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. Huh. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. I hope my expression of joy in todays news does not in any way detract from any mixed feelings others may be having. Elder Gongs parents, both professional teachers, collectively spent more than 70 years in the classroom. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. 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. By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. Why treat it like a zero-sum game? Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. 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. Its very, very hard to do that with a small, centralized leadership group. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. 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. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. [3] He is the LDS Church's first apostle of Asian descent. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I commented on another thread here how much I admire Sister Susan Gong. Please come find your family, all your generations, and bring them home.". 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 sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. I have had a testimony of the Church and gospel since I was very young, said Elder Gong. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. 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. 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. Donate to the newsroom now. Very happy about these calls for all sorts of reasons; thanks for adding another very cogent one to the pile! Every member of the Gong family had a special role in the project, from creating the sketch to mixing the paint to organizing the children. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Representation matters. Ours is a worldwide Church, said Elder Gong. Revelation: 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. 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. My family name.. 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. 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. 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. RootsTech 2023, a global gathering of family history enthusiasts, will be in-person at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City and virtually at rootstech.org. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, . I thought the image was beautiful and so when I came out, I clung to the idea that I was somehow like the poppies.. Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan Gong, leave the stand after the Saturday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City, Friday, March 30, 2018. He began to heal, until there was one final battle: to face institutions and people who had harmed and abused him. 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. 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. The in-person Family Discovery Day event will also feature free classes, activities and access to the expo hall. As he said, "We each have a story.". 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. Thoughts of not having that became unbearable, he says, and so he repressed them. His first namesake is Gerrit de Jong, the patriarch of the family that Elder Gong's mother, Jean, lived with when she came to Brigham Young University as a recent convert to the Church. I am pleased for him. 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). Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. However, much discussion among leading historians of Mormonism has so far failed to turn up any examples of an interracial marriage in the Twelve. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. I argued my doubts to a standstill and reclaimed my beliefs from where they lay.. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. church instruction manuals for institute and youth. I experienced confusion, sexual assault and rejection as I stumbled through my new life, Gong says. He was born on December 23, 1953 and his birthplace is California, Redwood City California. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. Either way it helps us abide and grow. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. 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. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. [12][13] He joined this latter institution in 1989. 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 wondered. But the Gongs explained their project was an opportunity for all the children. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Im very comfortable standing by that statement. Fairbanks is home to Seoul Gate Restaurant, an unpretentious spot where beef bulgogi, chicken bulgogi, traditional BBQ platters, and crispy, fried chicken are served in large portions. I can also attest that there are benefits inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage. Download Photo. The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. His fear was that people would politicize me and my dad. A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. Forgive me, Im not sure. 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. Elder Gong was with Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Gary E. Stevenson in Vietnam when the Church received official recognition. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? And love that something so small an interracial marriage can yet be so huge for your family and for others. Representation matters! I also know that its possible to find joy and peace in the church even when we find ourselves with a minority opinion. I was never so different [that] I couldnt be potentially included.. Brazilian members of the Church make up over 8% of the total church membership (as of just over a year ago). 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. Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. What Does the Parable of the Wheat and Tares Teach about the Apostasy? 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. 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. Elder Gong loves learning and spending time with family. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. 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. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build Gods kingdom by serving all of His children. Here are 6 fun facts about Elder Gong. I agree. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . 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. 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. Matthew Gong, Matthew Gong is a minority three times over in his own words Chinese American, Mormon and queer.. 1. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. They understand that diversity is out there, but they havent lived it, and there is no substitute for living it. 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 . and one of those categories is occupation. Youd think wed try to start making trends on this issue as opposed to following them. :). David A. Bednar. I spent part of the weekend looking for synonyms for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. 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. It takes strength to keep sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but they dont come. On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. Also I agree with Jason K. If the word of Wisdom initiated with Emma, then it appears the Lord expects His prophets to look in every direction when seeking inspiration. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. So, when I talk about the Church, I mean the Church. When I talk about my father, hes just my father.. 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