Study Guide for "’Tis Eastertide: No One Walks Alone"

In this Easter message, Elder Gerrit W. Gong invites us to see our lives through the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He teaches that the resurrected Savior walks with us even when we do not immediately recognize Him, especially through scripture, ordinances, covenants, and the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The talk centers on the reality of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection, His promise to abide with His disciples, and the covenant belonging available in His restored Church. Elder Gong also connects these truths to Sabbath worship, solemn assembly, sustaining living prophets, and the call to notice and walk with those who feel alone.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

What can the story of the road to Emmaus teach me about recognizing the Savior in my own life?
How do scripture study, the sacrament, and covenants help me come to know Jesus Christ?
What does it mean for the Savior to “abide” with me?
How do the Holy Ghost and the Savior act as Comforters in times of loneliness, sorrow, or uncertainty?
Why does sustaining prophets and participating in sacred Church patterns matter in my discipleship?
How does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ change my understanding of hope, healing, and family?
Who around me may be walking a lonely road, and how can I walk with them in Christlike love?

Topics

Recognize the resurrected Savior on the road to Emmaus

Elder Gong begins with the Easter account of the disciples traveling to Emmaus. They are sorrowful and confused after the Crucifixion, yet the resurrected Jesus joins them and walks with them before they recognize Him. Their hearts burn as He teaches them from the scriptures, and their eyes are opened in the breaking of bread. Elder Gong uses this account to help listeners see that Christ may be nearer than they realize, walking with them even in grief, uncertainty, or disappointment.

As this Easter Sabbath general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints draws to a close, we, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, long for our Savior to abide with us, for ’tis Eastertide.

Emmaus means “hot springs,” a place of healing.

Our hearts burn within us.

Our eyes are opened. We know Him—the resurrected Jesus Christ. Though we did not recognize Him before, He has been walking with us all along.

The Gospel of Mark testifies Jesus appeared three times on that Easter Day but was not recognized at first.

What happened on the road to Emmaus that helped the disciples recognize Jesus Christ?
Why is the meaning of Emmaus as “a place of healing” significant in Elder Gong’s message?
What does Elder Gong emphasize about the disciples not recognizing the Savior at first?
How does the account in Mark reinforce the idea that the resurrected Lord was not always immediately recognized?
When have I felt that the Savior was with me only after I looked back on an experience?
What current sorrow, question, or burden in my life could I bring to the Savior as I walk forward in faith?
How can I become more spiritually attentive to moments when my heart “burns within” me?
What does Easter mean to me personally because Jesus Christ lives?

Walk with Christ through scripture, ordinances, and covenants

Elder Gong teaches that the Emmaus experience reveals a covenant pattern for disciples today. The Savior speaks through scripture, and His words can cause hearts to burn. He is also known through sacred ordinances, especially the sacrament, where disciples remember Him and renew covenants. As believers walk by faith and abide in Him, they come to know that He lives and that His Easter promises are real.

Jesus Christ walking with His disciples on the road to Emmaus reveals a covenant pattern.

As He “talk[s] with us by the way,” His words in scripture can cause our hearts to burn.

As He breaks and blesses the sacramental bread, His ordinances and covenants can help us know Him.

As we walk by faith with Him, abiding in Him, and He in us, we come to know He lives.

His Easter promises are real.

What covenant pattern does Elder Gong identify in the Emmaus account?
How do the scriptures help disciples recognize and come closer to Jesus Christ?
What role do ordinances and covenants play in coming to know the Savior?
What does Elder Gong say happens as we walk by faith with Christ?
How can I make my scripture study more centered on Jesus Christ?
What can I do to prepare more intentionally for the sacrament each week?
How have my covenants helped me feel closer to the Savior?
What is one way I can walk by faith with Christ more deliberately this week?

Receive the Savior’s companionship through Sabbath worship and the sacrament

The talk emphasizes that each Sabbath is an invitation to worship Jesus Christ in His restored Church. In the sacrament, disciples covenant to take upon themselves His name, always remember Him, and keep His commandments. In return, He promises His Spirit. Elder Gong teaches that this weekly witness and remembrance help disciples abide with Christ and walk with Him.

