By
Andrew Webb Journal Staff Writer
Members and clergy from churches statewide gathered Wednesday night to
hear Korean evangelist Rev. Sun Myung Moon as he called for a spiritual
"renewing of the nation." Moon, speaking
through an interpreter, told the audience to "sanctify marriage" and put
an end to divorce. He said a strengthening of the family would lead to a
strengthening of the nation. "Live for the
sake of family, and God will eventually come to us," he said. Moon said America
should be a spiritual leader to the rest of the world. "When a nation
places its own needs first, it won't be able to influence the world," he
said. The event was part
of a 50-state tour organized by The Family Federation for World Peace
and Unification, a multidenoninational organization aimed at using
biblical principles to strengthen families and communities, according to
president Rev. Michael Jenkins. State Sen. Mark
Boitano, R-Albuquerque, and former governor David Cargo participated in
the event, held at the Albuquerque Marriott on Louisiana NE. Jenkins said Moon's
ideology focuses on breaking down racial
barriers. "We believe
God has chosen America to be a light to the rest of the world," Jenkins
said. "We should not allow racial walls, and we believe Moon has been
chosen to bring us all together." Moon founded
the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in
1954. It became known as the Unification
Church. His book, "The
Divine Principle," serves as the basic scripture for the church. He
wrote that he had a vision of Christ when he was 16 and believed that
God chose him to save people from
Satanism. In the early
1970s, he began missionary operations in the United States and drew
young people to his movement. That generated controversy, with parents
contending he had indoctrinated their children into what they called a
cult. Followers, who
came to be known as "Moonies," addressed Moon and his wife as Father and
Mother.
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