October 2026 General Conference › Lessons › Elder Gerrit W. Gong › Adults
Softer Hearts, Stronger Links
From “Come to the Lord in His Holy House,” by Elder Gerrit W. Gong · Saturday morning session, October 2026 General Conference
The big idea
In the house of the Lord, Jesus Christ teaches, heals and unites us, and we answer by building a personal temple culture of sacrifice and gratitude.
Objective
Learners will name one spiritual blessing of the temple they want more fully in their lives and choose one element of personal temple culture to act on this week.
Before you teach
- Read Elder Gong's talk, especially paragraphs 3-16 (three doctrinal foundations) and 17-30 (five elements of personal temple culture).
- Write on the board: commotion, contention, cares. Leave room beside them for three more words.
- Bring paper and pens for everyone, and three slips of paper for the group assignments in segment 2.
- Remember that class members' circumstances differ: some live far from a temple, some do not hold a recommend now, some are single or have family members who have made other choices. Teach so that each one feels the Lord's invitation is for them.
Lesson plan
Thirty minutes in 5 parts. Times are a guide; let the Spirit and the learners set the pace.
A place of safety
- After the prayer, point to the three words on the board. Ask learners to think silently of where they met one of them this week.
- Read key quote 1 (T01.03) aloud. Write safety, harmony, holiness beside the first three words.
- Ask the first question below. Take two or three short answers. Welcome answers about preparing for the temple, a temple far away, or a feeling at an open house, as well as answers about attending.
- When has the house of the Lord, or preparing to go there, been a place of safety, harmony or holiness for you?
Three foundations
- Explain that Elder Gong taught three doctrinal foundations before he spoke about what we do. Divide into three groups (at home, take them one at a time).
- Group 1 reads paragraphs 6-7 and Moses 1:39. Group 2 reads paragraphs 8 and 11-13 and Alma 34:33. Group 3 reads paragraphs 14-16 and Doctrine and Covenants 132:7.
- Give four minutes. Each group prepares one sentence that answers: What does this foundation teach about what the Lord offers us in His house, and what is our part?
- Hear each group's sentence, one minute each. Write a few words from each on the board.
- After group 3, read Elder Bednar's sentence (aligned quote, T31.17) and ask the question below.
- Why is it hopeful that this sealing by the Holy Ghost comes over time, as we repent and honor our covenants, and not all at once?
Hearts softened on both sides of the veil
- Read paragraph 12 together (key quote 2 is its heart). Invite learners to notice the five short sentences Elder Gong says we exclaim.
- Silent writing, two minutes: Ask each person to write, for their eyes only, the name or initials of a family member, living or dead, with whom things have been hard, and one of the five sentences they would like to be able to say.
- Do not ask anyone to share what they wrote. Ask the questions below and let those who wish respond in general terms.
- Read paragraph 10 and Elder Bednar's promise (aligned quote, T31.28). Testify briefly that the Lord honors agency and that no one who is faithful will in the end lose a promised blessing because of another person's choices.
- Why might serving someone in the temple change how we feel about that person?
- What does Elder Gong say Jesus Christ can help us do? Which of those three do you most need right now?
Five elements of personal temple culture
- List the five elements on the board in a few words each: a dedication is a beginning; temple sacrifice in new ways; everything testifies of Jesus Christ; a spirit of gratitude; our own temple clothes.
- In pairs, each person chooses the element that speaks to them today and tells their partner why. Three minutes.
- Read aloud the exchange about the small temple (paragraphs 25-26; key quote 3). Ask the question below.
- Check for understanding: ask two or three people to finish the sentence, Personal temple culture means that I ...
- How does the way we speak about a temple, or about the people who serve us there, show what we treasure?
Choose and act
- Read the invitations from the talk listed in this lesson. Point out the promise in Elder Gong's closing words (key quote 4): God and temple ordinances can protect, bless and inspire, bring forgiveness, healing and peace, and unite loved ones.
- Silent writing, two minutes: each person writes one thing they will do this week and when. Offer the ideas under Act this week for anyone who is unsure.
- Invite one or two people to share their plan if they wish. Bear a short testimony of the Savior.
- Follow up: tell the class you will begin next week by asking what they noticed or felt as they acted. Next week, ask it first.
- What is one thing the Lord is inviting you to do, and what blessing do you hope for as you do it?
Key passages from the talk
“In a world of commotion, contention, and cares, the Lord invites us to a place of spiritual safety, harmony, and holiness—the house of the Lord.”
“We find hope and healing when we perform temple ordinances for family members with whom we may earlier have had difficult relationships. Jesus Christ can help us mend, forgive, move forward.”
“ordinances are not big or small. Covenants are not big or small. Please let us never speak of a temple as big or small, elaborate or plain. Let us always only speak with love and gratitude for ‘Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord.’”
“So God and temple ordinances can protect, bless, and inspire; bring forgiveness, healing, and peace; and unite loved ones here and away.”
The speaker’s direct invitations
“Please ‘do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end.’”
“let us celebrate and treasure even more the spiritual blessings temples bring”
“in the chain of your eternal family, please be a strong link”
“please consider saving for and buying your own ceremonial temple clothes”
Scriptures
- Moses 1:39 Group 1 reads it with paragraphs 6-7 and looks for how Elder Gong describes Heavenly Father's work and glory in terms of families.
- Alma 34:33 Group 2 reads it with paragraph 13. Ask what blessing Elder Gong says we delay when we delay repentance.
- Doctrine and Covenants 132:7 Group 3 reads it with paragraphs 14-16 and looks for what makes a covenant last beyond this life.
Other voices that agree
“Receiving this ratifying sealing by the Holy Ghost typically is not a one-time event; rather, it comes over time as we repent sincerely and consistently, honor our covenants, and yield our hearts unto God.”
“No faithful disciple will ultimately be deprived of any eternal blessing God has promised because of another individual’s unrighteous exercise of moral agency.”
Three things to remember
- The house of the Lord is a place of spiritual safety, harmony and holiness, and everything in it testifies of Jesus Christ.
- Through temple service the Savior can help me mend, forgive and move forward in my family relationships.
- I build my own temple culture through sacrifice, gratitude and honoring my covenants.
Ways to act this week
- Set a date this week or this month to worship in the house of the Lord. If a temple is far away or you do not hold a recommend now, take one step toward it: a prayer, a conversation with your bishop, or a savings plan.
- Find one family name to take to the temple, or prepare one for someone else to take. If a relationship with that person was hard, pray for a softened heart as you do the work.
- For one week, speak of your temple and those who serve there only with love and gratitude. Notice what changes in you.
- If you are endowed and it is possible, begin setting aside a little toward your own ceremonial temple clothes, or take reverent care of the ones you have.
Suggestions written for this lesson, not the speaker’s words.
Music
- High on the Mountain Top
- Families Can Be Together Forever
Adapting the lesson
- At home: skip the groups. Read paragraphs 11-12 and 25-28 together, do the silent writing, and let each person choose one of the five elements to act on.
- Short on time: keep segments 1, 3 and 5. The silent writing in segment 3 and the personal plan in segment 5 matter most.
- Large class: have neighbors form the three groups by rows and take only one sentence from each foundation.
This lesson is an independent study aid written for this site. It is not an official lesson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quotations are word for word from the official talk; paragraph numbers count the paragraphs of the talk as published at churchofjesuschrist.org, not counting headings or picture captions. The activities, questions and ideas for acting are suggestions; follow the Spirit and adapt them to those you teach.