By that, I mean, sure hes of Asian decent, but he is still the same mold as all the other GAs/Apostles. 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. 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. 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. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. "Ours is a worldwide Church. [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. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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. Latter-day Saint apostle Gerrit W. Gong speaks to members of the media in Salt Lake City in June 2018. Biography. STE 1058, Provo, UT 84601, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, wife to keynote RootsTech Family Discovery Day. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. Thanks all for the kind answers to my post. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Cheers. Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. I confess Im a bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage. (The . Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. Gerrit W Gong; Education. 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. Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. Theres also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support. Thanks for the correction, Jones. I spent part of the weekend looking for synonyms for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong. Much of this post is good, though the backdrop of white supremacy is a bit much. 31 October 2021 by Gerrit W. Gong 16,100 sq ft (1,500 m 2) on a 7.7-acre (3.1 ha) site Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. 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. Ours is a worldwide Church. The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. 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 . (I should be really friendly to this guy, or I just want to spend a lot of time with that boy.), He didnt want to accept himself as gay, because the only queerness I had ever seen was bad the AIDS crisis, promiscuity, death. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. Too many glories to express. 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. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. 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. 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). Lasting Discipleship. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. I dont know of anything further back in the family tree than that. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. The hard thing for ALL of us is to cope with (possibly) inspired decisions that conflict with our own political and philosophical intuitions. I never thought of myself as nonwhite but as ethnically ambiguous, Gong says in an interview. Three, he loves the Lord. 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 . (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. One is Jacob Hamblin, often nicknamed Buckskin Apostle, though he was not actually part of the Twelve. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? This is because, in the white supremacist schema that subconsciously permeates our thinking, the latter is seen as marrying down in a way that the former is not, even though both are examples of interracial marriages. Daily news, articles, videos and podcasts sent straight to your inbox. As we discover our story, we connect, we belong, we become." 1. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right In the sweet spot consistent with recent apostle picks. But you probably didnt know how cool it was. 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. 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. Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. 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. Whether or not Brazilians are Latinos is complicated. From one who knows nothing, I couldnt help but see Elder Gong being placed in position to help open up China. I also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . We feel the need to be compassionate to all. He also has responsibility in the Quorum of the Twelve for the church's Asia and Asia North areas. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Why treat it like a zero-sum game? Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. Of his new assignment, Elder Gong said it was overwhelming to have President Nelson tenderly take my hands in his and extend a call to the apostleship. This expressed so much of the happiness I feel today. They began dating a few years later, in the summer when Gong had returned from Oxford to spend a few weeks with his parents, during a time his father was a BYU professor. 1. [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. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent. Family history also encourages us to preserve our own experiences . Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. 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. Shout out to Jusok. Acompaa al lder Gerrit W. Gong, del Curum de los Doce Apstoles, y a su esposa, la hermana Susan Lindsay Gong, en un viaje internacional de descubrimiento familiar. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I genuinely feel this way and am not in any way trying to be disruptive or to be a troll. If my voice is silenced (deleted) I will take the hint that Im not welcome here and will quietly go away. 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.. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. Gong had just been named an apostle. 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. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. 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. Susan and Gerrit Gong (Church News photograph). He witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? He served as an LDS Church missionary in Taiwan. Shes everything one would hope for someone in that role. David A. Bednar. Gong reflects on September 11th and reviews perspectives on war. (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.). 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 . I thought the image was beautiful and so when I came out, I clung to the idea that I was somehow like the poppies.. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday . Elder Gong, whose ancestors left southern China in the late 19th century for work in the United States, was born into the Church. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. 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. Y Magazine is published four times a year by Brigham Young University for graduates and friends. 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). 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. I was personally much more disappointed that our previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds. [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. . and one of those categories is occupation. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. Similarly, we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this wonderful land. Sister Gong is a compulsive gardener who loves to cook and bring people together. She has authored Chinese language childrens readers and was the first coordinator for Utahs Chinese language dual-immersion program. [12][13] He joined this latter institution in 1989. 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. Its impossible to have any credibility as a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders. I have five other children that have married Caucasians as well. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 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. 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