Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. But its something a couple should acknowledge and prepare for. I agree. 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. 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. A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Primary General President Susan H. Porter; Sister Kristen M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society . Gerrit was named after Gerrit de Jong because his mother had lived with de Jong and his family while she was a student at BYU. Both men and women of Asian descent in the US face a media and social stereotype of being more submissive, passive, and infantilized. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. Factor does not mean negative or positive it just is. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. Its most likely that any individual called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative. Hemos detectado que ests en un navegador no compatible. 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. 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. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. (The . 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. 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. Next I would really love for Adam and Eve in the temple videos to be an interracial couple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. Thanks, New Iconoclast. Ask Peter. I dont think there are many people who are openly queer and whose dad is now in one of the highest positions of authority in the LDS Church, he quips in an online post that went viral. Its very, very hard to do that with a small, centralized leadership group. Shout out to Jusok. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. In movies, gays were victims, targets for bullies, or the sassy friend.. Loursat wrote: I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers.. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. Elder Gerrit W. Gong currently serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Susan Gong will be the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day on the final day of RootsTech, the global family history gathering taking place virtually and in person March 2-4, 2023. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Oh goodness. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Elder Gong, the oldest of three children, inherited his parents love for learning. Brazilian members of the Church make up over 8% of the total church membership (as of just over a year ago). Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. The Gongs were married in 1980, not long after the lifting of the race-based priesthood and temple ban in 1978. 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. So, when I talk about the Church, I mean the Church. When I talk about my father, hes just my father.. . Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. Also on the whole model minority thing we dont exactly need to go very far back in history, especially California history, to find plenty of horrific discrimination against Asians. How can we have a people prepared for the millennium when we have countless exceptions to all are alike unto God? AmyT thanks for weighing in! That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. If I were to see him on the street, I would definitely think, (sorry for the non-PC stereotype) white-guy. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. church instruction manuals for institute and youth. These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right In the sweet spot consistent with recent apostle picks. Why does ethnicity have to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon? It depends. (And alsowhat Kevin said. Love the Gongs. >:(. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. The meeting will be available on the Gospel Library app and online in 11 languages beginning Its just good to have people from outside of the Western US. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. I also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Brazilians, in the USA, dont like getting lumped in with latinos. Cynthia you make a great couple. Elder Gerrit W. Gong was born on December 23, 1953, in California. Since there is a sub thread discussion about race here, Ill just highlight this very good and enlightening piece by PBS from a few years ago about race in Brazil. Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. 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. (Courtesy photo by Ryan Di Spaltro) (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. But the churchs mission is to reach throughout the world and serve people in their own languages, in their own cultures, and on their own terms without being destructive. 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. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. The thoughts expressed below are my authentic feelings. He witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) He was born on December 23, 1953 and his birthplace is California, Redwood City California. 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. I love the more visible presence of minorities. Ill check on her. Steven J. Lund. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. [4] Prior to becoming a general authority, he served as Assistant to the President of Brigham Young University (BYU) for Planning and Assessment. It will be another important step when we have the first woman of color wife of an apostle, the first black man, more examples of lives lived on more continents and in bodies with different abilities, anddare we hopethe first woman. I have five other children that have married Caucasians as well. While for *me* its not a big deal to see two races come together in marriage, to pretend its *objectively* not a factor at all is a trifle naive. Joseph W. Sitati. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. Fred: and that is the value of diversity, across every possible category. On his 21st birthday, at the start of the final year on his mission, Gong wrote separate emails to each of his brothers and his parents to tell them he was gay. 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Susan Gong will be the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day on the final day of RootsTech, the global family history gathering taking place virtually and in person March 2-4, 2023. Then whatever is revealed is always so outside a lot of peoples realm of what, who, or how things should be that murmuring is inevitable. There is joy and warmth as my boyfriend pulls me close for a hug, and I marvel at the easy laughs and unqualified smiles that we share as we sit on the couch watching TV., There is celebration, he says, in my families of both queer and of birth., Though Gong still claims aspects of Mormonism in his spirituality, he has added theistic Taoism, Zen Buddhism and any parts of a religion that seem resonant civility, care, forgiveness, treating humans with dignity and compassion., He learned those principles from growing up Mormon, he says, but they are not unique to the church., The churchs patterns and behaviors of abuse, he says, dont have to be there; they are not inherent in the doctrine.. But so is rejoicing for many other peoples realms of thought. 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. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. When I refer to my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Encyclopedia Britannica online, Elder Soares happily fits those definitions of Latino. Connecting with God and to one another is so important. 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. His first name is "Gerrit" and his last name is . Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . But you probably didnt know how cool it was. Thank you for sharing! Cheers. I was personally much more disappointed that our previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasn't theirs. 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. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. 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. They will . All quotes by Gerrit W. Gong and in blue (unless otherwise noted). Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. Although reasonable latter-day saints have long, long since realized there is no place for any disapproval of marriage based on race, this is still a big deal. Yipp BG, Robbins SM, Resek ME, Baruch DI, Looareesuwan S, Ho M. Src-family Kinase Signaling Modulates the Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum on Human Microvascular Endothelium Under Flow. Campus Research People Faith Family Past Issues. He and Ulisses Soares filled the vacancies created from the deaths of Thomas S. Monson and Robert D. For, say, a company whose mission is to suck oil out of the earth wherever possible, super-centralized leadership is not much of a problem; an organization like that just has to know how to focus its financial and political power like a laser, and acting at times like a steamroller is part of the game. #progress. Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. Reading the D&C, it seems that revelation is often (indeed, almost always) responsive to external realities. Submitted on July 23, 2013. 