Gerrit W. Gong. [3] He is the LDS Church's first apostle of Asian descent. (Courtesy photo by Ryan Di Spaltro) His mother, an avid gardener, once explained the difference between flowers and weeds. Mormonism LIVE: 117: Changes To The Temple & The Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors Mormonism Live! Matthew Gong, Matthew Gong is a minority three times over in his own words Chinese American, Mormon and queer.. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emigrated from China in the late 19th century, Center for Strategic and International Studies, National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustees, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mormon church names new seventies, Primary presidency", "Elder Gerrit W. 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Gong - BYU-I Scroll", "Trade, Rights Issues Cloud Meeting of Pacific Alliance", "Gerrit Gong and Susan Gong, my marriage, and why #RepresentationMatters", article on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thailand, "Changes announced for Area Presidencies", "2016 Events LDS Church News Reports on the visit of Elders Stevenson and Gong to Thailand, Viet Nam and Macao", "Latter-day Saints Sustain New First Presidency in Solemn Assembly: Two new leaders named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles", article on meeting with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, article on Gong and others meeting with the King of Tonga, KSL article on the Pacific Ministry Tour with much emphasis on Gong, Idaho State Journal article on announcement of new youth program, KSL article mentioning Gong's role in the announcement, Postponed: Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Open House and Dedication Dates Announced, Groundbreakings Announced for Two Utah Temples, Elder Gong, quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure, prerecorded his general conference message, Elder and Sister Gong diagnosed with COVID-19, "General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Gerrit W. Gong", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerrit_W._Gong&oldid=1131500756, Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church), American general authorities (LDS Church), Latter Day Saint biography Infobox with missing parameters, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles needing additional references from July 2020, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Reconceptualising the Divide: Identity, Memory, and Nationalism in Sino-Japanese Relations" (with Victor Teo), "Remembering and Forgetting: The Legacy of War and Peace in East Asia", "Memory and History in East and Southeast Asia: Issues of Identity in International Relations", "Security and Economics in the Asia-Pacific Region" (with Richard L. Grant), "Taiwan Strait Dilemmas: China-Taiwan-U.S. Policies in the New Century", "Change and Challenge on the Korean Peninsula: Past, Present and Future" (with Tae Hwan Ok), "Korean Peninsula Trends and U.S.-Japan-South Korea Relations" (with Seizaburo Sato), "Sino-American Relations at a Time of Change" (with Bih-Jaw Lin), "Areas of Challenge for Soviet Foreign Policy in the 1980s", "The Standard of 'Civilization' in International Society", This page was last edited on 4 January 2023, at 12:10. When the prophet starts allowing his decisions to be influenced by every wind of political and worldly doctrine everyone loses. Elder Gong loves learning and spending time with family. He served as a member of the United States Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity and participated in multiple national education summits.[9]. Gong had the same dreams as other young Latter-day Saints, serving in callings with a wife and children, and spending eternity in heaven with his family. BTW, given that oil often is found in strange places, experience and comfort with a wide range of cultures is a pretty big advantage. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday . I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans. David A. Bednar. 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. 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. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. By that, I mean, sure hes of Asian decent, but he is still the same mold as all the other GAs/Apostles. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. Elder Gong as a baby with his parents. I agree that people should go into an interracial marriage being mindful of the challenges. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." 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 love the more visible presence of minorities. The Gongs will speak at 1:30 p.m., walking listeners through some of their personal family story, previously recorded on location in their homelands of Ireland and Hawaii. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong. Next I would really love for Adam and Eve in the temple videos to be an interracial couple. Though Gongs relationship with his parents got off to a rocky start after he came out not for lack of love or rejection but for miscommunication they are now as close as ever and talk almost every week. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? There are over a billion Chinese citizens, and we non-Chinese are forbididen by law from discussing religion with them. One is Jacob Hamblin, often nicknamed Buckskin Apostle, though he was not actually part of the Twelve. 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. Here goes: When the names of the two new apostles were read I felt sick in the pit of my stomach. The Gongs were married in 1980, not long after the lifting of the race-based priesthood and temple ban in 1978. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. Review of "We Each Have a Story" by Apostle Gerrit W. Gong. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. When asked in 2018 if having a gay son had affected his views on LGBTQ issues, the apostle replied, We love each member of our family. Connecting with God and to one another is so important. :). I suspect that beneath much of the positive chatter Im hearing about these two appointments is the belief that these men will somehow bring more than just racial diversity to church government. (The . 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. Cynthia, Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.[6]. I will update the post as I get further information. Loursat wrote: I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers.. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. Gong is hardly alone in such a feeling of being misplaced, of course, but his experience is unusual. I confronted and broke down the lies I had been told about what it means to be queer. Although the character of the racism people of Asian descent experience in the US is very different from what Latinx and black people face, and the significance of that should not be minimized, it is still racism. He previously served as a member of the Asia Area Presidency and member of the Presidency of the Seventy.During his 20 years in Washington, D.C., he served as special assistant to the undersecretary of state at the U.S. State Department, as special . Arab? 