October 2025 General Conference Lesson Helps for Relief Society: “No One Sits Alone” — Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Introduction

Elder Gong invites us to practice a gospel culture where no one sits alone—not physically, emotionally, or spiritually. As God gathers Israel from every nation and culture, He asks us to be the Savior’s innkeepers: see, welcome, and bind hearts to Christ through covenant belonging. This lesson help turns that vision into practical, warm, weekly habits your sisters can actually do.

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Section 1: Gospel Culture vs. World Culture

“The same principle of comparing practices in different cultural settings can help us distinguish gospel culture.”

Discussion Questions

1. What feels different about gospel culture vs. your family/country culture?
2. Where have you mistaken tradition for doctrine (or vice versa)?
3. Which gospel practices make your home feel more like Zion?
4. How can we lovingly retire traditions that block belonging?
5. How do we celebrate righteous diversity while seeking unity?
6. What daily habit moves your heart from “my way” to “His way”?
7. How can RS model gospel culture in tone and timing (start/stop, child noise, etc.)?
8. Which phrases help us keep doctrine centered without shaming?
9. What would “gospel culture” look like on social media this week?
10. Where will you let the Lord redefine your norms?

Object Lessons

1. Two baskets: “Tradition” / “Gospel”—sort sample statements.
2. Label maker/sticky notes: relabel one habit as “Gospel Culture.”
3. Compass: point true north (Christ) when culture conflicts.
4. Recipe card: ingredients of gospel culture (charity, chastity, Sabbath…).
5. Small globe: pray for a gathered, worldwide Relief Society.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. A tradition you joyfully kept—and one you let go.
2. A time gospel culture corrected you kindly.
3. How your home feels different with Christ at the center.
4. A practice that invites unity in diversity.
5. A social media boundary you’ll set.
6. A phrase you’ll use to keep doctrine kind.
7. A cultural pressure you’re handing to Jesus.
8. A small weekly habit that builds Zion.
9. Someone who embodied gospel culture for you.
10. Your one-sentence definition of gospel culture.

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Section 2: Gathering & Grafting—All Nations at the Supper

“Today children of God gather as one in Jesus Christ… ‘Go out quickly… bring in hither’… Old and young, rich and poor… we make our congregations look like our communities.”

Discussion Questions

1. How does your ward currently reflect your community—and where could it more?
2. What keeps us from inviting broadly (fear, awkward, assumptions)?
3. What does “go out quickly” look like in 2025 (text, doorstep, DM)?
4. Where have you “grafted” someone in by name and friendship?
5. How do we celebrate converts’ gifts without tokenizing?
6. What simple hospitality makes the chapel feel like home?
7. How can we include different languages/cultures in class?
8. Where will you actively “set another place at the table”?
9. What do you wish more members knew about being new?
10. What’s one invite you’ll extend this week?

Object Lessons

1. Olive branch/leaf (paper): write a name you’ll graft in.
2. Empty chair at the front: “Reserved for who’s not here yet.”
3. Place card: write a neighbor/friend to invite.
4. Welcome mat (paper): lay it out; brainstorm welcomes.
5. Mini table setting: “Supper of the Lord”—set one more place.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Your own welcome story.
2. A time you hesitated—and then invited anyway.
3. A convert gift that blessed you.
4. A small hospitality gesture that meant a lot.
5. A multilingual moment that felt like Pentecost.
6. A “go out quickly” idea you’ll try.
7. Someone you’ll sit by next Sunday.
8. A community need your ward can meet.
9. A bias you’ll retire today.
10. Your gathering testimony line.

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Section 3: The Inn—No One Sits Alone (Physically/Emotionally/Spiritually)

“The spirit of ‘room in the inn’ includes ‘no one sits alone.’”

Discussion Questions

1. What would “no one sits alone” look like in your chapel this week?
2. What stops us from approaching someone (fear of awkward, “someone else will”)?
3. How do we notice emotional/spiritual “alone” (not just seats)?
4. What do we say after “hello” to keep connection going?
5. How do we create a “buddy system” for new/returning members?
6. How do we help teens practice this?
7. What does safe belonging look like for trauma/mental health?
8. How can greeters/ushers/RS presidency coordinate this effort?
9. What follow-up keeps people in the circle Monday–Saturday?
10. Where do you need someone to sit with you?

