The second part of the first phrase of the First Amendment reads as follows: "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Take a very close look at these words. It should be very clear that the Founder's were saying that the Government should never try to prohibit the exercising of or participation in that religion. That the Government should never try to prevent prayer or Christian conversation. That each one of you should be able to freely exercise your Christian faith at school or anywhere you might be in America. This was purposed to be your right as a citizen of the United States of America and was encouraged by the Founding Fathers because they knew this faith and trust in God was the basis of America's foundation and the source of our blessings as a nation under God.

Here is how the deception began. On November 7, 1801, the Baptists of Danbury, Connecticut wrote Jefferson a letter. They were concerned that the phrase "free exercise of religion" in the First Amendment suggested that the right to religious exercise was a government-granted, rather than a God-granted right, thus implying that someday the government might try to take control of religious expression. They believed that freedom of religion was a God-granted, unalienable right. Jefferson understood their concern and in answering them in his letter of 1802 he made a clear statement that there was a "wall of separation between church and state"... to insure that the government would never interfere with religious activities.

Today, all that is ever heard of Jefferson's letter is the phrase, "a wall of separation between church and state," without any mention of the context or the explanation given in the letter. Nor do they mention any of the applications by courts that ruled for a century-and-a-half that the clear understanding of the First Amendment was that it prohibited the establishment of a single national denomination. National policies and rulings in those 150 years always reflected that interpretation. The truth of Jefferson's involvement in the framing of the Constitution and the First Amendment is... He did not participate as he was not even in America when it was framed and he properly acknowledged that he could not be considered an authority. He arrived back in America two years after the Constitution was written and signed and almost two months after the language of the First Amendment had been completed!

In 1853, a group petitioned Congress to separate Christian principles from government. They desired a so-called "separation of church and state" with chaplains being turned out of the congress and the military. Both the House and the Senate Judiciary Committees returned with their reports. The following are excerpts of the House report delivered on March 27, 1854: "Had the people [the Founding Fathers], during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle. At the time of the adoption of the Constitution and the amendments, the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, but not any one sect [denomination].... In this age, there is no substitute for Christianity.... That was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants." Two months later, the Judiciary Committee made this strong declaration: "The great, vital, and conservative element in our system [the thing that holds our system together] is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Could this be more clearly stated? This is the House and Senate Judiciary Committees of the Federal Government speaking on record for each one of you to hear as a recorded statement of history. They wanted each one of us future generation Americans to know that our Government was established and governed as a Christian nation. Jefferson's letter was used again and again (in proper context) by courts to ensure that Christian principles remained a part and basis of government.

Christianity was alive and well in America's government and society until 1947 when the Court, in the case of Everson v. Board of Education, took only eight words from Jefferson's letter, and announced: The First Amendment has erected "a wall of separation between church and state." "That wall must be kept high and impregnable." In 1962, the Court redefined the meaning and application of a single word: the word "church." For 170 years prior to that case, the word "church" (as used in the phrase "separation of church and state") was defined to mean "a federally established denomination." The Court explained that the word "church" would now mean "a religious activity in public." This (1962) was the turning point in the interpretation of the First Amendment and this was the beginning of America's downward spiral away from God as a nation. From that corrupt moment in America's history, our nation has been on a road to destruction from within.

To demonstrate this point, the following are some of the statistics in our nation today: The United States is now #1 in the world in violent crimes, #1 in the world in divorced families, #1 in the western world in teenage pregnancies, #1 in the world in voluntary abortions, #1 in the world in AIDS cases, #1 in the world in illegal drug use, #1 in the western world in illiteracy (of all industrial nations, we have the highest illiteracy rate). In 1990 a White House briefing reported that 700,000 students graduating from high school, after twelve years of school, were unable to read their own diplomas! Since 1962 violent crimes have increased 690% in America. Sadly, most all of you have been affected either directly or indirectly. There is no community in America today, which does not feel the effect of this increase in crime. Listen again to what John Adams, America's 2nd President said to each one of us: "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Now you know the truth concerning the First Amendment. And now you have been given the facts concerning the true history of the corruption of this great document by leaders of America who would willingly deny each one of you the wonderful benefits of our Founding Father's Godly wisdom and leadership. As you look through the pages of America's Youth For Truth you will surely know that America was established as a Christian nation and surely can become one again with the organized efforts of each one of you participating as a member of America's Youth For Truth. Rest assured.... as you unite under the banner of America's Youth For Truth in this most honorable cause of reclaiming America's Christian heritage; your voices will be heard loud and clear throughout America by the leaders of America and the people of America. You, the youth of America, now have a platform to speak from! And you will be heard because each and everyone of you represent the future leadership of America and your efforts will be blessed!

Reference sources - Library of Congress, Washington D.C., America's God and Country by William J. Federer published 1994, The Foundations of American Government by David Barton published 1993, Education and the Founding Fathers by David Barton published 1993, America's Godly Heritage by David Barton published 1993, The Image and the Reality: Thomas Jefferson and the First Amendment by David Barton published 2003, The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) resource section, First Liberties of the Rutherford Institute resource center, Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, Coral Ridge Ministries.