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Texas County Courthouse Becomes First in State to Add ‘In God We Trust’

Sep. 1, 2011 11:20am Mike Opelka

“In God We Trust.” On Tuesday, those four simple words were added to the walls of the Smith County Courthouse in northeast Texas.

Texas Courthouse Adds In God We Trust

There is a curious fact about this story, though: apparently the Smith County Court House is the first county courthouse in the history of the state of Texas to have the motto that appears on all American money, printed or minted, put on its walls. The effort was assisted by “In God We trust America,” a group calling for elected officials in cities, towns and counties all across the country to post America’s officially adopted national motto on the walls of their buildings.

In the case of Smith County, the addition of “In God We Trust” was voted on and approved by city commissioners last month and Tuesday was the first day that the motto appeared on the walls of the courtroom.

KLTV in Lindale, TX covered the story and spoke with Judge Joel Baker about the installation:

“We had to go through some legal channels to make sure it covered every base. We know that there may be some challengers, we’ve already heard some criticism but it’s something that, as I said, this nation was founded on, we believe in it and supported it and we’re glad it’s here,” says Baker.

There are over 250 counties in Texas and Smith County can claim the honor of being the first in the Lone Star State to proudly display “In God We Trust” on the walls of its courtroom.

As Judge Baker speculated above, there may be challenges to the motto coming down the pike. We will follow the story and update as needed.

(H/T - Garth Maier at KTBB in Tyler, TX)

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Comments (214)

Edct
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:02pm
Thank you Smith County for having the courage, convictions, and belief in the only true God to honor Him. Thank you for not being PC, which history will show was the demise of America fueled by ignorant liberals who someday will be sent to hell for eternity.

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GodsDotr
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:56am
We have those words emblazoned on the walls where I work. I’m very proud of that.

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- standupbcounted
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:24pm
  Those words should be in every public building and every class room in this country…
  
  Report this comment
- Bluebonnet
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:26pm
  Hey, I love Texas, but don’t all of you go to Texas, because if there are too many, we might sink into the Gulf of Mexico. lmao. Remember that jerk who said this about an island in the Pacific? Really don’t think he was joking tho. “Don’t mess with Texas”
  
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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:55am
Well, I guess It appears Texans really do have intestinal fortitude.God bless America.

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- Chuck Stein
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:29pm
  Yes, good for them. Also, good for Pleasant Grove, Utah for standing up for having the Ten Commnadments in a park — they won in the Supreme Court recently, where the Court upheld the government’s right to speech. Love it.
  
  Report this comment
NHABE64
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54am
In God We Trust, way to go Texas. I mean who else could we possibly put our trust in, Obama’s Washington. Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, we have nothing to fear and certainly not the cockroaches in Washington DC.

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- smithclar3nc3
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:24pm
  Trust in God but always remember that he helps those who help themself. So basicly I love Christ and handle my business.
  
  Report this comment
Tortilla
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54am
Well done.

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- Re-Founding Sons
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:55pm
  Agreed, this article is like a breath of fresh air!
  
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- ICEDRAGONNITE
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 7:17pm
  Absolutely great. NEXT?
  
  Report this comment
Marine 1
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:53am
Excellent! Way to go Patriots and Christians. That should be the norm all over this nation. Now, just really trust and faith in GOD or those words have no real meaning. By the way, my mother and grandfather are from Texas. I still have relative in San Saba, Texas. “Don’t Mess With Texas” and don’t mess with the Christian American Patriot! For Freedom. Semper Fidelis

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- ltb
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:57am
  I LOVE TEXAS and am so very grateful that Liberals hate Texas. Stay away Liberals, it’s hot down here (100+ degrees all the time), you’d hate it. Don’t even vacation down here, there’s nothing to do, our beaches are ugly and like I said it’s really hot.
  
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- momprayn
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:35pm
  LTB – Yeah – I’m in the San Antonio area —– LOL — ditto to the liberals!!!
  
  Report this comment
NJTMATO
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:51am
@foxholeatheist……you can be an atheist if you choose but this country was founded on Judea/Christian values and we need to stand for those morals and values whether you believe or not. You don’t need to believe to live here. Anerica became America BECAUSE of devine providence, BECAUSE our founders who believed in God and those that didn’t could see that we NEEDED faith, we NEEDED to have morals and values and we get them from our Creator. Sorry you don’t believe…I’ll pray for you.

