We walked into the chapel after the second-hour meeting had concluded and just sat down. I don’t remember realizing any specific reason for any of this, other than I just wanted to follow the prompting I had received and delay going home.

Shortly after sitting down, it became clear that the ward choir was going to be practicing in the chapel. We ended up listening to the choir practice, which probably lasted about 45 minutes, and then we finally headed home. My son said to me that he wouldn’t have thought that would be as fun as it turned out to be. We were both strengthened.

What I learned from this experience is that when we strive to have more holiness in our lives, the Lord will help us to know how to achieve it. It is then our job to follow the promptings that we receive, and if we do, we will reap the spiritual reward.

Holiness to the Lord was the topic spoken of at the October 2024 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the church.

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

In his address, Elder Gong discussed what holiness to the Lord means and why it is important. Through a series of anecdotes, he showed how holiness to the Lord is manifested in individual lives in ways that strengthen faith and family relationships, bring perspective and comfort and even lead to temporal blessings. Elder Gong also emphasized the importance of temples in demonstrating holiness to the Lord, showing how temple worship is both a sign of holiness to the Lord and a means to help us ultimately become more holy.

The overall effect of the talk, I hope, is an increased commitment to choosing words, attitudes, behaviors and activities that allow us to have more holiness in our lives.

Beginning his talk, Elder Gong used some humor.

“Our recent Gong family reunion included a fun talent show, complete with a dad jokes contest,” he said.

“But this contest was unusual. On one team was Grandpa (me) and two of the grandchildren, ages 12 and 11. On the other team was an artificial intelligence (AI) program prompted by a cousin to tell dad jokes in the style of Gerrit W. Gong. Grandpa Gerrit Gong versus AI Gerrit Gong.

“The grandchildren and I went first.

“What do you call a dinosaur who crashes his car? Tyrannosaurus Wrecks.

“AI Gerrit Gong was instructed: Think like Gerrit W. Gong. Talk like him.

“AI Gerrit Gong: ‘Here is a dad joke as if spoken by Gerrit W. Gong, embracing his warm, thoughtful and uplifting style: Why did the humble tree make people smile? Because it was rooted in love and reached out with branches of kindness. Like that tree, we too can find strength in our roots and joy in extending kindness to others.’

“Well, what do you think? That’s why they’re called dad jokes.”

One quality I really appreciate about Elder Gong is his humble spirit. He offered what looked kind of like an embarrassed chuckle after he read the description of his style as “warm, thoughtful and uplifting” by the AI program, almost as if to say, “I can’t believe I just read that. I would never say that about myself.”

Transitioning into his core message, Elder Gong discussed what holiness is.

“All around us are opportunities to laugh, delight, see with grateful eyes. Ours is a gospel of joy and holiness in everyday life. Holiness sets things apart for sacred purpose. But holiness also invites us to infuse daily living with the sacred — to rejoice in daily bread amidst this world’s thistles and thorns. To walk with the Lord, we must become holy, for he is holy (Leviticus 11:44), and to help us become holy, the Lord invites us to walk with him.” (Moses 6:34)

How much more can I do to add the sacred into my daily life? How much more can I express gratitude for the blessings that I have received, even though sometimes it seems like all I can see are “thistles and thorns?” These aren’t just helpful suggestions that we can disregard if we wish but requirements if we wish to “walk with the Lord.” The Lord wants us to walk with him.

Speaking about why holiness is important, Elder Gong continued:

“We each have a story. As Sister Gong and I meet you — church members and friends in many places and circumstances — your stories of holiness to the Lord in everyday life inspire us. You live seven Cs: communion with God, community and compassion with each other, commitment and covenant with God, family and friends — centered in Jesus Christ.

“Growing evidence highlights this striking fact: Religious believers are on average happier, healthier and more fulfilled than those without spiritual commitment or connection. Happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, even financial and material stability — on each measure, religious practitioners flourish.”

There’s a footnote attached to the written version of the talk on the church’s website that references a Gallup report on faithandmedia.com that says, “Worldwide, people with a greater commitment to spirituality or religion have better wellbeing in many respects”

Elder Gong continued:

“They enjoy better physical and mental health and greater life satisfaction across all ages and demographic groups.

“What researchers call ‘religious structural stability’ offers clarity, purpose and inspiration amidst life’s twists and turns. The household of faith and community of saints combat isolation and the lonely crowd. Holiness to the Lord says no to the profane, no to snarky cleverness at others’ expense, no to algorithms that monetize anger and polarization. Holiness to the Lord says yes to the sacred and reverent, yes to our becoming our freest, happiest, most authentic, best selves as we follow him in faith.”