Each Sabbath we invite all to come worship Jesus Christ in the community of His restored Church.

In the sacramental ordinance, we covenant that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments.

He promises we can always have His Spirit to be with us.

As we witness and remember Jesus each week, we abide and walk with Him.

What covenants does Elder Gong mention in connection with the sacrament?
What promise does the Lord give to those who worthily partake of the sacrament?
How does weekly Sabbath worship help disciples abide with Jesus Christ?
Why is remembering the Savior central to the sacrament?
How can I improve the way I prepare for and participate in sacrament meeting?
What helps me truly remember the Savior during the sacrament prayers and ordinance?
How have I felt the promised companionship of the Spirit through honoring sacramental covenants?
What change can I make so the Sabbath becomes more centered on worshipping Jesus Christ?

Abide in Christ through the Holy Ghost and the Savior’s promised comfort

Drawing from John 14 and 15, Elder Gong explains that Jesus Christ promises to abide with His disciples. He identifies the First Comforter as the Holy Ghost, who teaches and brings truth to remembrance, and the Second Comforter as the Savior Himself, who promises not to leave His followers comfortless. Through love, obedience, and covenant relationship, disciples can experience divine companionship and belonging.

Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus ask Jesus to abide with them, Jesus Christ promises to abide with us.

When we have a question, problem, or joy, Jesus Christ says, “I am your answer—your way, your truth, your life.”

And I will pray [unto] the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father [shall] send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

What does Elder Gong teach about the First Comforter?
What does he teach about the Second Comforter?
According to John 14, what is the relationship between loving Christ, keeping His words, and divine companionship?
How does Elder Gong connect the Savior’s promise to abide with us to our daily questions, problems, and joys?
When have I felt taught, reminded, or comforted by the Holy Ghost?
How can I show my love for the Savior by keeping His words more faithfully?
What question, problem, or joy in my life do I need to bring more directly to Jesus Christ?
How have I experienced the Lord’s promise that I am not left comfortless?

Remain in the true vine and bear lasting fruit

Elder Gong continues in John 15 by teaching that Jesus Christ is the vine and God the Father is the husbandman. Disciples, like branches, cannot bear fruit by themselves. Without the Lord they can do nothing, but by abiding in Him they can bring forth much fruit that remains. This abiding also leads to fullness of joy, showing that dependence on Christ is the source of spiritual productivity and enduring happiness.

In John 15, Jesus Christ also teaches He is the vine and God our Father is the husbandman.

A branch “cannot bear fruit of itself.”

We without the Lord can do nothing.

But “he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit,” and “your fruit should remain.”

Jesus says, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain [or abide] in you, and that your joy might be full.”

What does the image of the vine and branches teach about our relationship with Jesus Christ?
Why can disciples not bear fruit on their own?
What kind of fruit does Elder Gong emphasize as coming from abiding in Christ?
How is abiding in Christ connected to joy?
What signs show that I am relying on the Lord rather than only on myself?
What spiritual fruit do I hope to cultivate through closer connection to Jesus Christ?
What habits help me remain in Christ consistently?
How has the Savior brought fuller joy into my life as I have trusted Him?

Sustain the Lord’s prophet with willing and joyful faith

Elder Gong connects the conference solemn assembly to ancient and modern sacred patterns. He explains that solemn assemblies mark significant events and symbolize united commitment and support. He then testifies of the blessings that come as disciples seek first the kingdom of God and follow Jesus Christ and the Lord’s prophet willingly, obediently, and joyfully. He specifically references the sustaining of President Dallin H. Oaks and other Church leaders.

We began this general conference with solemn assembly.

Solemn assemblies mark significant Church milestones or events, such as the sustaining of a new Church President.

Whether a solemn assembly occurs earlier or later, by sacred pattern and precedent, we symbolically demonstrate united commitment and support.

As we “seek … first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,” we follow Jesus Christ and the Lord’s prophet willingly, obediently, joyfully.

We are richly blessed as we do so.