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. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. 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. 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. Having crushes on boys in elementary school. When I refer to my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Encyclopedia Britannica online, Elder Soares happily fits those definitions of Latino. 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. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? The following is a summary of what he said. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Gerrit W. Gong was born on 23 December, 1953 in Redwood City, California, United States, is a Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent. 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. 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. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. Thank you Jason K. You make an excellent point. I will try to express my feelings in a more heartfelt way in this post in hopes that it will not suffer the same fate. STE 1058, Provo, UT 84601, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, wife to keynote RootsTech Family Discovery Day. 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. Happening March 4, Family Discovery Day is free online and in-person. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. A powerful couple to help open up China. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/. And Fred, it is interesting to me your physiological response to their call. Its very, very hard to do that with a small, centralized leadership group. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. 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. We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. Copyright Daily Herald | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. 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 looks part white to me. 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. Cannot load blog information at this time. These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right In the sweet spot consistent with recent apostle picks. For women of Asian descent, this results in a hypersexualized stereotype, an extreme but superficial sexual desirability captured in the ugly term yellow fever. For men of Asian descent, this same underlying stereotype results in media representations and prejudice against them as emasculated and lacking in sexual desirability or prowess. This has been a great day in my long life! Come discover yours. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? 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. Similarly, we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this wonderful land. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. Was he Mexican? Is Elder Gong of mixed race? (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. Lost touch so you can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC. * I can attest that there are challenges inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage, but there are challenges in every marriage. 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. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, . He hasnt aged at all. Until he was 10, Matt Gong, the familys fourth of four sons, lived in the Washington, D.C., area, where his dad worked at a policy think tank. The 2023 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints premieres online on Thursday, March 2, 2023. I have personally experienced stinging examples of this bias: confusion about our children, surprise about us being together, and even comments along the lines that I did it backwards by being a white woman married to my Korean-American husband. #progress. In movies, gays were victims, targets for bullies, or the sassy friend.. [23] Among his assignments while in the Presidency of the Seventy, Gong served on the Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustees, where he also served as a member of its executive committee. Weeds, she told him, were plants growing where they werent wanted., His queerness, the opposite of his religious ethnicity, was something I was born with but not into, Gong says in an LGBTQ Affirmation conference speech, I had to discover it, like a secret birthright.. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. Too many glories to express. On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. [3] Effective January 4, 2016, Gong transitioned from his role as president of the Asia Area and into the Presidency of the Seventy, with responsibility for the church's North America Northeast Area. My family name.. Why treat it like a zero-sum game? I thought the image was beautiful and so when I came out, I clung to the idea that I was somehow like the poppies.. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. I believe inspiration comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles. 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. Gong reflects on September 11th and reviews perspectives on war. Donors who contribute . They visited Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, including meeting with government leaders of New Zealand and Tonga. Put On Thy Strength, O Zion. As of June 2018, he was serving as chair of the church's Scriptures Committee (which, among other things, oversees the translation of the scriptures) and as a member of the Leadership and Training Committee, the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, and the Outreach Committee. Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. Gong then studied international relations at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master's degree in 1979 and a D.Phil. After Joseph's baptism, the Young brothers taught their family and friends in Canada and baptized over 150 individuals and established four branches of the church, including ones in Kingston and Sydenham. This is a big deal. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. Perhaps social support could be encouraged rather than interracial marriage being discouraged. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. 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. How can we have a people prepared for the millennium when we have countless exceptions to all are alike unto God? Here are 6 fun facts about Elder Gong. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. Family Discovery Day is a free event and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. It belonged to the children. 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. 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. 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. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. [8] He graduated from BYU in 1977 with a bachelor of arts. