You can watch Elder Gong’s talk here.

In this Easter-focused message, Elder Gerrit W. Gong teaches that because of the resurrected Jesus Christ, no one truly walks alone. Using the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, he explains that the Saviour often walks beside us even when we do not immediately recognise His presence.

Key quotes:

‘Sometimes on our dusty roads to Emmaus, we feel alone, misunderstood, burdened, unseen. But as He “talk[s] with us by the way,” His words in scripture can cause our hearts to burn.’ (Paragraph 10)

‘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.’ (Paragraph 10)

‘Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus ask Jesus to abide with them, Jesus Christ promises to abide with us.’ (Paragraph 12)

‘When we have a question, problem, or joy, Jesus Christ says, “I am your answer—your way, your truth, your life.”’ (Paragraph 13)

‘We without the Lord can do nothing.’ (Paragraph 20)

‘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.’ (Paragraph 24)

‘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.’ (Paragraph 28)

Questions for discussion or pondering

When have the scriptures made your heart burn within you? (Paragraph 4)

Why do you think the disciples did not immediately recognise Jesus? (Paragraph 5)

Have you ever looked back on a difficult time and realised that the Lord was walking with you all along? (Paragraph 5) 

How does the sacrament help us abide in Christ? (Paragraph 10)

In what ways is the Holy Ghost a Comforter?  (Paragraph 16)

What does it mean to follow the prophet “willingly, obediently, joyfully”? (Paragraph 24)

What do you take from the story of the gold coins? (Paragraph 26)

What can we do to make sure no one sits alone or walks alone or unseen? (Paragraph 32)

Invitations and application

‘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.’ (Paragraph 32)

Use the sacrament to consciously remember and reconnect with Jesus Christ. (Paragraphs 10-11)

Choose what is eternally valuable rather than merely urgent or plentiful. (Paragraph 26)

Abide inn covenant belonging. (Paragraph 28)

Additional thoughts

“Sometimes in daily life our eyes are ‘holden’ (see Luke 24:16). Things to which we are so close and which should be obvious enough are, ironically, often unclear to us. We can’t always make out what lies just two steps ahead. Instead, we are to trust the Lord and walk by faith in such circumstances, taking the next first step, until the wisdom of the Lord indicates otherwise. Later we will see how we stared directly at the obvious but still could not see it. Besides, having received so many blessings involving one divine ‘yes’ after another, we should not be surprised if there is an occasional, divine ‘no,’ if only because of divine timing.

“If everything in one’s immediate context were constantly clear, God’s plan would not work. Hard choices as well as passing through periodic mists of darkness are needed in order to maintain life’s basic reality-that we are to overcome by faith.” (Neal A Maxwell, Lord, Increase Our Faith [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994], 110.)

“They sensed it not, but they had the testimony of the spirit before there came to them the witness of the eyes.” (J Reuben Clark Jr, On the Way to Immortality and Eternal Life [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1949], 72.)

‘Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to “abide the day.” Abiding the day does not mean adding to an ever-increasing to-do list. Think of a magnifying glass. Its sole purpose is not simply to make things appear bigger. It can also gather and focus light to make it more powerful. We need to simplify, focus our efforts, and be gatherers of the Light of Jesus Christ. We need more holy and revelatory experiences.’ (Sister Amy A Wright, General Conference, October 2023)

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