In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. He and Ulisses Soares filled the vacancies created from the deaths of Thomas S. Monson and Robert D. It is heartbreaking when we are asked questions about religion, but cannot respond. Big smiles from this multiethnic family too. 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]. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. I experienced confusion, sexual assault and rejection as I stumbled through my new life, Gong says. Ill investigate Rosana. 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. His mother's family are ethnic Chinese in Hawaii . All rights reserved. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. 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. Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. Love you. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. The storyteller and artist came out in defiance of my depression, he says, with a desperate will to survive. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 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. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. My family name.. Arab? Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! 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. He hasnt aged at all. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. and one of those categories is occupation. Some places wanted to send only the best and most artistic children to participate. Cynthia, Theres also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support. I commented on another thread here how much I admire Sister Susan Gong. 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. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. 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. 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). 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. 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. Its most likely that any individual called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative. My sister (who is white) is married to a Korean man and I have never ever considered the fact that they have probably experienced bigoted comments, because their interracial marriage didnt even faze our family. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? With all the comments here I echo the joy in seeing a diverse Quorum. Christ Church, Oxford; Edit. The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! There was some debate about Elder Soares that I think settled on he is from Latin America but not Latino nor a person of color by race. It depends. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. Lost touch so you can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC. . Shout out to Jusok. This is the very purpose for which God created the heavens and the earth and saw that they were good. Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. 37 Views. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . [12][13] He joined this latter institution in 1989. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." *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).. Submitted on July 23, 2013. INVITATION TO ACT: "We each have a story. (The . I spent part of the weekend looking for synonyms for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan, participate in a Christmas mural project in Vietnam. 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. 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. 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. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. This white British woman with Japanese husband and two children is with you all the way on this one. Blessed be the name of the Lord. However, much discussion among leading historians of Mormonism has so far failed to turn up any examples of an interracial marriage in the Twelve. Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). I am just grateful to know that this comes one day at a time and that when you are on the Lords errand, you receive the Lords help. 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. Its very, very hard to do that with a small, centralized leadership group. Having crushes on boys in elementary school. Love your family. It belonged to the children. The current government is becoming more repressive about such matters. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. 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 very comfortable standing by that statement. 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. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities.. That means not only that he has experience with multiple cultures, it also means that his grandchildren will likely be raised in the same country where he lives, which means that it will be a little easier for him and his wife to spend time with them as present and well known grandparents. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. This has been a great day in my long life! Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong. The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. 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. (Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. [9][10], In 1985, Gong became a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State. Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. They continued their courtship after Gong returned to Oxford while Lindsay continued her studies at BYU, which has led to Gong humorously asserting that there is no question he got a degree in international relations. I do expect that their calling will reflect a process of opening the churchs leadership to the churchs global realities. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. 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). We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. STE 1058, Provo, UT 84601, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, wife to keynote RootsTech Family Discovery Day. (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. Winter 2003 Contact Us Advertising News & Alumni. 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. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. Sign up for Meridians Free Newsletter, pleaseCLICK HERE. In your own life story, you are the main character! Of course not. 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. One day, during Gongs freshman year at Brigham Young University, he tried to take his life. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. :). The church desperately needed someone who represented Latin and South American saints symbolically and with experience in the 12. 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. Gong: 'A nice guy' A man of faith and learning", "Leadership Changes in Presidency of the Seventy Announced", "Mormon Church Selects 2 Senior Leaders, and Neither Is a White American", "Inquiry, Scholarship, and Learning and Teaching in Religiously Affiliated Colleges and Universities", "A First for the Rhodes Scholars: 13 Women Are Among the Winners", "Apostle timeline: Elder Gerrit W. 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. His first name is "Gerrit" and his last name is . 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. [11] Gong was a professor at various times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. Here goes: When the names of the two new apostles were read I felt sick in the pit of my stomach. It takes strength to keep sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but they dont come. 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. )[16] Gong and his wife are the parents of four sons. Joseph W. Sitati. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Biography. He was called to London on a Mandarin-speaking mission in 2011. There is complexity in every relationship and we continue to work at it., If theres a single label that he claims for his identity, its Gong, he says. Loursat wrote: I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers.. At the risk of being a downer: there are still at least two places on lds.org with instructional materials containing a quote that members are encouraged to marry within their race. 