We Each Have a Story
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What does Elder Gong mean when he says "we each have a story"?
- How does Elder Gong suggest we can discover and connect to our family history?
- What is the spiritual significance of understanding our family history according to Elder Gong?
- How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ relate to our family relationships according to the talk?
- What are some practical steps Elder Gong suggests for engaging in family history work?
Topics
Understanding the Significance of Our Unique Stories
Elder Gong emphasizes that each individual has a unique and significant story. He encourages us to discover our own stories and understand our identities, both in terms of our earthly families and our divine heritage. He highlights that our stories are part of a larger narrative that connects us all as children of God.
Friends, brothers and sisters, we each have a story. As we discover our story, we connect, we belong, we become.
Do you know your story? What your name means?
You and I, we each matter.
- What does Elder Gong mean when he says "we each have a story"?
- Why is it important to discover our own stories?
- How does knowing our stories help us connect and belong?
- What is your story? How can you discover more about it?
- What does your name mean? How does it connect to your story?
- How can understanding your story help you connect with others and with God?
Connecting with Our Ancestors and Family History
Elder Gong discusses the importance of connecting with our ancestors and understanding our family history. He encourages us to engage in family history work and to connect with our living family members. He also highlights the spiritual significance of this work, including the power it has to bring help from the other side of the veil.
And please consider this: whether or not we know them, we are each born of a mother and father. And each mother and father is born of a mother and father. By birth or adoptive lineage, we are ultimately all connected in the family of God and in the human family.
Connecting with our ancestors can change our lives in surprising ways. From their trials and accomplishments, we gain faith and strength. From their love and sacrifices, we learn to forgive and move forward.
Such ties can bring help from the other side of the veil.
- Why is it important to connect with our ancestors and understand our family history?
- How can connecting with our ancestors change our lives?
- What does Elder Gong mean when he says "such ties can bring help from the other side of the veil"?
- How can you connect with your ancestors and discover your family history?
- What can you learn from the trials and accomplishments of your ancestors?
- How can you strengthen your ties with your ancestors?
Healing and Perfecting Family Relationships Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ
Elder Gong discusses the role of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in healing and perfecting our family relationships. He emphasizes that through sacred covenants, Jesus Christ offers His love, power, and grace to change us and heal our relationships. He also highlights the eternal nature of family relationships and the promise of resurrection and eternal joy.
Through sacred covenants, Jesus Christ offers His love, power, and grace to change us and heal our relationships.
Sanctified, we can return home to God’s presence as families united eternally.
Covenant belonging with God and each other includes knowing our spirit and body will be reunited in resurrection and our most precious relationships can continue beyond death with a fulness of joy.
- How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ help heal and perfect our family relationships?
- What does Elder Gong mean when he says "sanctified, we can return home to God’s presence as families united eternally"?
- What is "covenant belonging" and how does it relate to our family relationships?
- How have you experienced the healing power of the Atonement in your family relationships?
- What can you do to sanctify your family relationships and prepare to return to God's presence?
- How can understanding the eternal nature of family relationships affect your perspective and actions in your family?
Engaging in Family History Work
Elder Gong provides practical suggestions for engaging in family history work. He encourages us to use resources like FamilySearch.org, to record names, experiences, and key dates of family members, and to perform temple ordinances for family members. He emphasizes the joy and rewards that come from this work.
Visit FamilySearch.org. Download the available mobile apps. They’re free and fun. Discover, connect, belong.
Help unite families eternally. Remember the demographics of heaven. There are many more on the other side of the veil than on this side.
As you perform temple ordinances for family members, the spirit of Elijah, "a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family," will knit the hearts of your fathers, mothers, and children together in love.
- What resources does Elder Gong suggest for engaging in family history work?
- Why is it important to perform temple ordinances for family members?
- What is the "spirit of Elijah" and how does it relate to family history work?
- How can you engage in family history work in your life?
- What steps can you take to perform temple ordinances for your family members?
- How have you experienced the "spirit of Elijah" in your family history work?
Creating Our Best Story Through Jesus Christ
Elder Gong concludes by emphasizing that through Jesus Christ, we can become our best story and our families can become happy and forever. He encourages us to discover our stories, find our voices, and harmonize in Christ. He also invites us to praise God's plan of happiness, Jesus Christ's Atonement, and the continuing restoration of His gospel and Church.
The promise at Easter and always is that, in and through Jesus Christ, we can become our best story and our families can become happy and forever.
We each have a story. Come discover yours. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him.
Praise God’s plan of happiness, Jesus Christ’s Atonement, continuing restoration in His gospel and Church.
- What does Elder Gong mean when he says "we can become our best story and our families can become happy and forever"?
- How can we discover our stories, find our voices, and harmonize in Christ?
- Why should we praise God's plan of happiness, Jesus Christ's Atonement, and the continuing restoration of His gospel and Church?
- How can you become your best story through Jesus Christ?
- What steps can you take to discover your story, find your voice, and harmonize in Christ?
- How can you praise and express gratitude for God's plan of happiness, Jesus Christ's Atonement, and the continuing restoration of His gospel and Church?
