Texas County Courthouse Becomes First in State to Add ‘In God We Trust’
- Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:20am by
Mike Opelka
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“In God We Trust.” On Tuesday, those four simple words were added to the walls of the Smith County Courthouse in northeast Texas.
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 12:02pmThank 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.
Report Post »GodsDotr
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:56amWe have those words emblazoned on the walls where I work. I’m very proud of that.
Report Post »standupbcounted
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:24pmThose words should be in every public building and every class room in this country…
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:26pmHey, 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”
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:55amWell, I guess It appears Texans really do have intestinal fortitude.God bless America.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:29pmYes, 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 Post »NHABE64
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54amIn 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.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:24pmTrust in God but always remember that he helps those who help themself. So basicly I love Christ and handle my business.
Report Post »Tortilla
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54amWell done.
Report Post »Re-Founding Sons
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:55pmAgreed, this article is like a breath of fresh air!
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 7:17pmAbsolutely great. NEXT?
Report Post »Marine 1
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:53amExcellent! 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
Report Post »ltb
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:57amI 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.
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:35pmLTB – Yeah – I’m in the San Antonio area —– LOL — ditto to the liberals!!!
Report Post »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.
Report Post »ScottG-CO
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 6:03pmIf 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 Post »Grace1798
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:50amI 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.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 3:01pmCome on down!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:47pmAlways 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.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:21pmYur welcome at my place. C’mon
Report Post »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 Post »nawma
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48amAs a proud natural born Texan I am THRILLED to see this!!!!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:06pmMe too, but you can bet the ACLU is just drooling over this.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:15pmAnonymous T. Irrelevant
Report Post »Don’t think this will go like the cases over the Ten Comandments did. Am really glad to see them put this up.
INOGAWD
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 5:19pmOORAH, TEXAS..Grande Cojones !!
Report Post »burr99
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48amYou go Texas!
Report Post »Restoration & Improvement
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48amThe reasons are mounting for packing up in liberal Massachusetts and moving to Texas.
Report Post »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 Post »capecodsully
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:20pmNo don’t let the commies have our state. Let’s bring some Texas whoop a** to Massachusetts.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:22pmC’mon down. Bring yer guns and yer workin shoes. We got a mite to do here.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48amGood for TX!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:45amGod Bless Texas.
Report Post »homekeeper
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:41amAwesome! Gotta love Texas!
Report Post »manster35
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:39amWay 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.
Report Post »MHP
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54amI know of someone who’s gonna try and force it to be taken down.
Report Post »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.
Tiberius
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:38amGod bless my beautiful country of Texas!!
Report Post »bigpew
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:44pmUnited Texas of America. I’d live there!
Report Post »Carl1 Supports Israel
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:34amI love TEXAS!!!!!!
Report Post »lalupa
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:40amMe too
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:33amAll Conservative Texas is the best state who needs the liberal states;
Report Post »GodHatesFigs
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:33amCome on. If anything you blazers can see this is a waste of money, right?
Report Post »drago
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:49amencinom, can you put any words together, that make sense? Moron….
Report Post »GodHatesFigs
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:22pmI 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 Post »Docrow
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:48pmThe group “In God We Trust” picked up the tab. No cost to the tax payers.
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:31amIn Jesus name,
Report Post »AMEN!
FoxholeAtheist
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:30amThey forgot “as long as it’s an evangelical Xtian god”.
Report Post »hi
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:44amYou are right. It should say, In Jesus We Trust!”
Report Post »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 Post »NO YOU CANT
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:54amI heard someone say “I’ve never met an atheist in a foxhole”. Just sayin…
Report Post »Our Constitution is actually based on “Nature’s Law”. Look it up.
You don’t have to believe in anything for it to apply.
Liberalismsamentaldisorder
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:03pmThey 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 Post »John 3:16
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 12:31pmWe 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 Post »bigpew
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:57pmNo 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 Post »Don
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:38pmOK 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 Post »Don
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 2:42pmOK 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 Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:24pmYour 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.
Report Post »ElaineA
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:29amFantastic news!
Report Post »The Divided States of America
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:25amamen !!!
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:31amtomorrows headline: ACUL files suit
Report Post »starman70
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:24amGOOD WORK!!! GO FOR IT!!!
lower case.
Report Post »grudgywoof
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:23amTexas will lead the way. Don’t back down cowboys!
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:48amGod Bless Texas
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 8:26pmWe might back up. But we don’t give up. Courage is being scared but saddling up anyway.
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