(The Lion) — President Donald Trump praised the positive role of faith in America’s history in wide-ranging remarks delivered at the White House Faith Office Luncheon on Monday.

“From the earliest days of our Republic, the steady compass of faith has guided the strong hands of American workers, builders and entrepreneurs like really no other,” he said. “Our country was founded by pilgrims and believers. And every generation since, Americans of faith have built our communities and forged new industries and enriched our country by millions and millions of people and ways. …

“This group reminds us as a nation that prays, as a nation that prospers, and you see that. I think one of the reasons we weren’t so bad is they really wanted to take God and religion out of your lives. … We have to bring religion back into the country, and we’re starting to do that, I think, at a very high level.”

Watch the beginning of the speech here: