Father Moon Proclaims Las Vegas the Target of Heavenly Development at National Assembly
March 07 2011
Las Vegas, the world famous venue for spectacle, as well as spectacular immorality, got a bright white shaft of new culture when the Reverend Sun Myung Moon and about 2,000 disciples gathered at Caesar's Palace on March 5, 2011 to celebrate his life in particular, and the life of living for the sake of others. It was also the moment for tears and a proclamation from the 92-year-old founder of the Unification Church, who isn't showing any sign of slowing the pace for building the Kingdom of Heaven on earth in his own lifetime.
"The world of One Family under God, where all people are equal and all nations are like siblings, is unfolding before your eyes," he told a packed crowd of 2300 people in the Octavius Ballroom of Caesar's Palace.
Father Moon, who with his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, is revered as the True Parent of mankind, promised to spend the next two years investing in the people, the land and infrastructure of Las Vegas in order to make an environment suitable for the hub of God's Kingdom in North America.
Ariana Moon, the daughter of Rev. In Jin Moon, leading a large crowd in a new line dance to Shakira's song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" on the dance floor of the Gala, held Saturday evening.
He went on to say: "My development plans, which are being pushed ahead centering on the Hoover Dam and areas surrounding Las Vegas here in the Western United States, will soon become well-known. They will contribute greatly to fulfilling the ideal of the world becoming One Family under God. I hope that you will all participate in these grand projects which are for the sake of all humanity, and thus become reliable workers who pray and shed sweat together with us. If you become one with my consciousness, which is revealed in my autobiography, then this city of Las Vegas, which has been called Sin City because of the sin and evil within it, can become a major city of the world that establishes the foundation of the Abel UN centering on God, as a Shining City that is governed by God's true love. I have no doubt that Las Vegas can become a Shining City, and moreover, a Sun City - a city with a bright future. Let's do this together. Nobody can stop God's work. In this time of transition, let's give hope to God." Rev. Moon's speech was one of his shortest ever, but he said later that he had chosen every word and sentence with deliberation.
One Family to Model a Family Culture
As he has said frequently in the course of more than 65 years of public ministry, Father Moon explained that an ideal culture based upon families will begin with one model family.
"The movement to realize a society in which all people become one family based on interdependence, mutual prosperity and universally shared values begins from one single family. In such a society, everyone will break down the walls in their hearts, and boundaries between nations will be removed on a cosmic level. Therefore, finding and establishing a true family is our providential calling that will advance the establishment of the God-centered kingdom of cosmic peace on this earth."
Sonic Cult band members perform at Rev. Moon's Autobiography event in Las Vegas, on March 5.
Dr. Chang Shik Yang, the Continental Director of the Unification Church in North America, explained why Rev. Moon had called his disciples and friends to Las Vegas for a historic proclamation. He said during opening ceremonies that "Rev. Moon especially loves Las Vegas, which is visited by 40 million people annually and moves busily 24 hours a day. He loves the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, which are God-made miracles, and Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas strip, which are man-made miracles."
Dr. Yang said further: "He hopes that Las Vegas will become an international city beloved to the people of the world. He wants the fallen culture to be cleansed and the good culture of true love to be established. During the last year, around 50,000 copies of Rev. Moon's autobiography were distributed in Las Vegas. Many people have wanted to meet the main character of the book, Rev. Moon, and to hear his teachings in person. That is why we planned today's historical event. Through the teachings of our True Parents, who have sought to fulfill God's will, I hope that you will be able to reconsider the significance of life. Once again, I pray that God's great blessings can be upon you and your families, and I thank you for making this event into a great success!"
One Family under God
Archbishop George Augustus Stallings gave congratulations to Father Moon by saying: "Each of us is blessed to know this man. We are honored to breathe the same air as him, for the man who has come to establish One Family under God, is among us."
In welcoming remarks, the Rev. In Jin Moon, Father Moon's daughter, as well as President and CEO of HSA-USA, and Founder of Lovin' Life Ministries, said, "Today is a remarkable and profound day. And here we are at the place [Caesar's Palace] that celebrates Caesar and today, all roads lead to True Parents. And I find it remarkable that our True Parents are coming as the Lord of the Second Advent with the mission to fulfill what Jesus could not fulfill 2,000 years ago, meaning wishing for all of the children of the world to inherit this beautiful thing called true life, true love and true lineage -- and in essence as substantiating one family under God."
Participants applauding at Father Moon's Las Vegas speech.
Bishop Noel Jones, Senior Pastor of the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California, also tendered congratulatory remarks to Father Moon, whom he credited with some of the phrases Bishop Jones has used in his own sermons. "God has gifted all of us with talents, but not all equally," he said, adding, "God has gifted one man [Father Moon] with the talent to bring us all together."
Father Moon was introduced by his youngest son, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, the highest ranking leader in the Unification Church International, who noted: "I have known him to be a wise, loving father, but my parents are not simply the parents of their 14 biological children. I confess that only in the last several years did I come to realize who these parents really are."
Floral bouquets were given to Father and Mother Moon by Japanese movie star Shin Koyamada and his wife, Nia Lyte Koyamada. Mr. Koyamada, best known to audience after his co-starring role "Nobutada" in the Warner Bros. action epic The Last Samurai, was among more than a dozen participants who were honored before the keynote address as Ambassadors of Peace, an honorary title awarded by the Universal Peace Federation USA.
"This is a great peaceful man who everybody should know about. It's been my pleasure to support his program and I am looking forward to support whatever he does in the future," Mr. Koyamada told Familyfed.org.
"I think he has such a powerful and fantastic message - to unite the world through spiritual beliefs, because I believe we are all one, no matter what color, denomination, or culture we are. And at his age, 92, to be able to have dedicated his whole life to world peace and uniting people under one God, is a true inspiration. I think everyone is very special just for being here," said Mrs. Nia Lyte Koyamada.
The Keynote Address by Father Moon was followed by an afternoon break, during which many of the participants took a refresher course in ballroom dancing. A gala banquet followed at 7:00 p.m. which got rave reviews by many. The music of Sonic Cult entertained the dancers until long after 11:00 p.m.
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Attachment(s) from Alex Novikov
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