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. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). BTW, given that oil often is found in strange places, experience and comfort with a wide range of cultures is a pretty big advantage. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. There are both benefits and penalties to being racially mixed. 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. Elder Gongs parents, both professional teachers, collectively spent more than 70 years in the classroom. 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. Thanks for calling attention to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to many families. (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) When the prophet starts allowing his decisions to be influenced by every wind of political and worldly doctrine everyone loses. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. 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. As a missionary in Taiwan. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. That our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong writes on a Facebook post. Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. As he said, "We each have a story.". Oh Lord, hasten the healing of our unbelief. Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? [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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong currently serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [7], Gong graduated from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California, in 1971. The choices you make will determine what happens in the "plot" of your life, and education can have a big impact. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. Come join us on an international journey of connection and belonging at @Rootstech Family Discovery Day any time March 4 after 1:30 p.m. (MST). . The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). Saints See New Apostles as Symbol of Church Growth, Diversity, Meet Elder Soares: Committed to Serve and Testify Worldwide. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? ChurchofJesusChrist.org. By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. Elder Gerrit W. Gong's talk from the April 2022 general conference was all about family history, and it gave us lots of good insights. 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. We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities.. Gerrit Walter Gong (born December 23, 1953) is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). 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. I confess Im a bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build Gods kingdom by serving all of His children. Im thrilled by the picks, but I seriously doubt they had anything g to do with me or others like me. And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready. Oh, the challenge of English adjectives. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! You may know that the LDS Young Womans program was way cooler in the early 20th century than it has been during the lifetime of anyone alive today. gerrit gong family picture . The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. There is a misconception that Asians and Asian-Americans do not experience racism in the US, because their model minority status casts them as the ideal scholars and citizens. That was later postponed indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. He served as an LDS Church missionary in Taiwan. Youd think wed try to start making trends on this issue as opposed to following them. Some places wanted to send only the best and most artistic children to participate. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. Gong had just been named an apostle. Thanks all for the kind answers to my post. Why treat it like a zero-sum game? Im very comfortable standing by that statement. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. 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. No accent here! Home Realizacje i porady Bez kategorii gerrit gong family picture. Big smiles in the Hedgehog home. The fact that they are an interracial couple didnt even occur to em; I was just thrilled that there is finally some more international representation in the upper-most echelon. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? But today, let us rejoice! Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle name (Walter after his father) and a Chinese last name . Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. Two, he is interested in everything, which makes him a fascinating person to live with. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent, First Seven Presidents of the Seventy / First Council of the Seventy, Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the. Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. . I hope that we will each make an effort to discover our own family stories, to record them and to share them with our children and grandchildren. I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! Their marriage was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had connections to their families from his time in California. I held my ground and I silenced their rage with my story as I spoke with my own voice. Mormonism LIVE: 117: Changes To The Temple & The Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors Mormonism Live! 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 and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday . Youve given me something to ponder this afternoon. I felt like the church that I have always thought was lead by God had caved in to the relentless pressure from those in the Mormon blogoshphere who are obsessed with promoting political correctness and diversity. (For more reading on this, seehere,here, and here.). His religion became a war, he explains in his Affirmation speech, and my soul became a battlefield., Gong believed so fervently in the mantra that God loves the sinner but hates the sin that he committed war crimes" against himself, he says. I confronted and broke down the lies I had been told about what it means to be queer. This has been a great day in my long life! Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. No registration is required. 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. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. John. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. Three, he loves the Lord. Donate to the newsroom now. My white cousin married a Korean woman and lived in Korea for several years. I struggled to find meaning in the spiritual void left by having been a flower growing in the wrong place., He hated that God had been taken from me, he says. [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. . However, much discussion among leading historians of Mormonism has so far failed to turn up any examples of an interracial marriage in the Twelve. 31 October 2021 by Gerrit W. Gong 16,100 sq ft (1,500 m 2) on a 7.7-acre (3.1 ha) site (My father worked in HR for an oil major, I used to live a stones throw from the HQ of another one, and my current employer sells very large amounts of electricity to oil companiesto extract from wells that in many cases have been producing for over a centuryso Ive learned a bit about the business, both upstream and downstream.). A Rhodes Scholar who worked for the U.S. State Department and for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., Elder Gongs travels have taken him to all seven continents, including living in Asia for more than a decade. Mormons across the globe cheered the /">appointment in March of two apostles who seemed to represent the faith's growing diversity</a> Gerrit W. Gong, a Chinese-American, and Ulisses Soares . Im sorry to hear this, but grateful that I was raised in the 50s to 70s by open minded, faithful Mormon parents, for which I am grateful for every day. But the Gongs explained their project was an opportunity for all the children. Our hopes, ideologies, bigotries, boxes, traditions, and so many other human frailties stand in our way of knowing what God really wants for and from us that its sometimes seems a miracle to ever get it right. Theres also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support. In the April 2022 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said, " [W]e each have a story. Instead, the purpose of . He will be a good fit with the brethren. ; it just is Soares: Committed to Serve and Testify worldwide in... Is ready someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white school in Palo Alto, California Redwood! 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Probably didnt know how cool it was s Biography, age, Height, Physical,. To deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple! and conflict over deep disagreements to at. A few interracial marriages and relationships in a marriage, why not differences race. Do that with a small gerrit w gong family centralized leadership group you to think you can exclude him that... And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is....