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- ScottG-CO
  Posted on September 2, 2011 at 6:03pm
  If everyone felt the way you (and I) do, 10 laws would have been plenty. The Constitution is a nice addition though.
  
  Have a great weekend, everyone, and BE CAREFUL!
  
  Report this comment
Grace1798
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:50am
I think I’m going to move to Texas. I don’t care how bad the weather is, it’s better than living in a state filled with the Corrupt leaders who RULE in the WH and want to RULE over Americans.

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- Docrow
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 3:01pm
  Come on down!
  
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- Bluebonnet
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:47pm
  Always wanted to say I was a Texan. My grandpa from East Tx. taught me to hunt, fish and seine crawdads for bait. I was only 8-9 but that was the best education and summer of my life. I’ve lived it over & over in my mind, because that was the summer of contentment. Love, love, love Texas.
  Praise the Lord. Also remember coming up the dirt road and passing a black church while they were singing. My grandpa pulled over and we just sat and listened. Being a southerner, my grandpa had great respect for the black community and treated them kindly. I’ve also always remembered this.
  
  Probably why I’m so ticked at Maxine Waters and that guy with the CBC who think we’re out to lynch them or that’s we’re racist. I learned everything important from my Grandpa, but always remembered how sweetly he treated all the blacks we had business with, buying watermelons or whatever it was.
  
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- aggiebrewer
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:21pm
  Yur welcome at my place. C’mon
  
  Report this comment
- Bluebonnet
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:40pm
  @ AGGIEBREWER. Thanks, I’ll look you up when I can make that move to my adopted home.
  
  Report this comment
nawma
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48am
As a proud natural born Texan I am THRILLED to see this!!!!

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:06pm
  Me too, but you can bet the ACLU is just drooling over this.
  
  Report this comment
- vennoye
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:15pm
  Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Don’t think this will go like the cases over the Ten Comandments did. Am really glad to see them put this up.
  
  Report this comment
- INOGAWD
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 5:19pm
  OORAH, TEXAS..Grande Cojones !!
  
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burr99
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48am
You go Texas!

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Restoration & Improvement
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48am
The reasons are mounting for packing up in liberal Massachusetts and moving to Texas.

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- Ex_Masshole
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:18pm
  “The reasons are mounting…” ???
  
  Buddy, unless you recently moved to Mass, I can’t see how you aren’t already over your head in reasons. Do yourself a favor and do as I did. Texans are happy to grant asylum to political refugees from the People’s Republic of Massachusetts.
  
  Report this comment
- capecodsully
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:20pm
  No don’t let the commies have our state. Let’s bring some Texas whoop a** to Massachusetts.
  
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- aggiebrewer
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:22pm
  C’mon down. Bring yer guns and yer workin shoes. We got a mite to do here.
  
  Report this comment
KickinBack
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48am
Good for TX!

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:45am
God Bless Texas.

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homekeeper
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:41am
Awesome! Gotta love Texas!

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manster35
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:39am
Way to go TEXAS. Glad to see someone stating the facts. It is IN GOD WE TRUST. We should have it everywhere. Thanks for having the guts to put it up . Never take it down. The left can lump it.

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- MHP
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54am
  I know of someone who’s gonna try and force it to be taken down.
  Satan’s demon in human form, Rev. Barry Lynn who heads the ACLU, and Americans United.
  He’s had impeccatory prayers done on him, asking God to remove the evil, in this case.
  
  Report this comment
Tiberius
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:38am
God bless my beautiful country of Texas!!

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- bigpew
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:44pm
  United Texas of America. I’d live there!
  
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Carl1 Supports Israel
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:34am
I love TEXAS!!!!!!

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- lalupa
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:40am
  Me too
  
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Gypsy123
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:33am
All Conservative Texas is the best state who needs the liberal states;

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GodHatesFigs
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:33am
Come on. If anything you blazers can see this is a waste of money, right?

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- drago
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:49am
  encinom, can you put any words together, that make sense? Moron….
  
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- GodHatesFigs
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:22pm
  I am not encinom. I believe my words made sense. Putting up signs all over the country will cost lots of money that we do not have.
  
  Report this comment
- Docrow
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:48pm
  The group “In God We Trust” picked up the tab. No cost to the tax payers.
  
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ROMANS 10-9
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:31am
In Jesus name,
AMEN!