I found the use of the word authentic to be intriguing. In the world, authentic is used to mean, basically, however you feel inclined to act. But our true authentic self is a spirit child of Heavenly Father. When we say yes to acting as a spirit child of Heavenly Father should — by rejecting the “profane,” the “snarky cleverness at others’ expense” and “algorithms that monetize anger and polarization” — we enjoy “clarity, purpose and inspiration amidst life’s twists and turns.” None of this means life suddenly becomes perfect, that sadness and frustrations no longer occur and that we joyfully skip along everywhere we go. What it does mean is that we’re able to handle the adverse situations that come up with peace and optimism. I have found that the amount of peace and optimism I have in the midst of my trials is directly related to the degree to which I add the sacred to my daily life. There’s a difference that I know everyone else could be able to feel as well.

Drawing on examples of holiness to the Lord, Elder Gong said:

“Holiness to the Lord in everyday life looks like two faithful young adults, married for a year, sharing with authenticity and vulnerability gospel covenants, sacrifice and service in their unfolding lives.

“She begins, ‘In high school, I was in a dark place. I felt like God wasn’t there for me. One night, a text from a friend said, ‘Hey, have you read Alma 36 ever?’

“‘As I started reading,’ she said, ‘I was overcome with peace and love. I felt like I was being given this big hug. When I read Alma 36:12, I knew Heavenly Father saw me and knew exactly how I was feeling.’

“She continues, ‘Before we got married, I was honest with my fiancé that I didn’t have a great testimony of tithing. Why did God need us to give money when others had so much to give? My fiancé helped explain it’s not about money but following a commandment asked of us. He challenged me to start paying tithing.

“‘I really saw my testimony grow,’ she said. ‘Sometimes money gets tight, but we saw so many blessings, and somehow paychecks were enough.’

“Also, ‘in my nursing class,’ she said, ‘I was the only member of the church and the only one married. Many times, I left class frustrated or crying because I felt classmates singled me out and made negative comments about my beliefs, my wearing my garments or my being married so young.’

“Yet she continues, ‘This past semester, I learned how to better voice my beliefs and be a good gospel example. My knowledge and testimony grew because I was tested in my ability to stand alone and be strong in what I believe.’

“The young husband adds, ‘Before my mission, I had offers to play college baseball. Making the difficult decision, I put those offers aside and went to serve the Lord. I wouldn’t trade those two years for anything.

“‘Returning home,’ he said, ‘I expected a difficult transition but found myself stronger, faster and healthier. I was throwing harder than when I left. I had more offers to play than when I left, including my dream school. And, most importantly,’ he said, ‘I rely upon the Lord more than ever.'”

“He concludes, ‘As a missionary, I taught that Heavenly Father promises us power in our prayers, but sometimes I forget that for myself.'”

How did holiness to the Lord by being obedient help these two people? The wife was able to have financial perspective, while the husband had increased ability and opportunities. Their lives were not ruined by being obedient. They were improved. I can testify from examples in my own life that I have enjoyed those exact same blessings. I, too, have been blessed with perspective regarding trials, and I have also seen certain abilities increased beyond what they previously were. Truly, the Lord does bless those who love him by demonstrating holiness to him.

Elder Gong continued:

“Our treasury of missionary holiness-to-the-Lord blessings is rich and full. Finances, timing and other circumstances are often not easy. But when missionaries of all ages and backgrounds consecrate holiness to the Lord, things can work out in the Lord’s time and way.

“Now with a 48-year perspective, a senior missionary shares, ‘My dad wanted me to get a college education, not go on a mission. Shortly after that, he had a heart attack and died at age 47. I felt guilty. How could I make things right with my father?

“‘Later,’ he continues, ‘after I decided to serve a mission, I saw my father in a dream. Peaceful and contented, he was happy I would serve.’

“This senior missionary continues, ‘As Doctrine and Covenants section 138 teaches, I believe my father could serve as a missionary in the spirit world. I picture my father helping our great-grandfather, who left Germany at age 17 and was lost to the family, be found again.’

“His wife adds, ‘Among the five brothers in my husband’s family, the four who served missions are the ones with college degrees.’