Object Lessons

1. Heart sticker on a seating chart: choose who you’ll sit with.
2. Buddy band (yarn) in pairs—commit to a check-in text midweek.
3. Fortune-cookie slip: “A gospel friendship begins with ‘hello.’”
4. Magnifying glass: see beyond the surface (emotional/spiritual alone).
5. Door hanger “Room in the Inn”—hang on class door during lesson.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. A time you sat alone—and someone found you.
2. A first hello that changed everything.
3. An “alone” you’ll watch for (widow, single, new, noisy kids).
4. Your follow-up text you’ll send today.
5. A teen you’ll mentor in welcoming.
6. A phrase you’ll use after hello.
7. A midweek touch that helped you stay.
8. A boundary that made church feel safer.
9. Your ask: where you need someone to sit with you.
10. Your innkeeper testimony.

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Section 4: When We’ve Been Hurt (Shoes Story)

“At church, the deacons laughed at him… he said he would never go again.”

Discussion Questions

1. Where have you been laughed at or dismissed at church?
2. How do we repair harm when we’ve caused it?
3. What guardrails prevent casual cruelty (kids, youth, adults)?
4. How do we respond when someone shares church-related pain?
5. What healing phrases help (“I’m so sorry. That was wrong.”)?
6. How do we teach fashion/status humility to youth?
7. How can leaders follow up after harm?
8. What’s the difference between apology and accountability?
9. How do we help someone safely try-again?
10. What will you personally change to prevent this?

Object Lessons

1. Shoelace: tie humility to your words.
2. Two shoes—one “fashionable,” one plain: God looks at the heart.
3. Bandage on a paper heart: repair words you’ll use.
4. Mirror labeled “Check tone”: reflect before you speak.
5. Phone reminder: schedule an apology you need to make.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. A time you were hurt at church—and what helped heal.
2. A time you apologized and made it right.
3. A youth conversation you’ll have this week.
4. A leader who handled harm well.
5. A phrase you’ll retire (jokes, comparisons).
6. How you’ll check your tone.
7. A try-again moment you witnessed.
8. A boundary for safety + belonging.
9. The apology text/call you’ll send.
10. Your repair testimony.

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Section 5: Knit Hearts Together—Practical Belonging

“Knit our hearts together in love… Worry less, judge less, be less demanding… Each ‘hello’ brings Zion closer.”

Discussion Questions

1. What does “knit” look like in a ward of busy lives?
2. What are three low-lift, high-love habits RS can adopt this month?
3. Where are we unknowingly demanding (dress, callings, timelines)?
4. What helps us worry less about differences and trust the Lord more?
5. How can ministering be belonging-first, assignment-second?
6. What milestone/heartache rhythms can we mark together?
7. How do we reduce perfectionism in callings?
8. What is your “one hello” goal each Sunday?
9. How do we involve children in knitting hearts?
10. How do we measure belonging (stories, not stats)?

Object Lessons

1. Yarn passed around: each person ties one loop = knit.
2. Hello cards: write and hand to someone you don’t know yet.
3. Calendar dots: mark birthdays/ordinances/anniversaries to remember.
4. Measuring tape: we measure in stories, not inches.
5. Worry stone: place it down—choose trust.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. A “knit” moment you’ll never forget.
2. A small habit that created big belonging.
3. A worry you’ll set down.
4. A judgment you’ll release.
5. A perfectionism you’re retiring.
6. A child who helped knit hearts.
7. A ministering visit that felt like family.
8. A milestone you’ll show up for.
9. Your weekly “one hello” plan.
10. Your knit-hearts testimony.

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Section 6: Gospel Culture Basics (Covenant Belonging)

“There is a unique gospel culture… chastity, weekly worship, Word of Wisdom, honesty… We move forward, not up/down, in Church positions.”

Discussion Questions

1. How do we teach standards without ranking people?
2. What phrases help us invite progress, not perfection?
3. How do we normalize repentance + returning?
4. Where do we accidentally create hierarchies?
5. What does “forward” look like in callings and seasons?
6. How do we support those wrestling with standards, with love and clarity?
7. What does honesty/integrity look like online?
8. How do we welcome those who smell of smoke/yearn for cleanliness?
9. How can the sacrament be our weekly “forward” reset?
10. What covenant belonging phrase will you use this week?