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FoxholeAtheist
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:30am
They forgot “as long as it’s an evangelical Xtian god”.

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- hi
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:44am
  You are right. It should say, In Jesus We Trust!”
  
  Report this comment
- Chakam
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:45am
  @Foxhole,
  
  Oh, you mean Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the prophesied Messiah and true Son of God who came to take away the sins of The World, being crucified and resurrected from the dead and Who even now is seated at the right hand of the Father?
  
  Oh, that silly hateful “xtian god”!
  
  Report this comment
- NO YOU CANT
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54am
  I heard someone say “I’ve never met an atheist in a foxhole”. Just sayin…
  Our Constitution is actually based on “Nature’s Law”. Look it up.
  You don’t have to believe in anything for it to apply.
  
  Report this comment
- Liberalismsamentaldisorder
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:03pm
  They didn’t forget anything. This is what is says on our currency. Freedom of religion does NOT mean that this isn’t a country founded on religion. Just the opposite, the bulk of the founders were very religious. They also had the foresight to allow others to follow any God they chose, or none at all.
  
  Report this comment
- John 3:16
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:31pm
  We do trust in Jesus for salvation, nevertheless, Jesus believes in freedom of choice. “IN GOD WE TRUST” should be America’s motto and should be displayed at every government building, but no one should be forced to believe in a specific diety. This is not God’s way, if it were, we would not have freedom to choose Jesus as Lord. If I ever move to Texas I will look at Smith County first. Enlightened and honest people know that there is a GOD, to believe there is no GOD must be a lie the Athiest lives for his own selfish reason, and yet GOD still loves the Athiest and seeks to befriend him too.
  
  Report this comment
- bigpew
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:57pm
  No you cant – you are partly right. Our Constitution is based on “Nature’s Law” and “Nature’s God” which is the creator of the Universe. Look it up! But agree that no they cant.
  
  Report this comment
- Don
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:38pm
  OK so your struggling with Gods existence I mean you MUST be and we get that. I mean attacking anyone who believes in something you don’t think exists lol why bother? You must be SOOOO desperate to prove to yourself God must not exist that you have to do some insane move busten in here with all THAT nonsense spewing out of your face. IF sir you were SECURE in what you believed or not hehe then coming here would seem rather redundant and illogical.To put it bluntly..It is not logical to try and attack anything if, you don’t believe what your attacking really exists. soooo your here because???? What? To umm help us to NOT believe in God? lol come on be honest with yourself. Down deep in the tiny little crevice you call a broken unhappy heart, is a guy who desperately wants to believe God. For THAT to GOD be the Glory. One will sow another waters and the Holy Spirit Gives the Increase. :O) Thank you Jesus
  
  Don OUT!!
  
  Report this comment
- Don
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:42pm
  OK so your struggling with Gods existence I mean you MUST be and we get that. I mean attacking anyone who believes in something you don’t think exists lol why bother? You must be SOOOO desperate to prove to yourself God must not exist that you have to do some insane move busten in here with all THAT nonsense spewing out of your face. IF sir you were SECURE in what you believed or not hehe then coming here would seem rather redundant and illogical.To put it bluntly..It is not logical to try and attack anything if, you don’t believe what your attacking really exists. soooo your here because???? What? To umm help us to NOT believe in God? lol come on be honest with yourself. Down deep in the tiny little crevice you call a broken unhappy heart, is a guy who desperately wants to believe in God. For THAT to GOD be the Glory. One will sow another waters and the Holy Spirit Gives the Increase. :O) Thank you Jesus
  
  Don OUT!!
  
  Report this comment
- aggiebrewer
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:24pm
  Your hate speaks to the power of God. He loves you anyway. I know that is hard to grasp but he does as do all Christians. We will pray for your eyes to be opened.
  
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ElaineA
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:29am
Fantastic news!

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The Divided States of America
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:25am
amen !!!

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- afishfarted
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:31am
  tomorrows headline: ACUL files suit
  
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starman70
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:24am
GOOD WORK!!! GO FOR IT!!!

lower case.

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grudgywoof
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:23am
Texas will lead the way. Don’t back down cowboys!

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- SlimnRanger
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48am
  God Bless Texas
  
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- aggiebrewer
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:26pm
  We might back up. But we don’t give up. Courage is being scared but saddling up anyway.
  
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