by Jorge Gomez • 3 minutes
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey recently signed a law requiring public schools and institutes of higher education to display the national motto, “In God We Trust.”
“I think for our teachers and students,” Morrisey said, “we have to ensure that we’re teaching kids about the founding principles of our country — a true and accurate retelling of civics and American life and history.”
“First of all, I want to give honor to God for this bill. It tells Americans and kid what our U.S. motto is,” said Sen. Mike Azinger, who sponsored the legislation. “If America stays with that motto in our hearts and West Virginia stays with that motto in our hearts, we’ll be OK.”
Publicly displaying “In God We Trust” is a longstanding historical tradition. Posting the motto in classrooms is all about helping students understand and remember the foundations on which our country is built.
It’s a disservice to our students when government omits the religious parts of our history. If students don’t know about our nation’s religious heritage, they will never understand the underlying principles for much of American history, law and civil society.
Displaying “In God We Trust” Embodies the Best of Our Traditions
The motto is based in the beliefs of America’s Founders and what they hoped our country would stand for in the future. The Founders themselves sealed the Declaration of Independence with a request for the “protection of divine Providence.”
The history of the motto can be traced back to Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner. Most of us know the melody and words by heart. But did you know that what we sing together is just the first verse? During the War of 1812, Key drafted the fourth verse, which took on a profoundly religious tone:
“O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – ‘In God is our trust,’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
As we know, the song went on to become our national anthem, and in 1864 the phrase “In God We Trust” was printed on national currency for the first time. President Eisenhower signed the law making it our official national motto in 1956.
What’s more, every federal appeals court to consider a case involving the national motto has upheld it as constitutional.
Public display of “In God We Trust” serves the vital purpose of bringing Americans together. The national motto is a visual representation of one of the most important freedoms we have as Americans: the freedom of religion.
Even during our current time in which we disagree on many issues, Americans still overwhelmingly agree with and believe in our founding principles. According to an Associated Press poll, 84% believe that the freedom of religion—the First Freedom listed in the Bill of Rights—is extremely or very important to our national identity.
Public displays of faith and religion are a part of our history and tradition. They embody the best of America’s ideals.
Religious Freedom is Being Restored, But the Battle Isn’t Over
Thanks to our Supreme Court victories, we’ve opened up great opportunities to restore faith across America. We’re just at the beginning of some huge legal battles about the future of our freedoms.
Our opponents are already working relentlessly to stop “In God We Trust,” the Ten Commandments, or other historic, religious messages from being restored in the public square. Many of these groups are incredibly well-funded—with millions of dollars at their disposal to fight in court.
That’s why we need your continued support. Your gift is essential in this fight—it’s the difference-maker that will help us win more cases and continue changing the future of our country.
Please give to First Liberty today.
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