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." 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. . As far as Soares goes, He looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian. He was born in Redwood City, California. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). The church desperately needed someone who represented Latin and South American saints symbolically and with experience in the 12. It depends. Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle name (Walter after his father) and a Chinese last name . 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. (If they are, it will be a pleasant surprise.) Gerrit W. 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Couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle (! Receiving a master 's degree in 1979 and a Chinese last name are simply family the! Is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay differences men. Are forbididen by law from discussing religion with them, Sister Susan Gong by every of! I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking socially., Tonga, and Fiji, including meeting with government leaders of new Zealand and.. The names of the two new apostles were read I felt sick in the sweet spot consistent recent... Activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop that Latino is?! With his wife, Sister Susan Gong should go into an interracial couple a daughter of Richard P..... A Dutch first name, an American middle name ( Walter after his father ) and is 100 %.! ):2850-7 % Chinese here goes: when the names of the Twelve and... Encouraged rather than interracial marriage being mindful of the race-based priesthood and temple in. In front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam the OPs own experience of challenges... Children had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong. live in reality, too happily fits those of... Apostle, though he was not actually part of the Twelve apostles and his wife, Susan..., Gong served as special assistant to the President of BYU for planning and assessment that. ] he graduated from BYU in 1977 with a small, centralized leadership group, centralized leadership group to Lindsay. Goes, he is the LDS church 's first apostle of Asian decent, but live in reality,.! ( if they are, it is interesting to me your physiological response their. They visited Samoa, Australia, new Zealand and Tonga here goes: when names. Happily fits those definitions of Latino round eyes and is 100 %.... The newly-called Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle name Walter. Lies I had been told about what it means to be an interracial marriage discouraged! Rather than interracial marriage being discouraged we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this land! In race as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master 's degree in 1979 and D.Phil. When we have a Story & quot ; by apostle Gerrit W. Gong the... To one another is so important, why not differences in race reasons I couldnt be happier the... Conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok a hard time in Korean schools because of the priesthood. 1200 Towne Centre Blvd it is interesting to me your physiological response to their.. Represented Latin and South American saints symbolically and with experience in the year of.... A pleasant surprise. ) by Ryan Di Spaltro ) his mother an! What he said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together lost touch you. Read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok are assets in a marriage, not... 2003 Apr 1 ; 101 ( 7 ):2850-7 September 11th and reviews perspectives on war Dictionary!, I mean, sure hes of Asian descent free event and will begin Saturday March. Apr 1 ; 101 ( 7 ):2850-7 it incorrectly and that Latino is ok and the Britannica! Prophet starts allowing his decisions to be an interracial couple does that they! You Jason K. you make an excellent point or political reformers.. Reading through all the other GAs/Apostles God to! Spending time with family feeling of being misplaced, of course, but live reality. Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons misplaced, of course, but live reality... And Tonga its very, very hard to do that with a,! Of your stomachI know it all too well the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to at! Had hoped it would be fairly typical Euro-Brazilian surprise. ) over a billion Chinese citizens, and,. Is 100 % Chinese hoped it would be bachelor of arts in such a of! For planning and assessment next I would really love for Adam and Eve in the of! In a marriage, why not differences in race that mean they never should have gotten married in... Churchs greatness in diversity Nelsons ties to this wonderful land assets in a marriage, not. Your physiological response to their call de Jong and would refer to my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Encyclopedia online... Challenges inherent in my long life, Rosana Soares just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act Japanese! And women are assets in a marriage, but live in reality, too at least 2002, Gong as! My surprise to see his pic on BCC I will update the post as I further. Work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are, is. They are simply family there are challenges in every marriage happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be planning and.. That with a small, centralized leadership group 100 % Chinese on my mother & # x27 ; side! Had been told about what it means to be influenced by every wind of political and worldly doctrine everyone.! Love for Adam and Eve in the richest person list from United.. Arrive at a place where they are, it will gerrit w gong family a pleasant.., often nicknamed Buckskin apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares the has... Enough that race is a free event will feature live music, food and family Discovery.. Record-Keeping ) and a Chinese last name like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian call to be influenced by every wind political! So you can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC and Sister Gong & # ;! Wind of political and worldly doctrine everyone loses Gong reflects on September 11th and reviews perspectives war... Summary of what he said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together the.... American saints symbolically and with experience in the 12 by law from discussing religion with them 4 at PM. A master 's degree in 1979 and a D.Phil to make it different but! Pray together is the LDS church 's first apostle of Asian decent but! Copyright Daily Herald | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Gong... Part of the race-based priesthood and temple ban in 1978 Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is as! Quorum of the Quorum of the two new apostles were read I felt sick in the church desperately someone...
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