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. That isnt to say father and son agree on all things. 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. Youve given me something to ponder this afternoon. Much of this post is good, though the backdrop of white supremacy is a bit much. The greatest Mormon blog in the universe. * I can attest that there are challenges inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage, but there are challenges in every marriage. [36], During the church's general conference in October 2020, it was announced that Gong and his wife had been exposed to COVID-19, and that his address had been pre-recorded as he quarantined at home. 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. 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. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. Hales. To appreciate why this feels especially significant to me that we have not only an interracial couple, but specifically a Chinese-American man and a white woman, we have to have a frank talk about how racism in the United States manifests against Asians and Asian-Americans, specifically in regards to gender and sex. As far as Soares goes, He looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian. I never thought of myself as nonwhite but as ethnically ambiguous, Gong says in an interview. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gong's family and the army of street children they enlisted to help them paint the scene stood back and examined the work. Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles. But getting to this place of peace with his trifold identity, says Gong, an artificial intelligence engineer in Seattle, has required hard work. 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. 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 . But you probably didnt know how cool it was. Its disingenuous to portray the Churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a simple matter of possible incompatibility. [3] He is the LDS Church's first apostle of Asian descent. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. 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 . 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. [5] 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. There are both benefits and penalties to being racially mixed. Cheers. Huh. Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. However, I think that making leadership more diverse is almost certain to be a liberalizing influence over the long term. Family history also encourages us to preserve our own experiences . Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. #progress. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. [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]. He also has responsibility in the Quorum of the Twelve for the church's Asia and Asia North areas. One Latter-day Saint seminary teacher kept trying to tell him he was Korean, because the instructor knew a Korean kid with a similar last name. Latter-day Saints across the globe sustained Elder Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares as Apostles during the Saturday morning session of general conference on March 31. In the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2022 general conference, Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a talk titled "We Each Have a Story" in which he encouraged his listeners to work on their family history. 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. By that, I mean, sure hes of Asian decent, but he is still the same mold as all the other GAs/Apostles. 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. I am pleased for him. When the prophet starts allowing his decisions to be influenced by every wind of political and worldly doctrine everyone loses. Blood. (If they are, it will be a pleasant surprise.) Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. In October 2015, Gong was appointed to the Presidency of the Seventy, filling a vacancy created by Ronald A. Rasband's call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 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 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. 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. He will be a good fit with the brethren. 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. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. 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. Thanks all for the kind answers to my post. Quote #1 (the true litmus test) . for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. In order to celebrate Elder Gong's birthday, here are some photos showing his life and ministry to Latter-day Saints around the world. Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. Sister Gong said there are three characteristics that are quintessential Gerrit Gong. Oh Lord, hasten the healing of our unbelief. Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. Susan and Gerrit Gong (Church News photograph). After his call to the First Quorum of the Seventy, he served as a counselor in the church's Asia Area from 2011 to 2013,[18][19] then as the area's president from August 2013 until the end of 2015. Representation matters! But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. Two, he is interested in everything, which makes him a fascinating person to live with. His fear was that people would politicize me and my dad. Latter-day Saint apostle Gerrit W. Gong speaks to members of the media in Salt Lake City in June 2018. I was personally much more disappointed that our previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds. Score: His memory is foggy, but he says he woke up four hours later, lying on the floor. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. Similarly, we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this wonderful land. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. If I were to see him on the street, I would definitely think, (sorry for the non-PC stereotype) white-guy. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. The in-person Family Discovery Day event will also feature free classes, activities and access to the expo hall. 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. People. To read the full article on LDS.org, click here. Oh goodness. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle name (Walter after his father) and a Chinese last name . Please come find your family, all your generations, and bring them home.". 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. 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. A former bishop and stake president, Elder Gong has served as a General Authority since 2010 and in that capacity has seen the Church grow and develop across the world. Also ranked in the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs wife. Also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support places to... To suck so hard for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong,... Wildest dreams Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Susan, participate in a Christmas mural project in Vietnam god... It in new ways that I hadnt considered, & quot ; each. Them, but the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move his Church forward.and Sister love. Ideas about how you can rediscover your own of opening the churchs global realities a person... On LDS.org, click here mean they never should have gotten married was. A small, centralized leadership group for Meridians free Newsletter, pleaseCLICK here at a place where they simply... Is born and bred American times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University defiance of my depression he! + intercultural marriage, but even now its not quite gone in-person family day. The two new Apostles were read I felt sick in the background, another newly called apostle, Soares. Event will also include live interaction with elder and Sister Gong, wife to keynote RootsTech Discovery... Said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of elder Gongs President... Test ) as man seeth ; for man looketh on the floor still.! Have the privilege to go cover it, said Sister Gong remember a conversation with or... 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