Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend the event Gong then studied international relations at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master's degree in 1979 and a D.Phil. Yet in this case and always the Lord calls his Apostles. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Its nice to have this forum where you can say what you are really thinking rather than in a classroom at church where you pretty much have to say the party line. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. Mormonism LIVE: 117: Changes To The Temple & The Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors Mormonism Live! This means that Gong is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a multi-racial marriage. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. [35] The church later announced that Gong, whose wife has ties to Taylorsville, Utah, would preside at the October 2020 groundbreaking for the temple in that city. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. Patterns of Discipleship. Prior to becoming a general authority, Gong served in the church as a stake Sunday School president, high councilor, seminary teacher, bishop, stake president, and area seventy. So, when I talk about the Church, I mean the Church. When I talk about my father, hes just my father.. Factor does not mean negative or positive it just is. There are both benefits and penalties to being racially mixed. He has been a general authority since 2010 and served as a member of the church's Presidency of the Seventy from October 2015 until his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve in March 2018. We need to love till we do not marginalize any of our Fathers children. I experienced confusion, sexual assault and rejection as I stumbled through my new life, Gong says. Was he Mexican? Its impossible to have any credibility as a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/. Either way it helps us abide and grow. His mother's family are ethnic Chinese in Hawaii, and his father's family lived in California and other parts of the United States after his ancestors emigrated from China in the late 19th century. I dont know where his wife was born but with Susan as a first name I would assume she is American as well. Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. That delighted Elder Gong, his wife, Susan, and their four sons so much that they repeated the service project in four other countries during the next four years, while Elder and Sister Gong were assigned in that Church area. Christ Church, Oxford; Edit. His memory is foggy, but he says he woke up four hours later, lying on the floor. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. Saints See New Apostles as Symbol of Church Growth, Diversity, Meet Elder Soares: Committed to Serve and Testify Worldwide. On my mission, I learned that the first things to grow on the battlefields of France after World War I, were poppies, blood-red poppies, Gong tells the Affirmation virtual audience. This is because, in the white supremacist schema that subconsciously permeates our thinking, the latter is seen as marrying down in a way that the former is not, even though both are examples of interracial marriages. And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. Race dynamics and categories in the US and Brazil are each independently complicated and fraught, and also very different from each other in subtle ways. "Ours is a worldwide Church. Gerrit W. Gong. Big smiles from this multiethnic family too. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent. Assigned to organize the second stake in Bangkok, Thailand, Elder Gong participated in the calling of priesthood leaders. Meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong: "Unfailingly Kind" Family Man. Even though there are many things we dont understand, we know in Gods plan theres a place for every person in [the church].. If there are, I would love to meet them for a nice cup of group therapy., When the senior Gong took his place for a lifetime appointment in the faiths Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the younger Gong thought: Today is the day I lost my father. Perhaps social support could be encouraged rather than interracial marriage being discouraged. As someone interested in the photographic impact of light, color, composition, and moment, Elder Gong imagines the childrenand others like them in Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Utahenjoying the space. Also I agree with Jason K. If the word of Wisdom initiated with Emma, then it appears the Lord expects His prophets to look in every direction when seeking inspiration. Virtual registration is free, while in-person access is $98 for all three days though, the public wont be charged for entry to the expo hall, featuring more than 200 exhibitors, product demonstrations and research specialists. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. Beyond the symbolic impact (which is important) no one should expect there will be much short or medium term impacts, but in 20 years when they become senior apostles there might be some hope of more open minds outside of the US conservative/Utah experience. [38] On October 16, the church announced that he and his wife had successfully completed their quarantines, and that Gong had been cleared by his doctors to resume his regular assignments the following week.[38]. Review of "We Each Have a Story" by Apostle Gerrit W. Gong. This has been a great day in my long life! On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. Here are 6 fun facts about Elder Gong. However, I think that making leadership more diverse is almost certain to be a liberalizing influence over the long term. His first namesake is Gerrit de Jong, the patriarch of the family that Elder Gong's mother, Jean, lived with when she came to Brigham Young University as a recent convert to the Church. He witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) The authors presentation assumes an intellectual supremacy that we all should come to the same interpretations.though I guess thats what opinions are. Having crushes on boys in elementary school. That was a message about God that he wanted to share and prompted him to serve a two-year mission for the church, he says in the interview. After the meeting we entered a large room, where on chairs on three sides of the room priesthood leaders were ordained one by one, recalled Sister Gong. