Register now for the USA 250th Anniversary Celebration-America and God’s Will.
July 7, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. eastern time.
Expert panelists will discuss the relevance of key points from the speech America and God’s Will, delivered by Rev. Sun Myung Moon at the Bicentennial God Bless America Festival at the Washington Monument.
Attend in person at the Peace Kingdom Center in Harpers Ferry, WV, or online by Zoom.
Free-Registration Required
Details and Registration
Cheon Seong Gyeong 1892
I caught one black fish yesterday, but you cannot imagine how strong this particular one was. This amazing fish even cracked open a shellfish and ate it. In fishing, the moment that requires the most careful attention is fishing for black fish. You know crabs, right? When I cut the crab and put it on the hook as bait, a black fish comes and eats it away. It will come to eat and quickly go away. It is miraculous. When there are many fishing rods with bait placed in the water, these black fish come and eat the bait without you even noticing them. (217-208, 1991.6.1)
Cheon Seong Gyeong 1028
When you give sermons on Sunday, you must be serious. If I were you, I would not get any sleep. How could one sleep? Giving a sermon is like giving an injection in order to save other people’s lives. It is the same as giving a rejuvenation shot. We need to give members one week’s worth of medication and rejuvenation shots. You must lead from the serious position of a doctor who gives a shot to a patient who is on the brink of death. That is why when you go to the podium; it is like going to the place of execution. (75-176, 1975.1.2)
Cheon Seong Gyeong
Selections from the Speeches of Rev. Sun Myung Moon
Book 7
Etiquette and Ceremonies
Chapter 4
Summary
To establish a true reign of peace, you must live a life of unconditional love that honors your nation even more than your ancestors did, ensuring you are never a source of shame to your lineage. The Unification movement fully embraces the tradition of honoring ancestors, instructing members to visit graves with the same deep respect they would show to God, repent for past shortcomings, and hold annual memorial services on the anniversaries of their passings. Performing these bowing rituals and preparing food tables in a room with True Parents’ picture is a holy, liberating act rather than a sin, as it shifts secular ancestor worship into a heavenly tradition centered on True Parents and the divine lineage. Because Korea is considered the eldest son nation whose historical focus on genealogies aligns with heavenly law, following these practices allows families to secure the rights of a chosen people and create a royal domain where succeeding generations can transition directly into heaven.
Section 13. Ancestral Rituals for Blessed Families
13.1. Laws on ancestor worship were originally part of heavenly law.
You have to live life in such a way that you are not ashamed in front of your ancestors. You must love the nation more than your ancestors did. Love is such that if you give one hundred percent, 120 percent returns. The more you practice true love, the more it accumulates. It has been moving history. (179-93, 1988.7.22)
If your grandparents are deceased, you should visit their graves. When you visit their graves, you should pay your respects to them as if God were buried in that grave. On that day, you should repent for not attending your grandparents during your lifetime. (220-349, 1991.10.20)
Your ancestors come on the anniversary of the day that they passed away. Prepare an offering table and hold a memorial service for them then. If you do it in a room that has True Parents’ picture, bowing to your ancestors would not be a sin. It is not a sin to prepare offering food and perform memorial services for your ancestors. (212-100, 1991.1.2)
The Unification Church allows the honoring of ancestors. We should carry on that tradition. In the future, this will be done in the opposite way from the secular tradition; instead it will be centered on True Parents. This is not a secular tradition from the secular world. If we attend the heavenly Parent, kingdom, and ancestors, a royal domain can emerge, where we can eternally attend the realm of tribal messiahship as part of the mainstream lineage, which can bequeath the way of attendance to succeeding generations. It will be a nation where you can attend the King and sing praises for the eternal reign of peace and prosperity. You, your mother, father, family, and tribe can go directly to heaven only after having lived in such a nation. (220-221, 1991.10.19)
You should value the right of the chosen people and their lineage. The right of the chosen people is the right of the firstborn son. Korea is the eldest son nation. The purpose of Koreans becoming a people that love their genealogy was for the sake of carrying on the lineage. It is not wrong to honor your ancestors and perform annual memorial services on the day they departed. In the future, there will be a time when we revere our parents more than do those who belong to Confucianism. (226-277, 1992.2.9)
Is it all right for the Unification Church to offer ancestral rites? It is liberating for us! From now on, you will be allowed to perform ancestral rites. Formerly, God did not want us to hold ancestral rites. Korean laws on honoring ancestors are the heavenly law. Koreans are a unique race in the world. Only Korea is practicing this way. (240-94, 1992.12.11)
pgs. 1093-1094
Daily Inspiration Discussion Forum
What is the traditional way that ancestors are honored in Korea?
Share you answer here to discuss with and help others.