Gong - Temple Mirrors of Eternity: A Testimony of Family - October 2010

Elder Gong speaks in conference as a Seventy and speaks about the wonderful blessings of the temple. He speaks about conversion and covenants and how remaining faithful to each, can bless generations to come.

• 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.
  

He speaks about performing a sealing in the temple and the eternal reflections that were there as they looked in the mirrors in the sealing room.

• I recently stood in a house of the Lord with a worthy couple there to receive blessings by covenant. I invited them to make their first honeymoon last 50 years, then after 50 years to begin their second honeymoon.
  
• I found myself looking with this beautiful couple into the temple mirrors—one mirror on this side, one mirror on that side. Together the temple mirrors reflect back and forth images that stretch seemingly into eternity.
  
• Temple mirrors of eternity remind us that each human being has “divine nature and destiny”; that “sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally”; and that, growing together in love and faithfulness, we can give children roots and wings.
  

We each have several roles in life and the mirrors of the temple reminded Elder Gong of his role as parent, grandparent, etc. As he looked in the other mirror, he was his role as son, grandson, etc.

• In temple mirrors of eternity, I began to understand my wife and myself as children of our parents and parents to our children, as grandchildren of our grandparents and grandparents to our grandchildren. Mortality’s great lessons distill upon our souls as we learn and teach in eternal roles, including child and parent, parent and child.

He speaks about the Savior and the great example of Father and Son relationships that He has with His Father in Heaven.

• From the councils in heaven, our Savior sought only to do His Father’s will. This pattern of Father and Son can help explain the paradox “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” A Lamb innocent and pure, our Savior weeps with and for us. When we always remember Him,1 He can stand with us “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in.” His “faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.”
  

As we draw near to the Savior by keeping our temple covenants, the Savior draws us closer to His Father. We can have perfect trust in our Heavenly Father to fulfill his side of temple covenants.

• In drawing us to Him, our Savior also draws us to our Father in Heaven. While some things are imperfect on earth, we can trust our Heavenly Father to complete “redemption’s grand design, where justice, love, and mercy meet in harmony divine!”

Elder Gong concludes with his testimony of the temple blessings that bless our families for generations to come.

• I humbly witness: God lives. He “shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes”—except the tears of joy when we see through temple mirrors of eternity and find ourselves home, pure and clean, our family generations sealed by priesthood authority in love, to shout, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna.”
  

Elder Gong's reflection on the temple mirrors reminds me of the great blessings I have had in my life to attend many open houses of various temples. As our kids were young, we made it a goal to attend the temple open houses as they were places our children could see how special, sacred, and beautiful the House of the Lord is. I have looked in those temple mirrors with my children and reflected on the many blessings that we have had together in the temple. I am grateful for many generations of my family that have left a legacy for my family over several generations.