Rachel Pilgrim

The faith and sacrifice of the pioneers are not merely part of our history. They are part of our heritage as a covenant people.  Today we honor those faithful Latter-day Saint pioneers who established homes, communities, and temples in the mountain West—including those who labored for 40 years to build the Salt Lake Temple. Their efforts were motivated by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in His promises.  As we celebrate Pioneer Day, we express gratitude for all who have helped build the Lord's kingdom, both past and present. Their examples remind us that discipleship requires faith, sacrifice, and steadfastness in keeping sacred covenants.

@SLOTUS @VP Congratulations! You have a beautiful family and I wish you all much happiness and love.

Thank you for all the good wishes as we settle into life as a family of six. 🩵 Meet Alec — and enjoy these attempts at taking a decent family photo with four kids!

Church Leaders Join Pioneer Parade in Utah youtu.be/2bq9j9YGACA?is… via @YouTube

“The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do. “Our safest insurance is to continue to be worthy of admission to His holy house.” - Russell M. Nelson

“Learn for yourselves who you really are. Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, how He feels about you and your mission here on earth. If you ask with real intent, over time the Spirit will whisper the life-changing truth to you. Record those impressions and review them often, and follow through with exactness. I PROMISE you that when you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same!” Russell M. Nelson Becoming True Millennials January 10, 2016 Record impressions. Review them often. Follow with exactness. We are here at this time for a reason, with a great work to perform. We can’t let anything pull us off course from what we were sent here to do! “You are the children whom God chose to be part of His battalion during this great climax in the longstanding battle between good and evil—between truth and error. I would not be surprised if, when the veil is lifted in the next life, we learn that you actually pled with our Heavenly Father to be reserved for now. I would not be surprised to learn that premortally you loved the Lord so much that you promised to defend His name and gospel during this world’s tumultuous winding-up scenes. One thing is certain: You are of the house of Israel and you have been sent here to help gather God’s elect.” Russell M. Nelson September 17, 2019 BYU Devotional We can do this!!

Earlier this year, President Dallin H. Oaks repeated the warning issued by President Russell M. Nelson from general conference in April 2018: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” What do you do to rivet your attention, to assure that you survive spiritually by having the constant influence of the Holy Ghost? You look carefully at your daily activities. Am I praying? Am I thoughtfully partaking of the sacrament? What am I putting into my mind? Am I associating with others who seek the constant influence of the Holy Ghost? What could be my distractions, my obstacles, or my deceptions? I invite you to pray for inspiration and courage to make any changes you need to make.

@JDVance Congratulations! Very happy for you and your beautiful family!

“As you keep your covenants with increasing precision, you will discover that the power flowing into your life from Jesus Christ will do things for you that you could never do for yourself.” Russell M. Nelson

Beautiful words from President Uchtdorf— “In this life, at least, joy and sorrow are inseparable companions. Like all of you, I have felt my share of disappointment, sorrow, sadness, and remorse. However, I have also experienced for myself the glorious dawn that fills the soul with joy so profound that it can scarcely be kept in. I have discovered for myself that this peaceful confidence comes from following the Savior and walking in His Way. The peace He gives us is not like what the world gives. It’s better. It’s higher and holier. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the “good news of great joy”! It is a message of matchless hope! A message of yoke-bearing and burden-lifting. Of light-gathering. Of heavenly favor, higher understanding, holier covenants, eternal security, and everlasting glory! JOY is the very purpose of God’s plan for His children. It’s what you were created for—“that [you] might have joy”! You were built for this! Our Father in Heaven has not hidden the path to happiness. It is not a secret. It is available to all! It is PROMISED to those who walk the path of discipleship, follow the teachings and example of the Savior, keep His commandments, and honor covenants they make with God. What a remarkable promise! Dieter F. Uchtdorf A Higher Joy April 2024 General Conference

“I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.” 2 Nephi 33:6

“Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).

