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An Ear to Wisdom, a Heart to Understanding: Elder Gong on AI and Spiritual Truth

Source: Elder Gerrit W. Gong, BYU Education Week Address, August 19, 2025
Theme: "Incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart to understanding" (Proverbs 2:2)

Key Spiritual Framework​

Elder Gong establishes a profound framework for understanding artificial intelligence through spiritual wisdom:

"No matter what else you hear today, I hope you will hear that in his time and way, every glorious blessing in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is meant personally for you."

Three Critical Distinctions About AI and Divinity​

1. AI Cannot Replace God​

"We can be clear and help society understand that artificial intelligence is not God and cannot be God. Many talk too glibly about godlike AI or AI becoming God. AI cannot provide inspired divine truth or independent moral guidance as a creation of God. Man can create AI, but AI cannot create God."

2. Human vs. Divine Wisdom​

"Oh, the vainness and the frailties and the foolishness of men and women. When they're learned, they think they are wise, and they hearken not to the counsel of God. For they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore their wisdom is foolishness."

3. The Church's Unique Role​

"The Lord's restored church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in my view, is not primarily a purveyor of information. We are or should be primarily a source of his truth and love. Artificial intelligence cannot replace revelation or generate truth from God."

Practical AI Guidance for Believers​

What AI Cannot Do​

"As church members, we will not grow spiritually if we let artificial intelligence write our sacrament talks or do our seminary homework. AI cannot replace our individual effort in spiritual preparation as we prepare lessons, prayers or blessings."

What AI Can Do​

"However, artificial intelligence may be helpful as we research, edit, translate or do similar tasks... As we work hard and smart, AI can be a valuable tool to enhance but not replace our own efforts."

Historical Perspective on Technological Change​

Elder Gong provides fascinating historical context:

"Sister Gong's grandmother, we called her Graham, was born in 1883. She was 20 years old at the time of the Wright brother's first flight. Graham was 86 years old at the time of the first Apollo moon landing... in Graham's one lifetime, we went from Orville and Wilbur Wright's Kittyhawk flight on December 17th, 1903 to Neil Armstrong's Small Step for a Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind on July 20th, 1969."

Eternal Principles in a Digital Age​

On Intelligence and Truth​

"The glory of God is intelligence or in other words light and truth. Intelligence, truth and light cleave unto each other... whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection."

On Human Agency and Divine Elements​

"The spirit and the body are the soul of man. The elements are eternal and spirit and element inseparably connected receive a fullness of joy. Spirit, element, and human moral agency are at the heart of our capacity to grow through intentional choice."

The Power of Personal Redemption​

Perhaps the most moving section addresses individual hope and healing:

"A young man came up with great earnestness. He asked, 'Elder Gong, can I still go to heaven?' He was ashamed of some things he had done... I said, 'Trust God and repent, and I promise you can still go to heaven.' He looked into my eyes until he knew what I was saying was true."

On Christ's Transformative Power​

"Our savior and his atonement can help make things right on both sides of the veil... Instead of being held captive to old pasts, his atonement can free us to new futures. Jesus Christ atones. He redeems. He restores not only what was but what can be."

Living Past vs. Lived Past​

"There may be a spiritual distinction between our lived past and our living past. Our lived past encompasses the lived facts of our intents decisions and actions. Our living past reflects the possibility of redemptive changes to our past."

Five Principles for Seeking Divine Wisdom​

  1. Wisdom and understanding are characteristics of God
  2. Don't confuse human wisdom with divine wisdom
  3. God can bless us with wisdom as we diligently seek it
  4. Scripture teaches us how to seek the Lord's wisdom - through trusting, asking, opening our ears
  5. When we receive wisdom from God, we can see as He sees

The Church's AI Principles​

Elder Gong references the Church's guiding principles for AI use in four categories:

  • Spiritual connection
  • Transparency
  • Privacy and security
  • Accountability

Found at: ai.churchofjesuschrist.org

Closing Vision​

The address concludes with Gerard Manley Hopkins' powerful imagery:

"For Christ plays in 10,000 places, lovely in limbs and lovely in eyes not his to the father through the features of men's and women's faces."

Key Takeaway​

Elder Gong masterfully weaves together ancient wisdom and modern technology, showing how eternal gospel principles provide the framework for navigating artificial intelligence. His central message: AI is a tool that can enhance but never replace divine truth, personal revelation, and the transformative power of Jesus Christ's atonement in individual lives.