That woman received constant revelation and confirmation from God that this young lady, less than six years old, was destined to be the bride of heaven.

Mother:

In those days the circumstances in Korea were so difficult that it was almost impossible for anyone to maintain his faith in God and Christ.

Bo Hi Pak:

We were at that time under the Japanese occupation and they denied all religions, particularly Christianity. Mother was living in North Korea at that time, which was under particularly rigid control. The Japanese imperialist government was suppressing all Korean activities, and particularly church activities.

Mother:

I was born in the province of south Pyongyang. We call this Pyongyang Nam Do.

Bo Hi Pak:

This is one of the provinces of North Korea now. It is the same province where Father was born, and Mother’s birthplace was quite near to Father’s own birthplace in Chung-ju. They were born on the same day. Without ever meeting Father, her group still had all these spiritual revelations while Mother was in North Korea. Father has mentioned that these ordained, spiritual groups were primarily in North Korea at that time. It was predicted that Pyongyang, the major city of the northern part of Korea would be the new Jerusalem of the New Age. Christianity was very strong in that area.

Mother:

I did not meet Father in North Korea; after fleeing from the north to the south. I first met Father in Seoul when I was 13. I had just finished primary school and was just a child, about In Jin’s age. I had just finished sixth grade.

Bo Hi Pak:

Of course at that time Mother had absolutely no idea what was going to happen in 1960. She had just joined the church with her own mother.

Mother:

The first time I met Father, he looked at me and asked, "What is your name?" I answered, "My name is Hak Ja Han." Then Father closed his eyes and meditated for a moment and said, almost to himself, but I could still hear, "Oh, God, You have given such a woman, Hak Ja Han, to this country of Korea." At that time I felt strange that this religious leader should have a special feeling or revelation concerning my own future.

At that time I was living in the northeastern part of South Korea known as Chunchon, and Father had his headquarters in the Church at Chungpa dong, in Seoul, so there was quite a distance between us. I continued to attend church and go to school; I finished middle school and then went on to high school. In 1960, one month prior to the day of the blessing, which was March 16 by the lunar calendar, a formal notification came to me, saying, "You shall hereby prepare for a heavenly engagement and forthcoming wedding ."

Bo Hi Pak:

This first heavenly proposal was more than a proposal; it was a heavenly mandate.

Mother:

When this instruction came from Father I felt totally selfless. I felt, "Who am I to decide whether this is good or bad? So far my life has been governed directly by God. Whatever the will of God, whatever His purpose or dispensation, I shall be His servant. I shall obey in everything." That was my feeling.

Father knew me well. Particularly in those days, at the age of 18, in that early springtime I just did not want to analyze the situation. I wanted to totally give myself for the heavenly will. At that time I had a reputation of being rather on the quiet side. I enjoyed tranquillity and quietness, reading and music. I was known also as a rather intellectual young lady. I was not too emotional, not excitable. In a way I seemed slightly chilly and cold toward strangers who met me. My basic character was not outgoing. I always withheld myself and isolated myself from the outside world. I enjoyed my own world and was almost scornful of the world of men.

Bo Hi Pak:

Everyone recognized her brilliant academic ability, but at that time she almost lived like a nun. She shied away from all activities with men, and felt it was somewhat sinful and impure to even just look at men. She was like a beautiful flower in a greenhouse and absolutely isolated herself from the external environment. Of course we know now that this was a heavenly preparation to purify her to meet the Lord one day. However she had not known all these things.

Mother:

From an external perspective, knowing who Father is, people commonly come to the conclusion that I must feel very honored and be very happy to have Father as my husband. They think that God made me in such a way that I was born perfect and that I haven’t had to make any effort. They think that I just met Father and we had a very happy family life, and I am just enjoying my position, and so forth.

This is the general view when people see me. But on the contrary, as much as Father walked the road of the cross and tribulation to be ordained in his position, I was also given an incredible cross to bear in order to become Mother. I had to reach for perfection. That standard is so high that sometimes I felt it was virtually impossible to reach the goal. Through that tremendous ordeal and hardship, patience, perseverance and extraordinary faith were needed to achieve the expectation of God. (Again Mother wept.)

Bo Hi Pak:

When she thinks of the path she walked it automatically brings her to tears because it reminds her of all her hardships and tribulations. This is why, as you can see, Mother is very emotional and sorrowful this morning. Just thinking of the things she passed through is incredible torture. God tested her again and again, just as much as God tested our Father. Satan was always trying to test her just as he tested Jesus and Father. This delicate young lady had to go through the same ordeals; it is all given in a secret chapter of history. But once we have even a glimpse of such implications, knowing the Principle we can just imagine how hard her path was.

Mother:

After just a glimpse of my mission of being married to such an extraordinary person who was carrying such a universal burden, I felt it was virtually impossible to even think of fulfilling it.

Bo Hi Pak:

Furthermore she had grown up like a beautiful flower in a greenhouse, in the most peaceful surroundings and atmosphere. She felt almost like she had been plucked out of the greenhouse and thrown into a desert. There were all kinds of temptations and tests and all kinds of incredible political and spiritual circumstances around her. She was like a little ship in a rugged sea.

