He looks part white to me. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. 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. Thanks for calling attention to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to many families. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). But sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. I love the more visible presence of minorities. AmyT thanks for weighing in! Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? Y Magazine is published four times a year by Brigham Young University for graduates and friends. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. Today we both celebrate andlook forward. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, newly sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, in Salt Lake City. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. Elder Gongs parents, both professional teachers, collectively spent more than 70 years in the classroom. 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. 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. I do expect that their calling will reflect a process of opening the churchs leadership to the churchs global realities. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Elder Gong loves learning and spending time with family. I commented on another thread here how much I admire Sister Susan Gong. 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. Hemos detectado que ests en un navegador no compatible. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? They will share some of their stories at Family Discovery Day during RootsTech 2023. All rights reserved. Three, he loves the Lord. Shout out to Jusok. 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). A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 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. July 10, 2022. -Gerrit W. Gong. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Not sure that the fact his Asian roots would mean that much to the Chinese government in order to open it for missionary work, but I believe that he fits the mold for Apostleship with age, church experience/loyalty, and worldly accolades. [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]. 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. Sane liberals in the church dont have any illusions about their influence.). 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. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? But getting to this place of peace with his trifold identity, says Gong, an artificial intelligence engineer in Seattle, has required hard work. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. We need to learn to love so unconditionally that we do not see race anymore, nor genders, nor other marginalization great and small. Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. I never thought of myself as nonwhite but as ethnically ambiguous, Gong says in an interview. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. 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. Gong is hardly alone in such a feeling of being misplaced, of course, but his experience is unusual. From one who knows nothing, I couldnt help but see Elder Gong being placed in position to help open up China. Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. Come discover yours. [17] Prior to joining the BYU administration, the Gongs had spent most of their married life in Maryland and Virginia. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Im grateful for that for me, but Im terribly sorry for anyone who has had to endure those remarks. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. I believe inspiration comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles. 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. Oh, the challenge of English adjectives. Steven J. Lund. Shes everything one would hope for someone in that role. 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. Editors note If you or people you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255. With all the comments here I echo the joy in seeing a diverse Quorum. And definitely in Brazil Soares would be considered white. Im excited for Elder Soares calling as are my Brazilian friends in our ward here in Brazil. 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. 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. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. In the April 2022 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said, " [W]e each have a story. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. 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! It belonged to the children. 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. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. Donate to the newsroom now. Much of this post is good, though the backdrop of white supremacy is a bit much. INVITATION TO ACT: "We each have a story. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. He began to heal, until there was one final battle: to face institutions and people who had harmed and abused him. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday, March 4 . Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. My family name.. Winter 2003 Contact Us Advertising News & Alumni. He hasnt aged at all. But so is rejoicing for many other peoples realms of thought. I held my ground and I silenced their rage with my story as I spoke with my own voice. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Thank you Jason K. You make an excellent point. Were an international church, and the PTB clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality. Elder Gong, the oldest of three children, inherited his parents love for learning. What I hope for is a group that comes from different cultural backgrounds that can consider and represent a worldwide church. All quotes by Gerrit W. Gong and in blue (unless otherwise noted). I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. 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. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. Fred: and that is the value of diversity, across every possible category. 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. His father joined the Church after attending Stanford University, where his parents met and dated. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build Gods kingdom by serving all of His children. [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. Connecting with God and to one another is so important. (Courtesy photo by Ryan Di Spaltro) His mother, an avid gardener, once explained the difference between flowers and weeds. Its most likely that any individual called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. Sister Gong said there are three characteristics that are quintessential Gerrit Gong. Happening March 4, Family Discovery Day is free online and in-person. [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. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend. On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. Joseph W. Sitati. A few early apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but thats really stretching the definition of interracial marriage. 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. [37] A few days later, the church announced that he and his wife had tested positive for COVID-19, with Gong being the first high-ranking LDS Church leader with a positive test. That our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong writes on a Facebook post. 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. I will update the post as I get further information. But today, let us rejoice! Daily news, articles, videos and podcasts sent straight to your inbox. 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. 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. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. We feel the need to be compassionate to all. (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. Thanks, New Iconoclast. Ours is a worldwide Church, said Elder Gong. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be a good fit with the brethren. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. I am pleased for him. 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. The current government is becoming more repressive about such matters. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). 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. Assigned to organize the second stake in Bangkok, Thailand, Elder Gong participated in the calling of priesthood leaders. Too many glories to express. Hales. Both Elder and Sister Gong served as full-time missionaries in Taiwan; the couple married in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. 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. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. Lasting Discipleship. Instead, the purpose of . I experienced confusion, sexual assault and rejection as I stumbled through my new life, Gong says. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, . The following is a summary of what he said. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. Please come find your family, all your generations, and bring them home.". (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. And he never brought it up. >:(. And that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned. 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. (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.). It depends. 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. 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 . 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. Is Elder Gong of mixed race? There is, in fact, a slightly higher divorce rate for interracial marriages. Elder Gong as a baby with his parents. Here in China, members of our small LDS ex-pat branch are thrilled at Elder Gongs call to the Quorum of the Twelve. And love that something so small an interracial marriage can yet be so huge for your family and for others. 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. But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. 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. Mental Health Minute: Who is Driving the Bus. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. Its disingenuous to portray the Churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a simple matter of possible incompatibility. Both men and women of Asian descent in the US face a media and social stereotype of being more submissive, passive, and infantilized. Loursat wrote: I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers.. 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. David A. Bednar. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. Called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative comes from different cultural backgrounds that can consider and represent worldwide! Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken the... 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