What is a solemn assembly, according to Elder Gong?
What purposes do solemn assemblies serve in the Church?
How does Elder Gong describe the attitude with which members should follow the Lord’s prophet?
What blessing does he associate with seeking first the kingdom of God and sustaining prophetic leadership?
How can I more fully sustain the living prophet in my thoughts, words, and actions?
What does it mean for me to follow prophetic counsel willingly, obediently, and joyfully?
How have I been blessed by following the Lord’s prophet?
What recent prophetic invitation should I act on more faithfully?

Choose the best spiritual part by following Christlike examples

Elder Gong shares a personal memory of President Dallin H. Oaks and a story about choosing gold pieces instead of gathering many less valuable coins. He uses this story to illustrate President Oaks’s lifelong pattern of choosing what is best spiritually, not merely what is good. The point is that discipleship involves discernment, prioritizing eternal value, and learning by the example of faithful leaders.

Opening a large chest filled with coins, a grandfather invited his grandchildren to collect all the coins they could.

However, one granddaughter carefully chose only a few coins.

She replied, “Grandpa, all my coins are gold pieces.”

A man loved and tutored by the Lord, President Dallin H. Oaks has exemplified “good, better, best” all his life.

He chooses the best spiritual part.

What principle does Elder Gong draw from the story of the granddaughter choosing gold pieces?
How does he apply that principle to President Dallin H. Oaks?
What does “good, better, best” suggest about discipleship and decision-making?
Why is choosing the “best spiritual part” important?
What in my life is good but may be crowding out what is spiritually best?
How can I better prioritize eternal things over immediate or lesser interests?
Who has modeled “good, better, best” for me, and what have I learned from them?
What is one “gold piece” spiritual choice I can make this week?

Trust the Atonement and Resurrection to heal, reconcile, and unite eternally

Elder Gong bears witness that Jesus Christ’s Atonement changes everything. Because of Him, resurrection is literal, return to God is possible, and families can be eternally united. His redeeming power also brings healing, reconciliation, and covenant belonging. Elder Gong ties these truths to Nephi’s delight in the Lord’s grace, justice, power, mercy, and plan of deliverance from death.

Jesus Christ’s Atonement changes everything.

It brings literal resurrection.

It can enable our return to the presence of God and the eternal uniting of families.

We can heal, reconcile, abide in covenant belonging.

With Nephi of old, our souls delight in the covenants the Lord has made, “in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.”

What effects of the Atonement does Elder Gong specifically identify?
How does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ affect every person?
What does Elder Gong teach about families in relation to Christ’s redeeming work?
How are healing and reconciliation connected to covenant belonging?
How has the Savior’s Atonement brought healing or reconciliation into my life?
What does literal resurrection mean to me personally?
How do temple and family covenants deepen my hope in eternal family relationships?
What would it look like for me to trust more fully in the Lord’s grace, justice, power, and mercy?

Bear Easter witness and walk with those who feel alone

Elder Gong closes with a clear testimony that Jesus Christ died, was buried, rose again, and lives now. He then turns that witness into a call to discipleship: because the Savior walks with us, we should walk with others. No one should sit or walk alone unnoticed. Christlike love means seeing those who are sad or isolated and accompanying them so they can feel His love through His disciples.

This is my Easter witness:

“Jesus Christ … died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven.”

“I know … my Redeemer lives,” and “while he lives, I’ll sing[,] … my Prophet, Priest, and King.”

As we walk our dusty roads to Emmaus, He will be with us.

If you see someone walking alone and sad, will you please walk with them?

No one sits alone, and no one should walk their road to Emmaus alone or unseen.

Let us see and walk together in His love so He can abide with and in us, and we in Him.

What testimony does Elder Gong bear about Jesus Christ at the end of the talk?
How does he connect Easter witness to ministering to others?
What does he ask disciples to do when they see someone who is alone and sad?
Why is helping others feel seen part of walking in the Savior’s love?
Who in my family, ward, school, workplace, or neighborhood may be walking alone right now?
How can I help ensure that “no one sits alone” in the settings where I have influence?
When has someone walked with me in a Christlike way, and what did that teach me about the Savior?
What specific act of inclusion, friendship, or ministering will I do this week?