Mother:

But during this period I felt the grace of God constantly upon me. When I was in agony God revealed Himself to me and gave me messages and guidance. When I was not receiving such guidance from Him directly God used the people around me, loving people, protecting people. Through them God gave me constant guidance, daily instruction, and leadership. Those days were a tremendous ordeal of difficulties and tribulations, but at the same time those days were truly most beautiful, a time of grace when God’s presence was indeed with me. Now that I have come to this point, when I look back, all those memories of hardship have turned into joy, something that I can converse about and have fellowship with Father over.

Bo Hi Pak:

Between Father and Mother there are endless subjects of conversation, limitless realms of understanding. Even though they don’t talk too much they understand each other’s situation so deeply because the circumstances which they have each passed through are very similar. They understood one common purpose and they persevered and were victorious. They overcame the difficulties, reached out for perfection, came up to that level, and now satanic infiltration is no longer possible. When Father and Mother see each other they have such a victorious feeling, and that gives them tremendous comfort and peace at this time.

Through her experiences Mother has learned so much about God and God’s way of doing things. She passed thorough hell as well as heaven. Both experiences were needed to make her perfect and mature enough to match heavenly expectation. If she had lived through only the joyful and heavenly side she would not have appreciated that heaven, but she also went through the bottom of hell. Sometimes she felt that it was impossible to continue, just absolutely impossible! Such situations were too numerous to even count. During those days what was needed was untiring faith, determination, perseverance and patience. Those made her what she is today. By the same token, she would like to give you the following message:

Mother:

On your way to heaven you must not experience only the heavenly side. You must taste the dungeons of hell, too. That will finally be the most precious part of God’s grace. By doing so you will become strong and you can mature all around into a wholesome personality, God’s personality. Then you will appreciate heaven better and some day you will have something you can be proud of your record of victory and perseverance. It will give you pride.

Even in the last couple of days, during the fishing expedition which Father took you on, there may sometimes have been a moment, even a quick moment, when you thought in your mind, "Why is Father asking us to do this silly, impossible thing? Who would go in the water in this weather? It is so deep we may die." I am sure that every one of you had a glimpse of such thoughts.

That is the moment when you must not react quickly; you must not make a hasty judgment. That is the moment you must call on the name of God, and think, "This is the time I must prove how worthy I am." Then the difficulty can become a joy. You can find a joy in going through that ordeal. My message is that you must be persevering and not make quick judgments. Do not react quickly. Then all your ordeals can turn into joy, into something to be proud of.

My tears this morning have two meanings: sorrow, but not only sorrow, also the joy of victory to be here with Father this way. In the future I would like to shed only tears of joy, so I ask all of you to not ask me about the past from this time on. Let us only talk about our victorious future and our great vision of the great days to come. Let us rejoice in tears of joy for the future days that we will gather together. Thank you.

Father:

Before the heavenly wedding in 1960, for more than 15 years I was alone, single-minded for the mission. Yet everyone who knew the Divine Principle knew that I would marry some day. That was apparent to everyone and each woman received in her own way a revelation that she could be a candidate to be the bride of heaven. God revealed this to them because in a certain respect everyone takes the bride’s role to the Messiah. Therefore God can certainly say to anyone, "You shall be a candidate for the heavenly bride." But through the Divine Principle we can see that also one physical person will culminate that prophecy, and that is Mother.

Knowing the Divine Principle, I am sure that you can understand that when God sent His son in the position of True Parent that the Messiah is truly the bridegroom of mankind. The Messiah is in a position of bridegroom to all. Therefore, God wanted to have him adored by more people than anyone else in history. God must set that record, and for that reason this kind of phenomenon was seen. This was the background of the heavenly wedding, and then all of a sudden I chose Mother, who was in Chunchon at that time and who was relatively unknown to church members, as the heavenly bride. You can imagine the shock wave that went through our church.

There were many families who believed that the heavenly bride might come out of their own home because of the revelations they had received. Not only one family but many firmly believed that. Think what a shocking event it was to those families to have Mother chosen. There were also many spiritual old ladies who were like prophetesses. I had listened to them as instruments of heavenly revelation on many occasions, and they had participated in many dispensational roles. Therefore they felt a certain pride and authority, and felt that they were the ones who would decide the bride of heaven. But all of a sudden, without consulting them I chose Mother.

So many young women who were fully qualified from a worldly point of view were sure that they were the one who would be hand-picked. They were beautiful, had graduated from universities and had all kinds of social education and a good home background. They thought, "The Messiah must come to me. Someone like me shall become his bride."

Furthermore, in 1960 I was 40, a most significant providential age. In their own thinking the people concluded that the heavenly bride should be somewhere around 35, maybe 34 or 30. As a result the people in that age group thought that they were the most blessed age group and that one of them would be chosen.