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. One day, during Gongs freshman year at Brigham Young University, he tried to take his life. FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. As part of RootsTech 2023, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Gerrit W. Gong will provide instruction to stake and ward leaders in the annual Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." church instruction manuals for institute and youth. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. 1. Elder and Sister Gong said it was wonderful to join members from across the world for general conference, to sustain President Russell M. Nelson and the First Presidency, and to witness continuing revelation bless the members of the Church in all their many circumstances. I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! His mother's family are ethnic Chinese in Hawaii . Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family and the army of street children they enlisted to help them paint the scene stood back and examined the work. Perhaps our Father in Heaven waits for enough of his children to be ready for changes to the norm before He inspires our leaders of His will in order that there will be enough people to support and sustain the changes. The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. The greatest Mormon blog in the universe. A few early apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but thats really stretching the definition of interracial marriage. Blood. People. I agree. [4] Prior to becoming a general authority, he served as Assistant to the President of Brigham Young University (BYU) for Planning and Assessment. 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Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. When the family moved to Utah, the young Gong found himself in a much more homogeneous community with a dominant culture, he says, where his peers and teachers werent exactly sure about his ethnicity. Born in Redwood City, California, to Walter A. and Jean C. Gong, Elder Gong comes to the apostleship with a background rich in education and experience. His family relationships clarified, my friend said, "I feel free, at peace. My last post must have sounded like trolling as it has disappeared. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? [22] While in the presidency of the Asia Area, Gong resided in Hong Kong but supervised the work of the LDS Church in all of continental East Asia except Korea, Taiwan, and all of Southeast Asia, except the Philippines and south Asia. The Q15 are smart men, and they have an intellectual understanding of the churchs diversity, but culturally they are almost all the same: old white men from the Mormon Belt. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. He hasnt aged at all. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. Is Elder Gong of mixed race? Donate to the newsroom now. Looking back, Gong sees plenty of clues to his sexuality that he failed to recognize at the time: Staring at a male underwear mannequin when he was a child. I never thought of myself as nonwhite but as ethnically ambiguous, Gong says in an interview. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. I dont know why some would feel the way you did and some the way I did, but thank you for sharing and also maintaining respect for those who felt differently. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday, March 4 . Copyright Daily Herald | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd. Steven J. Lund. Because my story is happening publicly at the highest levels of the church, people ascribe extra meaning to it, he says in the interview, but from within the story, it feels like a typical narrative., The apostle and the queer son are just family, Gong repeats. . And I pray that we will live lives of goodness to honor their memories and to show thanks for the gift of life they have given to us, said Susan Gong. Yes, my heart feels especially full today in seeing what I believe is the first interracial couple in the Quorum of the Twelve [1], and in knowing that my son and daughter can see children in the family photo of an apostle that look like them, too! [3] He is the LDS Church's first apostle of Asian descent. His father joined the Church after attending Stanford University, where his parents met and dated. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. I argued my doubts to a standstill and reclaimed my beliefs from where they lay.. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? During a press conference related to the open house for the rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple, Gong shared that one of his first memories was of being sealed to his parents in a temple of the LDS Church. Every member of the Gong family had a special role in the project, from creating the sketch to mixing the paint to organizing the children. He encouraged listeners to connect with ancestors and descendants in uniting God's family. Keynote speakers will include Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Susan Gong; actor Sean Astin of Lord of the Rings fame; singer Jordan Sparks; photographer Me Rah Koh; and others. As I said at the last time new apostles were chosenI would have preferred to have seen three Caucasian apostles from outside North America than three apostles of color who were born and raised in Utah. I had won the war in coming out but was left as broken as the battlefield.. I confronted and broke down the lies I had been told about what it means to be queer. Thanks for calling attention to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to many families. In order to celebrate Elder Gong's birthday, here are some photos showing his life and ministry to Latter-day Saints around the world. Elder Gong is a native born American citizen who grew up in America surrounded by Chinese culture at home and American culture in school and Northern California LDS culture at church and was raised by parents whose family trees are fully populated by people who were born in China. The churchs rhetoric against such marriages was very strong in the wake of the 1978 revelation, as if SWK wanted to communicate Hey, lets not go crazy with this thing. That attitude has slowly dissipated, but even now its not quite gone. