Restoring God’s Land
Twin Peaks overlooking San Francisco, Calif., is the first Holy Ground established by Rev. Moon in America in 1965.
“Holy Ground is a representative area of a nation or city,” said the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, co-founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU). “It is God’s place, a place where He is more free to hear our prayers… God symbolically restores that land as His own property.”
With Rev. Moon’s guidance, the first Holy Grounds were founded in South Korea by early Unificationists from October 5 to 7, 1962. These four Holy Grounds were selected in the north, south, east, and west districts of Seoul. Rev. Moon explained that originally all land belonged to God, our Heavenly Parent, but after humanity fell away from God, God lost everything. Rev. Moon shared his desire to reclaim God’s lands symbolically, first through Holy Grounds and later by restoring the homeland.
In January 1965, Rev. Moon departed South Korea for his first world tour. After spending two weeks in Japan, he left for the U.S., where he established the first Holy Ground in America on Twin Peaks overlooking San Francisco. In the next 44 days, Rev. Moon traveled by car to all 48 contiguous states, establishing 55 Holy Grounds along the way.
Rev. Moon’s first visit to America lasted until July 1965 when he departed for Europe. From January through October of that year, Rev. Moon founded 120 Holy Grounds in 39 nations, including America and throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
Rev. Moon returned to South Korea and created Holy Grounds in each regional district before establishing the main Holy Grounds in Seoul, which included one at Cheongpa Dong church. The original four Holy Grounds founded by early Unificationists in 1962 then became part of the official seven Holy Grounds in Seoul by Rev. Moon. He finished blessing all of the Holy Grounds throughout the world on January 1, 1966.
“The atmosphere at the Holy Grounds is sacred,” said Rev. Moon. “When we pray at a Holy Ground, our prayers relate to the historical foundation of comforting God’s heart through reclaiming His land. Because of this, prayers offered at the Holy Grounds have a greater effect… Our mind and attitude should be more pious and we should feel closer to God.”
Today, the Holy Grounds throughout the U.S. are frequently visited with prayers for the country and world, as Unificationist leaders and members join FFWPU North America Regional Director Dr. Chung Sik Yong on his national tour to revive the spirit of America. Since early August, Dr. Yong has met with communities across the nation while offering prayers at local Holy Grounds concerning a range of issues facing the U.S. amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While visiting the Southeast region, Dr. Yong expressed the desire for each FFWPU state leader to multiply the Holy Grounds in counties and cities within their jurisdiction. “These Holy Grounds established by Father Moon are very important,” he said. “We must pray together for the spirit of America.”
You can learn more about Dr. Yong’s national tour by also joining Morning Devotion here, and learn more about Rev. Moon’s life in his autobiography available here.
