In one of the most tender verses of scripture, we read: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Elder Gerrit W. Gong recently reflected on this passage in his 2025 general conference address, “Eternity’s Great Gifts: Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Resurrection, Restoration.”
These two simple words—Jesus wept—hold profound meaning. They remind us that the Son of God entered mortality not only to redeem us but also to walk with us in our joys and sorrows. His tears testify of divine compassion, perfect empathy, and eternal promises. In Christ, we find three gifts that transcend time and mortality: His Atonement, His Resurrection, and His Restoration.
Jesus Weeps With Us
Throughout the scriptures, Jesus’ tears mark sacred moments of love and understanding. He wept with Mary and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus. He wept over Jerusalem, longing to gather His people as a hen gathers her chicks. He wept with joy in the Americas as He blessed little children, praying for them one by one.
These tears are more than emotion; they reveal His heart. Christ’s compassion assures us that when we cry out in grief, pain, or even joy, He understands perfectly. Our Savior is present when life feels unbearable, when relationships break, when loss overwhelms us, and when joy surprises us.
As Elder Gong shared, our own tears—whether bitter or sweet—are sanctified when we remember that Christ Himself wept. He turns mourning into comfort, loss into hope, and tears into joy.
Stories of Sorrow and Joy
Elder Gong shared moving stories that show how Christ’s gifts are felt in real lives across the world:
- A grieving father in South America sobbed after losing his young daughter. “I would give anything to see her again,” he cried. In Christ’s Resurrection, that hope is real.
- At the Puebla Mexico Temple dedication, a sister wept tears of joy as she whispered, “Todos mis hijos están aquí en el templo hoy”—all her children were gathered in the Lord’s house.
- In war-torn villages, bitter tears are giving way to forgiveness, as neighbors once divided by cruelty now seek reconciliation.
- A radiant bride in her seventies finally entered the temple in white, joyfully twirling her gown. God’s promises, though sometimes delayed, are sure.
- A widow carried fifty years of regret after the last words she spoke to her husband were angry and unkind. Only through Christ could healing and forgiveness reach across the veil.
Each story reminds us that the Savior’s gifts are not abstract doctrines. They are living realities, bringing healing, reconciliation, and joy where human strength alone would falter.
Gift One: The Atonement of Jesus Christ
The world constantly whispers that we are “not enough”—too short, too tall, too plain, too flawed. Left unchecked, this perfectionism drains us of peace. But in Christ’s Atonement, we discover we are more than enough.
Jesus descended below all things, suffering for our sins, our pains, and even our loneliness. He bled from every pore, weeping blood so we would never have to be separated from God. His mercy heals our relationships, strengthens our weaknesses, and gives us power to forgive others and ourselves.
Because of His Atonement, we can mend brokenness. We can live again in peace with God and with each other. Through Him, we are not defined by our mistakes but by our divine potential.
Gift Two: The Resurrection
Christ’s Resurrection broke the bands of death. Because He rose, all will rise. This is the dawn after the night, the joy that comes in the morning.
Resurrection means that death is not the end. Families separated by the grave will be reunited. Bodies once wracked by pain, disability, or decay will be restored in glory. As the hymn proclaims, “Death is conquered, man is free, Christ has won the victory.”
For the grieving father in South America, this means he will see his daughter again. For every parent who has lost a child, every spouse who has lost a partner, and every soul who feels the ache of parting, Resurrection is the ultimate promise of reunion and healing.
Gift Three: The Restoration
The Restoration of the gospel, priesthood authority, and sacred covenants connects Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection to us personally. Through it, His blessings reach not just ancient disciples but every generation, every culture, every soul who comes unto Him.
On Easter Sunday in 1836—fittingly also Passover—Jesus Christ appeared in the Kirtland Temple, accompanied by Moses, Elias, and Elijah. Keys and authority were restored to gather Israel, bind families, and prepare the world for His return. This divine convergence of Easter, Passover, and Restoration shows that God’s plan is both intentional and merciful.
Because of the Restoration, sacred ordinances in temples connect families for eternity. A seventy-year-old bride in Elder Gong’s story knew that her long wait was not in vain; God’s promises extend beyond time.
Jesus Christ in All Nations
Elder Gong also noted how faith traditions across the world bear witness of God’s love. Believers in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity trace covenant promises to Abraham. In Egypt, where Joseph once preserved his people and Moses was raised, a devout Muslim shared reverence for the Holy Family’s sojourn:
“The Quran teaches that Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus found safety and sanctuary in my country. In my country, Jesus ate our food, took his first steps, said his first words. His being in my country blessed our people and land.”
These testimonies remind us that Jesus Christ’s light and love are not confined by geography, culture, or denomination. Wherever we are, whoever we are, we share divine identity as children of God.
Beauty for Ashes
Life’s hardest lessons often come from experiences we would never choose—illness, loss, conflict, regret. Yet through Christ, beauty rises from ashes, joy comes from mourning, and heaviness is replaced with the garment of praise (Isaiah 61).
Jesus proclaimed in Nazareth that His mission was to “heal the brokenhearted,” “deliver the captives,” and “set at liberty them that are bruised.” These words are for us. Poor, brokenhearted, blind, bruised—that describes each of us at different times. And still, He promises healing, deliverance, and joy.
Living in Eternity’s Gifts
Each spring, Easter invites us to celebrate these eternal gifts. Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday point us to the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection. The annual April 6th commemoration of the Church’s organization points us to the Restoration. Together, they form a sacred whole—three divine gifts given for all of God’s children.
We can rejoice today because:
- Through the Atonement, we are forgiven, healed, and reconciled.
- Through the Resurrection, we are promised new life and eternal reunion.
- Through the Restoration, we are gathered, sealed, and prepared for eternity.
These gifts are not only cosmic in scope—they are deeply personal. They answer the longings of our hearts, wipe away our tears, and assure us that we belong to God’s eternal family.
Conclusion
Elder Gong’s message is clear: the Savior’s gifts are enduringly real, joyful, and forever. When we weep, Jesus understands. When we rejoice, He rejoices with us. In Him, we find peace, becoming, and belonging.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
May we each embrace the Atonement, Resurrection, and Restoration of Jesus Christ—not only as doctrines, but as living realities that bring hope, joy, and eternal belonging.
Explore the full message behind this post by reading the original talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l7cXXTVjIA
✨ Experience the message in song—watch the official lyric video of “Tears Become Joy” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddezhPmU4ZU