In addition they knew that the role of heavenly bride would be a role of tremendous leadership. How could any young woman, a teenager or someone in her twenties, fulfill that position? How could she exercise the leadership that would be needed in Mother’s role? It would be impossible. Thinking of Mother’s role in the church, they thought the candidate should be mature, somewhere between 30 and 40. Again, it was a very logical conclusion.

Since their hopes were so great and their expectations so high, when those hopes and expectations were betrayed their reaction was equally deep. Their disappointment and disenchantment was great. This is the first time I have spoken of this.

Knowing about this impossible, tense background, as soon as the holy wedding was conducted in 1960. I asked Mother’s mother to confine herself; she was not to come see her own daughter too often, or if she did she should come secretly through the back door. That put Mother’s mother in such a miserable, cast-out position that nobody envied her role. Everyone had thought that becoming Mother’s mother would be glorious, like being the mother of an empress. But I just silenced all those expectations and pushed her into a sacrificial role, not even letting her come to see her daughter freely.

Furthermore, in the first year I treated Mother almost like a servant instead of my wife. We were bride and bridegroom but that honeymoon period was nothing but an ordeal on Mother’s part. She started out as a servant because I wanted her to start out from the very bottom.

The important internal meaning behind my actions in that period was a test of faith was a test of faith for Grandmother and Mother. No matter what the circumstances, they should not complain or rebel against me. They had to accept and persevere. That was the real goal, what I really wanted. And they met that expectation.

It was the Cain and Abel situation all over again. In order to understand Cain’s position you have to suffer for the sake of Cain or you have no way to become Abel. Grandmother and Mother were in the Abel position to all other people, but they had to be in a position to embrace all those who are despondent. I was already victorious in all the dispensational levels, from the individual to the universal level; Satan had no right to accuse me. However, Mother was at the beginning, so the first seven years were Mother’s training session, Mother’s seven-year fishing expedition. The first three years were for her to struggle for her own victory as an individual woman, to be victorious in the sight of God by winning over Satan. The next four years were for the whole family to go through that incredible testing period. Mother started out at the bottom, moving toward perfection.

During those years, all kinds of things were said, even that mother was a failure, and that I was going to hand-pick a new bride. You can imagine how heartbreaking that kind of rumor was to Mother. Furthermore, when it came out that our birthdays were the same day, some people accused her saying, "She is just creating a false birthday to make the days the same." It was all Satan’s doing. Under those circumstances Mother had to be silent, persevere and win.

As the days and years passed, what happened? Since Mother continually persevered, since she was patient and silent and maintained her faith in me, eventually the whole environment of accusation was reversed into respect and admiration. By then everyone was nodding and saying, "She really deserves to be Mother of the universe. She really is Mother."

Because the reason for all this was to restore the center of love, you can imagine how extreme the passions became. Heavenly love and heavenly jealousy were all involved. It was a fierce battle in a way. I came to conquer love and restore love for God, to conquer the heart, and restore the heart. Therefore I had to pay indemnity for love, be victorious over love, and restore all love for heaven. That was truly a cross of love, the most extraordinary cross of all.

At the time we never even discussed these situations. I never said to Mother, "You must understand this, persevere and win because I am doing this on purpose." If I had explained and comforted in that way, then even though she had won, it would not have been valuable. Mother had to figure it our herself, persevere in her own understanding, in her own right. I have been explaining this in depth, revealing it today to you as I never have even to Mother; this is the first time in my life that I have explained it in such depth.

Through their victorious demonstration of faith, their untiring devotion and absolute dedication to me, Mother and Grandmother Hong were victorious. Therefore, after achieving this condition of universal victory, I have now decided to give Grandmother glory as mother of Mother. In her own lifetime she must receive the respect, admiration, and glory that are due her. If she died without receiving that glory, it would affect the coming generation of children. It is according to the Principle point of view that I am now treating her differently.

The restoration path is that difficult, that extraordinary. You don’t know anything about it. Your heart will decide everything; your heart is the decisive matter. It is the same in my own dispensation. When my own heart is set right then everything can succeed, prosper, and expand. By the same token, when your heart is set in the right position in relation to the True Parents and God, then everything will start to work out around you. Until your heart is settled, however, nothing will happen.

As you can see, Mother and Grandmother were both chosen for a glorious responsibility and position, but they started out their journey at the lowest level. This is your lesson. The blessing of the glorious heavenly throne is not given from the highest, most glorious position. That blessing must be won at the lowest level of human misery. The it will endure eternally and will embrace all humankind. Blessings never come in high places; blessings come to you in the lowest places.

The other Sunday I clearly explained that the Messiah’s role started down in the dungeon. I applied that principle to Mother, and that same principle shall be applied to my own children. Therefore it cannot be changed for you. That is why I push you. Can you complain? Suppose that in those days of hardship Mother had complained against me and given up, thrown up her hands and said, "Father, no matter what you are, I don’t care." Then she could not be a Mother to you all. In your case, too, if I place you in a certain position and you start to complain, then you lose your position entirely. When you become self-centered and begin to complain, then you begin to lose.

Selflessness is the key.