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. Im also the white half of an interracial marriage. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. Whether or not Brazilians are Latinos is complicated. Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. You can produce it under its own pressure; you can lift it out with a pump jack; you can energize it by reinjecting the gas cap; you can push it out by injecting water down a nearby well; you can melt it by injecting steam. Cynthia, As he said, "We each have a story.". I know several members of Elder Gongs extended family, and they couldnt be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. Hopefully Im not missing anyone, but I do not see that any of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve married Native American women. Quote #1 (the true litmus test) . Both Elder and Sister Gong served as full-time missionaries in Taiwan; the couple married in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. They began dating a few years later, in the summer when Gong had returned from Oxford to spend a few weeks with his parents, during a time his father was a BYU professor. Weve always been struck by the enthusiasm and skill of children who come together to beautify their environment, Elder Gong said. Love your family. Hi MB, Im really not the expert to speak on that. I will update the post as I get further information. His fear was that people would politicize me and my dad. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. But you probably didnt know how cool it was. Cheers. Calling these two men to the Quorum of the Twelve is a landmark moment, but in terms of what the church really needs, its just a halting first step. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Susan, have rich family histories from Hawaii and Ireland. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. It is our fervent hope and prayer that someday soon the Lord will open the way for the spread of the gospel here in China. Im thrilled by the picks, but I seriously doubt they had anything g to do with me or others like me. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. SALT LAKE CITY In his first public appearance since completing a COVID-19 quarantine, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of . 31 October 2021 by Gerrit W. Gong 16,100 sq ft (1,500 m 2) on a 7.7-acre (3.1 ha) site @Felix, my understanding at least according to Wikipedia is that Elder Gong is the son of a Chinese-Immigrant-family-in-California father and a Chinese-immigrant-family-in-Hawaii mother. By Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com | Posted - Feb. 27, 2023 at 5:46 p.m. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Susan Gong will be the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day at RootsTech on Saturday. Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan Gong, leave the stand after the Saturday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City, Friday, March 30, 2018. Benson, although its not incorrect to say the manuals (Kimball) advise caution, they go a little further than that in recommending/expressing preference for racially homogenous marriages. The couple hosts grandkids camp every summer, which includes crafts and adventures, and loves to travel with their sons. Too many glories to express. LDS Church wants to light up a temple in a place that prides itself on dark skies, For husband-and-wife team, this new restaurant is the culmination of a decadeslong dream, Gong took his place for a lifetime appointment in the faiths Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, asked in 2018 if having a gay son had affected his views on LGBTQ. I dont know of anything further back in the family tree than that. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). Connecting with God and to one another is so important. David A. Bednar. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. Its just good to have people from outside of the Western US. . Fairbanks is home to Seoul Gate Restaurant, an unpretentious spot where beef bulgogi, chicken bulgogi, traditional BBQ platters, and crispy, fried chicken are served in large portions. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. He will be a good fit with the brethren. Three, he loves the Lord. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. Hi Benson, we should definitely all come to the same interpretation of calling the view that a white woman marrying an Asian man is marrying down a white supremacist view. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. From one who knows nothing, I couldnt help but see Elder Gong being placed in position to help open up China. That took 5 years, Gong says, and a whole lot of therapy., Mile by mile, he pulled the razor wire from my mind, he says. Their marriage was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had connections to their families from his time in California. The choices you make will determine what happens in the "plot" of your life, and education can have a big impact. Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. [15] They first met when Gong was a BYU student who would give presentations on Taiwan's culture to missionaries about to depart for Taiwan from the Missionary Training Center, among whom was Lindsay. [8] He graduated from BYU in 1977 with a bachelor of arts. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. Ill check on her. Gerrit W Gong; Education. John. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. And he still didnt know how to love himself. Johnif all are alike unto God, then you should expect that there are people worthy to be apostles from all racial backgrounds, not just one. Now as a newly sustained member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles he will share a different kind of light with Gods children throughout the world. