Elder Gerrit W. Gong
The Message
Elder Gong taught that the temple is a place of spiritual safety, harmony, and holiness where the Lord teaches, blesses, heals, and prepares us to return to Him as families.
He invited us to develop a personal temple culture, not simply appreciating temples, but making temple worship, covenants, family history, gratitude, service, forgiveness, and preparation for the temple part of our lives. As we honor our covenants and turn to Jesus Christ, He can soften hearts, heal relationships, and bring peace.
Start the Conversation
Read the summary of the message and the Try This at Home ideas with your family. Then say: “Let’s choose one way we can make the temple and its blessings a more meaningful part of our family life.”
Try This at Home
Choose one idea your family would like to try this week or choose your own.
Bring the Temple Closer to Home
Choose a temple your family loves or hopes to visit. Talk about why that temple or what happens inside temples matters to your family.
Find One Family Name
Spend a little time together learning about one ancestor. If appropriate for your family, see whether there is temple work that can be prepared or completed for that person.
Strengthen One Link
Elder Gong asked us to be a “strong link” in the chain of our eternal family. Have each person choose one small thing they can do this week to strengthen a family relationship.
Practice Temple Gratitude
Elder Gong taught that temple service includes a spirit of gratitude. Each family member can name one blessing connected with temples, covenants, or eternal families for which they are grateful such as peace, forgiveness, stronger family relationships, connections with ancestors, spiritual strength, or the hope of being together for ever.
Let Christ Soften Something
Elder Gong spoke about people whose hearts softened as they served in the temple. If there is a hurt or strained relationship in your life, choose one small peaceful action you can take—pray for the person, speak kindly, let go of one complaint, or make a gentle effort to reconnect. Don’t try to fix the other person. Work on your own heart.
Find It in the Scriptures
Read Alma 34:33, the scripture Elder Gong used when he urged us not to deliberately postpone repentance and the peace and freedom Jesus Christ offers. Ask: Is there something good we keep meaning to do that we could begin now?
Choose Your Own
Choose another part of Elder Gong’s message that your family would like to live together this week.
Make a Plan
Once you’ve chosen your idea, decide when you will do it. Put it into ordinary life: “After dinner Wednesday we’ll look up one ancestor,” or “On Sunday we’ll each share one temple blessing we’re grateful for.”
Check Back In
At the end of the week, talk as a family about what you noticed. Did anything change? What was challenging? What felt easier than expected? How did it make you feel? What did you learn about yourselves or each other? Did your experience help the temple and its blessings feel closer to your home and heart?
No grading. No guilt. Just notice what happened.
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