Object Lessons

1. Arrow forward sticker: progress ≠ ladder.
2. Erase board: repentance is real-time.
3. Two name tags: “Beloved Daughter” > “Calling Title.”
4. Water bottle: Word of Wisdom as worship.
5. Sacrament token (paper): weekly reset reminder.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. A standard you grew into—with help.
2. A time you felt welcomed mid-wrestle.
3. A “forward, not upward” moment.
4. A repentance reset this month.
5. A phrase that kept love + clarity together.
6. A calling that humbled you into Christ.
7. An integrity choice online.
8. A way you honored someone’s effort.
9. Your weekly reset habit.
10. Your covenant-belonging testimony.

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Section 7: Hope, Forgiveness, and “I Even Like Myself Now!”

“Can I still go to heaven?… He left with hope in Jesus Christ… ‘I even like myself now!’”

Discussion Questions

1. Why do so many faithful saints doubt forgiveness?
2. What language restores hope without trivializing sin?
3. How do bishops/RS leaders/teachers coordinate to lift?
4. How can we help someone take the first step (bishop, prayer, scripture)?
5. What does self-compassion look like in gospel living?
6. How can testimonies emphasize Christ’s power to forgive now?
7. What scriptures breathe hope to the scrupulous heart?
8. How do we make confession safe and timely?
9. How can we celebrate progress appropriately?
10. How will you extend hope this week?

Object Lessons

1. Blank letter: write two hope lines to your future self.
2. White stone/pebble: new name, new heart—carry it.
3. Lamp/tea light: light for someone’s next step.
4. Bridge card: Today → Bishop → Christ—draw the path.
5. Mirror note: “In Christ, I can like myself now.”

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. A hope phrase that lifted you.
2. A scripture that quiets shame.
3. A time you took a brave first step.
4. Someone who believed you could change.
5. Your self-compassion practice.
6. A testimony of His “now” mercy.
7. A progress you’ll celebrate today.
8. A hope text you’ll send.
9. How you’ll support someone meeting with the bishop.
10. Your forgiveness testimony line.

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Section 8: The Weekly Practice—Hello, Sit, Stay

“A journey of gospel friendship and love begins with a first hello and no one sitting alone.”

Discussion Questions

1. What is your pre-church plan to find and greet someone?
2. Who will you sit with this Sunday—and how will you follow up?
3. How can we create a 5-minute “linger longer” after RS just to connect?
4. What’s your personal “two names, one invitation” rule each week?
5. How can we track and love the missing?
6. How will you involve youth in the hello–sit–stay rhythm?
7. What simple signals say “you belong” (saving a seat, pat on shoulder)?
8. What will you do if you arrive late/overwhelmed (still say hello to one)?
9. What’s your “hello” script if you’re shy?
10. How will you report sweet stories next Sunday?

Object Lessons

1. 3-bead bracelet: Hello • Sit • Stay—wear as reminder.
2. Name list (first names only): circle two you’ll greet.
3. Sticky star on a pew diagram: “your” seat is now a welcome seat.
4. Story jar: add slips of weekly “no one sat alone” moments.
5. Timer (60 sec): roleplay a hello that leads to sitting together.

Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Your shy-friendly hello line.
2. Someone you’ll text by noon today.
3. Who you’ll sit with Sunday.
4. A linger-longer idea you’ll propose.
5. A youth you’ll invite to help greet.
6. A missing sister you’ll love this week.
7. A welcome signal you’ll try.
8. A story you’ll add to the jar.
9. Your contingency plan when you’re late/overwhelmed.
10. Your one-line “hello–sit–stay” pledge.

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Conclusion

Elder Gong’s promise is simple and sweeping: in Jesus’s inn, no one sits alone—because in His covenant family, no one is alone. This week, invite your sisters to choose one hello, one sit-with, and one stay-in-touch action. As we live a true gospel culture—gathering, knitting, welcoming—our chapels become the Savior’s warm, healing places where hearts find hope and Zion inches closer. 💛

Posted By: Lia · In: Relief Society