“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

This oath indicates a clear loyalty to the Constitution, and the president is asked to do all he can to honor that loyalty. The president becomes a public servant, a servant to the people — an important caretaker of the Constitution.

It is interesting to note that the vice president, all federal civil service employees, the military and state government employees (including poll workers like me) also take this oath or one similar to it:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Note that the oath is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The oath is not to the president.

In his second inaugural address, George Washington addressed the honor he felt to serve again at the people’s request. He expressed how seriously he took the oath he swore for the second time:

“Previous to the execution of any official act of the President, the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraiding of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.”

According to Merriam-Webster, an oath of office is defined as “an official promise by a person who has been elected to a public office to fulfill the duties of the office according to the law.” Nearly all of the presidents since the early part of the 20th century added the phrase “so help me God” to the presidential oath of office. When God is invoked, the promise becomes not just an important promise, but also a sacred promise.

I believe in keeping promises that one makes, especially sacred oaths made in God’s name or in asking for his help in keeping the oath. I have made sacred promises to my husband and to my God. What I do with those oaths matters. I am loyal to my husband and children and do all I can for our family to thrive. I am loyal to God and honor the terms of the oaths that I’ve made with him by obedience to his commandments. Oaths from public servants like presidents, vice presidents, senators and representatives let me know that they are aware of their responsibility to the Constitution of the United States and to the people. Their actions show me whether they are honoring their oaths.

Donald J. Trump will be taking the presidential oath of office for the second time. In my opinion, he violated that oath in his first term when, after court cases were rejected or lost, he refused to accept free and fair election results and tried to thwart the peaceful transfer of power. This is a second chance for him to honor the presidential oath of office.

I want my children and grandchildren to be able to trust that the president of the United States will preserve our constitutional freedoms, honor the rule of law and truly serve the people. For the good of the country and for the rising generation, let’s hope and pray the president will keep his oath of office when sworn in on Inauguration Day. We will know by his actions if he honors that oath.

Christina Ballif Parkinson is a longtime resident of Provo. She chose to become a poll worker as part of her responsibility as a citizen to facilitate free and fair elections. Along with other concerned friends, she and her husband are co-founders and co-creators of SafeguardDemocracy.org.