“Holiness to the Lord in everyday life looks like a young returning missionary who learned to let God prevail in his life. Earlier, when asked to bless someone who was very sick, this missionary said, ‘I have faith; I will bless him to recover. Yet,’ the returning missionary says, ‘I learned in that moment to pray not for what I wanted but for what the Lord knew the person needed. I blessed the brother with peace and comfort. He later passed away peacefully.’

“Holiness to the Lord in everyday life feels like a spark arcing across the veil to connect, comfort and strengthen. An administrator at a major university says he feels individuals he knows only by reputation praying for him. Those individuals devoted their lives to the university and continue to care about its mission and students.

“A sister does her best each day, after her husband was unfaithful to her and the children. I deeply admire her and others like her. One day while folding laundry, her hand on a stack of garments, she sighed to herself, ‘What’s the point?’ She felt a tender voice assure her, ‘Your covenants are with me.'”

Have you felt the reassuring voice of the Lord when you are struck by a negative thought? I know I have. If that isn’t the perfect evidence that the Lord loves is, I don’t know what is.

“For 50 years, another sister yearned for a relationship with her father,” Elder Gong said. “‘Growing up,’ she says, ‘there were my brothers and my dad, and then there was me — the only daughter. All I ever wanted was to be ‘good enough’ for my dad.

“‘Then my mom passed away. She was my only liaison between my dad and me.

“‘One day,’ the sister said, ‘I heard a voice say, ‘Invite your dad and take him to the temple with you.’ That was the beginning of a twice-a-month date with my daddy to the house of the Lord. I told my dad I loved him. He told me he loved me too.

“‘Spending time in the house of the Lord has healed us. My mom could not help us on earth. It took her being on the other side of the veil to help mend what was broken. The temple completed our journey to wholeness as an eternal family.’

“The father says, ‘The temple dedication was a great spiritual experience for me and my only daughter. Now we attend together and feel our love strengthen.'”

These experiences are not the exception, but the rule, for those who demonstrate holiness to the Lord. Whatever might stand in the way of us infusing our lives with the sacred, how could it possibly be more important than all of that?

“Holiness to the Lord in everyday life includes tender moments when loved ones pass,” Elder Gong said. “Earlier this year, my dear mother, Jean Gong, slipped into the next life days before her 98th birthday.

“If you asked my mother, ‘Would you like rocky road, white chocolate ginger or strawberry ice cream?’ Mom would say, ‘Yes, please, may I taste each one?’ Who could say no to your mother, especially when she loved all of life’s flavors?

“I once asked Mom which decisions had most shaped her life.

“She said, ‘Being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moving from Hawaii to the mainland, where I met your father.’

“Baptized as a 15-year-old, the only member of her large family to join our church, my mother had covenant faith and trust in the Lord that blessed her life and all our family generations. I miss my mother, as you miss members in your family. But I know my mother is not gone. She is just not here now. I honor her and all who pass as valiant examples of everyday holiness to the Lord.”

Elder Gong mentioned the importance of the temple in strengthening a father-daughter relationship. Temples are crucial in the quest for holiness to the Lord. No wonder at the October 2024 general conference it was the first thing the prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, counseled in order to “prepare for the second coming of our Lord and savior, Jesus the Christ” and “to make our discipleship our highest priority” despite living “in a world filled with dizzying distractions.”

He said:

“Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of him. We make covenants to follow him. We come to know him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance. We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world.

“Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find him in the temple. You will feel his mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of his gospel.”

Said Elder Gong:

“Of course, holiness to the Lord in everyday life includes coming more often to the Lord in his holy house. This is true whether we are church members or friends.

“Three friends came to the Bangkok Thailand Temple open house.

“‘This is a place of super healing,’ said one.

“In the baptistry, another said, ‘When I am here, I want to be washed clean and never sin again.’

“The third said, ‘Can you feel the spiritual power?’

“With nine sacred words, our temples invite and proclaim:

“‘Holiness to the Lord.

“‘The House of the Lord.'”

I know that whatever I can do to be in the temple as much as my circumstances will allow, I need to do. The spirit I feel when I enter is real and unmistakable, and that spirit provides the strength that I need in my daily life. I can’t afford to be without it.

Elder Gong concluded:

“Holiness to the Lord makes daily living sacred. It draws us closer and happier to the Lord and each other and prepares us to live with God our Father, Jesus Christ and our loved ones.

“As did my friend, you may wonder if your Heavenly Father loves you. The answer is a resounding, absolute yes. We can feel his love as we make holiness to the Lord ours each day, happy and forever. May we do so, I pray in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rbcomer8388.