Recently, President Dallin H. Oaks shared that “in coming weeks, we will have the largest number of full-time missionaries in the Church’s history.” I am delighted to share that more than 88,500 full-time missionaries are now serving across the world—an all-time high in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This remarkable moment reflects the faith and devotion of a rising generation of disciples of Jesus Christ, including many 18-year-old sister missionaries who are entering the mission field. This moment also reflects the wonderful support that parents, families, friends, and others provide to all of our missionaries as they serve across the globe. We are so grateful for the sacrifices so many of you make. As has been previously announced, the Church recently created 55 new missions to accommodate this remarkable growth. What a marvelous time to be engaged in the Lord’s work. As the Lord’s missionaries give their heart, might, mind, and strength to their missionary service, the Lord will magnify their efforts. He will bless them with strength beyond their own and fill their lives with joy as they participate in the great and marvelous hastening of the Lord’s work.

Not all Christians accept such a view. Here, for instance, is what I believe as explained by the prophet Joseph Smith: “When speaking about the blessings pertaining to the Gospel, and the consequences connected with disobedience to the requirements, we are frequently asked the question, what has become of our fathers? Will they all be damned for not obeying the Gospel, when they never heard it? Certainly not. But they will possess the same privilege that we here enjoy, through the medium of the everlasting priesthood, which not only administers on earth, but also in heaven, and the wise dispensations of the great Jehovah. Hence those characters referred to by Isaiah [see Isaiah 24:21–22] will be visited by the Priesthood, and come out of their prison upon the same principle as those who were disobedient in the days of Noah were visited by our Savior [who possessed the everlasting Melchizedek Priesthood] and had the Gospel preached to them, by Him in prison. And in order that they might fulfill all the [requirements] of God, living friends were baptized for their dead friends, and thus fulfilled the requirement of God, which says, ‘Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’ [John 3:5.] They were baptized of course, not for themselves, but for their dead. … Paul, in speaking of the doctrine, says, ‘Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?’ (1 Cor. 15:29). … “And now as the great purposes of God are hastening to their accomplishment, and the things spoken of in the Prophets are fulfilling, as the kingdom of God is established on the earth, and the ancient order of things restored, the Lord has manifested to us this duty and privilege, and we are commanded to be baptized for our dead, thus fulfilling the words of Obadiah, when speaking of the glory of the latter-day: ‘And saviors shall come upon Mount Zion to judge the remnant of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.’ [See Obadiah 1:21.] A view of these things reconciles the Scriptures of truth, justifies the ways of God to man, places the human family upon an equal footing, and harmonizes with every principle of righteousness, justice and truth. We will conclude with the words of Peter: ‘For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.’ ‘For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.’ [1 Peter 4:3, 6.]”

@TGLetter “Loose lips sink ships” as the WW2 saying goes

🚨 TRUMP JUST HANDED THE MEDIA THREE OPTIONS. ALL THREE END IN A JAIL CELL OR A WAR CRIME. An American F-15 pilot was fighting for his life inside Iran. Missing. Hunted. Hundreds of rescuers searching in silence to keep him alive. Then a leaker talked. "They didn't know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information!" Iran found out. Iran put a BOUNTY on him. Now Trump says the outlet has three moves left. All three are catastrophic. ⚠️ OPTION 1: NAME THE LEAKER – Source exposed, career destroyed – Every future leaker inside the government just watched what happens – Outlet becomes the story instead of the news ⚠️ OPTION 2: STAY SILENT – "The person that did the story WILL GO TO JAIL if he doesn't say!" – National security override invoked – Reporters jailed on live television, First Amendment fight of the decade ⚠️ OPTION 3: FIGHT IT IN COURT – Years of litigation while Trump brands them "aided and abetted Iran" – Public opinion already decided — a missing airman beats press freedom every time – Every outlet watching learns the same lesson either way Let that sink in. There is no Option 4. There is no quiet correction. There is no walking this back. "We're going to go to the media company that released it. And we're going to say, national security, give it up or go to jail." This is not a media dispute. This is the moment leaking about an active war becomes a jailable offense in America. Prepare accordingly. 🚨🚨🚨 I'll keep you updated. Turn on notifications. 🚨

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes known as a family-centered church. It is! Recently, Kristen and I hosted a special visit with several of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We cherish the opportunity to spend time together. Moments like these remind us that families are central to Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. The family circle is the ideal place to demonstrate and learn eternal values, such as the importance of marriage and children, the purpose of life, and the true source of joy. It is also the best place to learn other essential lessons of life, such as kindness, forgiveness, self-control, and the value of education and honest work. As we follow Jesus Christ, our homes can become places of faith, love, and belonging. I give thanks to my Heavenly Father for the wonderful family with which He has blessed me.