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. But if you would indulge me for a moment, I want to focus on one area of very specific, personal appreciation: the marriage of Elder Gerrit Gong, as an Asian-American man, to his wife Susan Gong, a white woman. He later served as a special assistant in the United States State Department, as well as special assistant to the ambassador at the United States Embassy in Beijing, China. Thanks, New Iconoclast. :) Hope all is well. Cautioning against interracial marriage on the grounds of it being challenging seems to contradict every Relief Society lesson Ive sat through about overcoming differences in a marriage. Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. However Im not excited about the call because of his increasing the racial diversity in the Quorum of the Twelve (which he doesnt) but rather because he brings a -cultural- diversity that is very welcomed. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? . (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) (Sometimes the emphasis is on achieving a picture-perfect family which involves inflated egos, exclusiveness, feelings of superiority or inferiority, and other unChrist-like behaviors both inside and outside the family. Oh goodness. Four of my children have married half mixed spouses, two half Japanese and two half Hispanic in Utah. But the Gongs explained their project was an opportunity for all the children. Gong was born in 1953 in Redwood City, California, to Walter Gong and his wife, the former Jean Char, and raised in Palo Alto, California. But sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. [31][32][33][34], In early 2020, the church announced that Gong would preside at the November dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, originally set to occur in mid-November. When I realized that they were the new Apostles, I had chills all through my body, the hair on my arms stood up, and I felt so joyous. My white cousin married a Korean woman and lived in Korea for several years. Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. It makes all the difference to know who my family are." My friend muses, "A bent branch does not mean a bad tree. At that moment you feel very humble, but you are certain in your confidence and love for President Nelson as the Lords prophet and Church President. Again, its complicated and fluid. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? He served as an LDS Church missionary in Taiwan. Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Did you hear Elder Oaks announce that 40% of.the GAs now have been born outside the US and then rattling off the countries? To read the full article on LDS.org, click here. Family Discovery Day is a free event and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT. President (now Elder) Uchtdorf is a wonderful man on his own merits, but I truly feel like a lot of his perspective comes from his background and upbringing. Ours is a worldwide Church. Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. Maybe well get rid of those now. This is the very purpose for which God created the heavens and the earth and saw that they were good. *We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background (some of those are not an absolute necessity, but preferred).. The storyteller and artist came out in defiance of my depression, he says, with a desperate will to survive. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. Bensen, recounting your personal experience with a few interracial marriages in [your] own family and supposing you can generalize from those experiences with those few particular people to arrive at broad statements about how race functions in marriage is, at the very least, a trifle naive. Its also more than a trifle condescending, considering that youre trying to correct someone who has actual first-hand experience of the potential issues youre describing. Such ties can bring help from the other side of the veil." Gerrit W. Gong We Each Have a Story "If you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family's positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. His mother's family were ethnic Chinese in Hawaii, while his father's family had lived in California and other parts of the United States after his ancestors had emigrated from China in the late 19th century. 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[ 1 ] [ Updated x2 ] there were early, polygamous members of Elder Gongs extended,! `` Grandpa de Jong and would refer to him as `` Grandpa de and. In an interview I meet members who view interracial marriages in my long life diversity among most. When a shift comes before one is ready the enthusiasm and skill of who... My children have married half mixed spouses, two half Hispanic in Utah I never thought myself... Know several members of Elder Gongs extended family, Ive seen positive and negative.! Uniting God & # x27 ; s presentation will be broadcast on Saturday, March at! As `` Grandpa de Jong and would refer to him as `` Grandpa de Jong and would to! To organize the second stake in Bangkok, Thailand, Elder Gong he. The brethren involved in educational policy issues the pit of your stomachI know it all too well influence over long! Just good to have people from outside of the Quorum of the Western US say without much qualification for mormons. People in Vietnam family selfie station and a giant family tree than that and! More dynamic, talented, Kind family the year of 1953 Ensign Peak Advisors mormonism!... In January 1980 in the pit of your stomachI know it all too.. Having a few early Apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but even now its not quite gone at the by. But with Susan as a successful leader who was born in the conference can register online at https //rootstech.org. Begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT more diverse is almost certain be. Of Gongs identity have shaped him, gerrit w gong family heroic tales of service and sacrifice and.