Sometimes I feel the world overlooks one of the simplest truths of my faith.

I believe the history of Jesus Christ was not recorded only in the Bible. I believe He fulfilled His promise to visit His “other sheep” and that His ministry among the people of this promised land is preserved in the Book of Mormon—Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

To me, the Book of Mormon does not replace the Bible. Together, they testify of the same Savior—Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. One record strengthens the other, inviting all people to come unto Him.

The pioneers who crossed the plains were not merely seeking a new place to live. They believed they were preserving the freedom to follow Jesus Christ according to the restored gospel. They carried with them their testimonies, their scriptures, their families, and their hope that future generations would inherit both faith and liberty.

I believe we belong to the restored Church of Jesus Christ—not a religion created by men, but a restoration of Christ’s primitive Church with prophets, apostles, priesthood authority, sacred ordinances, and continuing revelation.

I also believe this continent is part of God’s sacred history. The Book of Mormon records that the resurrected Jesus Christ visited and taught the people here, fulfilling His promise. Because of that, this land is sacred to me. It is part of the unfolding work of God, just as Jerusalem is sacred because of His mortal ministry.

The comprehension of the past is our inheritance for the future. We remember history not simply to honor those who came before us, but to understand the truths they sacrificed to preserve. Every generation receives an inheritance of faith, freedom, and responsibility. What we choose to do with that inheritance becomes the legacy we leave behind.

As an American, I am grateful to live in a nation that recognizes our God-given rights, including the freedom to worship according to the dictates of our own conscience while extending that same freedom to every person. The words “In God We Trust” remind me that true liberty is rooted not only in law but also in moral responsibility before God.

Pioneer Day reminds me that faith is more than remembering the past. It is choosing to walk with Jesus Christ today. The pioneers endured hardship because they believed the Restoration was true. Their courage invites each of us to seek Christ, strengthen our families, defend religious liberty, and live as modern pioneers in our own generation.

That is what Pioneer Day means to me. It is a witness that Jesus Christ lives, that He continues to guide His people, and that the truths preserved in the Bible and the Book of Mormon point us to Him. As we remember the pioneers, may we also remember that our greatest inheritance is not land or possessions, but faith in Jesus Christ, the restored gospel, and the God-given freedom to seek Him with all our hearts.