Excellent letter to the editor published in The Dallas Morning News. Fairview mayor owes Latter-day Saints an apology Mayor John Hubbard of the fast-growing Dallas suburb of Fairview recently wrote in the pages of The Salt Lake Tribune about a zoning dispute in his city. Hubbard has said his goal is to embarrass leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, because of their decision to build a temple with a 120-foot steeple that his town approved.     A forthright response is warranted, not from church leaders, who already reached an agreement with the town of Fairview, but from everyday Latter-day Saints, the kind who are hurt by Hubbard’s jeremiad.    In his essay, Hubbard significantly misrepresented the nature and character of Fairview.    He wrote that Fairview is organized around a 35-foot height limit in residential zones. But he did not mention that the temple is located on a major thoroughfare that is currently part of a major expansion project. He also failed to note that the temple site is located on “church row,” where each of the surrounding buildings exceed that 35-foot limit. Churches have been built on this stretch because the road is so busy home builders will not build on it. So much for residential.  Hubbard said Fairview is a small town but did not note the massive outdoor mall less than a mile down the road the temple will be built on, nor that the mall also exceeds the 35-foot height limit.    In other comments, Hubbard compared the temple height to Yankee Stadium, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Sphinx. These examples serve to distract. There are six churches in Collin County alone that are taller than the proposed temple and located in residential areas. No need to mention Italy.  Hubbard claimed in his column that the temple would be the tallest structure Fairview has ever seen. That would make sense given how quickly Fairview is growing. But unfortunately, the mayor evidently overlooked other structures in his town. The temple will be at least the fourth-tallest structure in Fairview.     Hubbard also failed to mention that in 2006, Fairview granted Creekwood United Methodist Church a conditional use permit for a building expansion that included a proposed 154-foot digital bell tower. The tower was never built, but the permit itself shows that the town has previously approved a structure substantially taller than the proposed temple. So much for how important height is to the town’s character.    The Church of Jesus Christ has already compromised with the town of Fairview, significantly reducing the size and height of the building to meet the city’s needs. But Hubbard calls the church a bully because it asked the town to follow federal law. After all of this, Hubbard has the temerity to say it is the church that is being a bad neighbor.    Texans aren’t so easily fooled. I lived in Texas for 18 years. Telling our neighbor what to do on their own property, going back on your word, trying to embarrass them — that’s not the Texas way.     This kind of name-calling from a mayor does real damage to real Latter-day Saint kids who are trying to belong, and for what? Stopping the seventh-tallest church in the county, a mile down the road from the mall, on “church row.”   If Hubbard’s goal is truly to be a good neighbor, it’s time to put the embarrassment campaign away, offer an apology, and start mending fences with the Latter-day Saints he’s damaged with his misguided campaign. Author is the legendary CD Cunningham

The Ten Commandments have been a foundation of our moral understanding of right and wrong for more than 3,000 years. Let us cherish these commandments given by the Lord.

@ASvanevik @Huff4Congress For Norgen!!!

Now that the US is knocked out, I am formally extending an invitation to the American people to support Norway. Why? 1: The Vikings discovered America before Columbus. 2: There are more ethnic Norwegians in the US than in Norway. 3: Next weekend we can pillage the English peasants together. 4:

One nation in all of human history staked its existence on a single blazing truth: every soul enters this world crowned in God-given rights beyond the reach of any earthly power. 250 years later, America remains the boldest wager ever placed on human liberty. ❤️ 🤍 💙

Happy 250th to the greatest country on Earth. Drop a flag if you're grateful to be an American.👇 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