Testimony Of In Jin Moon At The Rally For Religious Freedom

July 25, 1984
Constitution Hall
Washington, D.C.

In Jin Moon, the second daughter of True Parents, speaks before a full house at Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. on July 25, 1984. It was the first time that a child of True Parents has spoken to the American public.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

My name is In Jin Moon. My father is the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. I am his second daughter.

As we all gather together here tonight to rally around religious freedom, I know my father Rev. Moon sits in the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, praying for this pageant for religious freedom in America.

The day of July 20, 1984, was as if the end of the world had come to my family. This was the day my father entered into the prison. I never imagined in a million years that this could happen to my father, particularly here in America, the land of freedom, the land of God which my father dearly loves and serves.

My father suffered nearly three years in a concentration camp in North Korea. His only crime was preaching the word of God in a communist state. The average prisoner never lasted more than six months in this death camp. But because of his faith, my father survived nearly three years.

He has said, "Only by the spirit of God did I survive." In 1950, during the Korean War, he was liberated by American troops who saved his life.

My father said, "I owe my life to America. I want to do God's will and repay my gratitude to America."

In 1971 he came to this country obedient only to the voice of God. For the last twelve years he has shed his tears and sweat in service to America.

He told me over and over again, "I love America as my own country because this is the country that Heavenly Father dearly loves. God needs America to save the world."

He worked so hard. I have almost never seen my father sleep. He is always up working and praying. I have never seen anyone so dedicated to America's dream and to God.

Now America has imprisoned my father. He is not concerned with his personal suffering. His life has been filled with tears and tribulation as he tried to do God's will. What is most painful to my family is that the nation my father dearly loves has imprisoned him. The land of God that symbolizes freedom for all has imprisoned my father. The government of this God-loving nation has sent my father to jail. This is very difficult for me to bear and to understand.

My father is now 64 years old. He is guilty of no crime. Yet tonight, as we speak, he might have just finished washing dishes in the prison cafeteria or may have just finished scrubbing the floor. Last Monday when I visited him in the prison, I saw my father for the first time in prison clothes. I cried and cried.

But my father told me not to weep for him and not to be angry at the government that jailed him. He told me, as he has told his millions of followers throughout the world, to turn our anger and grief into powerful action to make this country truly free again.

For the sake of my father, for the sake of other persecuted people here in America and throughout the world, I promised my father that I would take up his fight unto my life. I am so grateful for all of you here tonight because you are fighting for religious freedom for all Americans and for all people around the world.

Religious freedom is the foundation for all freedoms. If America loses religious freedom, I know there is no other country on the face of the earth which can bring it back. For that reason I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for standing up for religious freedom.

I miss my father very much. I want to have my father come home very soon. My mother and eleven brothers and sisters thank you because your fight for religious freedom will help to hasten that day.

I would like to now read my father's message from Danbury Prison.

The Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Message from Danbury Prison

My beloved brothers and sisters under God:

I regret I cannot be with you tonight in person. But know that 1 am with you in spirit. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations for coming to the nation's capital to stand up for religious freedom.

From my earliest days as a teenager in the poverty-stricken land of Korea, I was driven in my quest for truth and my search for God. From that point on I have always felt so deeply the preciousness of religious freedom.

Even when I was arrested and beaten nearly to death by the North Korean communists, and later when I was sent to die in a communist concentration camp, I had no fear. I felt deeply that God was with me. I felt so close to God and had daily communion with Him for the three years I was in the death camp. I did not pray for God to come and rescue me. Knowing that my Father in heaven already knew my suffering, I spent every minute of the day reassuring Him that I would not be defeated by this suffering.

I am now in America and I am now in an American prison. In my twelve years of living in this country, I have never felt as close to God as I do now. I love America more than ever. If his will is being served by my imprisonment, then I am here in gratitude. When I serve my fellow prisoners their food or scrape the plates after dinner or scrub the kitchen floor, I am doing it for my Heavenly Father. I am serving His children. And I am serving America and the world. I am therefore doing my chores with joy.

I came to America in 1971 at God's command. God told me that America is His final hope, His precious jewel which He prepared for the final battle against the atheistic communism in the last days. However, America needs help. America is turning away from God. God cannot afford to lose America. God told me to go to America to wake people from their spiritual sleep before atheistic communism takes over the world.

You know that with such a mandate, I did not come to this country to win a popularity contest. I spoke out and I took a stand. I gave America every ounce of my soul. In the process, I became unpopular and have been persecuted and now I have ended up in a U.S. prison. This is no surprise to me, for I almost knew such a cross would come.

I thank God that my situation and that of Pastor Sileven and many others have become rallying points for religious freedom in the United States. God works in mysterious ways. Here in prison God can use me to awaken America more powerfully than ever before. America's religious communities must be united to preserve religious freedom. Our united effort alone, like this pageant, will ensure the survival of America.

Here in prison I will do my part. I encourage you to do your part. Together, we will awaken America. I am willing to suffer any indignity, to go any distance, to do any labor and to bear any cross. I am even willing to give my life if that will ensure that America and the world will survive and do God's will.

My prayers are always with you. Prayers from prison can be powerful. Tonight we mark a new beginning, yet our job lies ahead. Let us move forward together in the spirit of Jesus Christ and claim a glorious victory for America, for the world and for God.

God bless you and God bless America.