"I gratefully testify that an eternal perspective of gospel conversion and temple covenants can help us see rich blessings in each generation of our forever families," said Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Seventy during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference.
"In today's parlance," he said, "each new convert, young single adult, those returning to Church activity and others bless generations when they become a fellow Saint in the household of God."
Elder Gong spoke of an opportunity he had recently to accompany a worthy couple to the temple. As he gazed into the temple mirrors — "one mirror on this side, one mirror on that side" — he reflected on his ancestor First Dragon Gong and the succeeding Gong family generations. "My brother, sister and I are in our family's 33rd generation; my sons and their cousins, the 34th generation; our grandson, the 35th recorded Gong family generation. In temple mirrors of eternity, I could not see a beginning or end of generations."
Not only did he see a succession of generations but a succession of family relationships. "In one direction, I saw myself as son, grandson, great-grandson, back to First Dragon Gong. In the mirrors in the other direction, I saw myself as father, grandfather, great-grandfather.…
"Mortality's great lessons," he continued, "distill upon our souls as we learn and teach in eternal roles including child and parent, parent and child."
Elder Gong pointed out that the scriptures describe the Savior as "the Father and the Son." He said, "'Dwelling in flesh but subjecting the flesh to the will of the Father,' our Savior knows how to succor us, His people, in our pains, afflictions, temptations, sicknesses, even death. … In drawing us to Him, our Savior also draws us to our Father in Heaven.
"A miracle of the images we discern in temple mirrors of eternity is they — we — can change. When [my parents] Jean and Walter Gong entered the new and everlasting covenant, they opened the way for ancestors (such as First Dragon Gong) to be sealed and for posterity to be born in the covenant. Please remember, as we reach out to each brother and sister, we bless generations."
— Rachel Sterzer