With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. But beyond the particulars of Gongs experience, his story has a universal message of normalcy. Arab? Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan, participate in a Christmas mural project in Vietnam. 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. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. This expressed so much of the happiness I feel today. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Susan Gong are the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day on the final day of RootsTech, the global family history gathering . Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? He was called to London on a Mandarin-speaking mission in 2011. 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. Gerrit W Gong; Education. Love your family. A variety of banchan Korean appetizers are offered to precede the main courses served with white rice. . 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. But so is rejoicing for many other peoples realms of thought. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Biography. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. I forgive you, he says. He was born in Redwood City, California. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. 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.. However, much discussion among leading historians of Mormonism has so far failed to turn up any examples of an interracial marriage in the Twelve. (The . If I were to see him on the street, I would definitely think, (sorry for the non-PC stereotype) white-guy. He began to heal, until there was one final battle: to face institutions and people who had harmed and abused him. The couple hosts grandkids camp every summer, which includes crafts and adventures, and loves to travel with their sons. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. Copyright Daily Herald | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd. Donors who contribute . I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. In the April 2022 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said, " [W]e each have a story. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. Reading the D&C, it seems that revelation is often (indeed, almost always) responsive to external realities. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Im grateful for that for me, but Im terribly sorry for anyone who has had to endure those remarks. I love the more visible presence of minorities. But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. Lost touch so you can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC. 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. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. Gong had just been named an apostle. Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. 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. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. This means that Gong is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a multi-racial marriage. 31 October 2021 by Gerrit W. Gong 16,100 sq ft (1,500 m 2) on a 7.7-acre (3.1 ha) site Patterns of Discipleship. Elder and Sister Gong said it was wonderful to join members from across the world for general conference, to sustain President Russell M. Nelson and the First Presidency, and to witness continuing revelation bless the members of the Church in all their many circumstances. 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. ChurchofJesusChrist.org. I hope my expression of joy in todays news does not in any way detract from any mixed feelings others may be having. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? The following is a summary of what he said. [4] Prior to becoming a general authority, he served as Assistant to the President of Brigham Young University (BYU) for Planning and Assessment. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Fred: and that is the value of diversity, across every possible category. INVITATION TO ACT: "We each have a story. I agree. [20][21] Among other activities while Gong was president of the Asia Area, he created the second and third stakes in Thailand. A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans. . But you probably didnt know how cool it was. Thank you, Cynthia, for your poignant thoughts. Ill check on her. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. BTW, given that oil often is found in strange places, experience and comfort with a wide range of cultures is a pretty big advantage. Ours is a worldwide Church. I confess Im a bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage. Today we both celebrate andlook forward. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. The choices you make will determine what happens in the "plot" of your life, and education can have a big impact. :) Hope all is well. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. I have had a testimony of the Church and gospel since I was very young, said Elder Gong. As far as Soares goes, He looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian. 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. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. My family name.. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Fairbanks. He was born on December 23, 1953 and his birthplace is California, Redwood City California. There are both benefits and penalties to being racially mixed. Five Frameworks on Iraq. I also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong: "Unfailingly Kind" Family Man. One day, during Gongs freshman year at Brigham Young University, he tried to take his life. In your own life story, you are the main character! 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. Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. My white cousin married a Korean woman and lived in Korea for several years. 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. Citation Maybe well get rid of those now. Again, its complicated and fluid. 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. Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles. The following is from FamilySearch: SALT LAKE CITY, UTAHElder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Susan Gong, will be the featured keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day at RootsTech 2023. 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 hope that we will each make an effort to discover our own family stories, to record them and to share them with our children and grandchildren. Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. 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. Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. 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. 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. You may know that the LDS Young Womans program was way cooler in the early 20th century than it has been during the lifetime of anyone alive today. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. They will . 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 said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. Reflecting the increasing diversity of the Church, Elder Gong became the first Asian-American Apostle, Elder Soares the first Apostle from South America. And Fred, it is interesting to me your physiological response to their call. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. Until very recently, church instruction manuals for institute and youthsuggested caution against interracial marriages. Lasting Discipleship. And that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned. 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. Yipp BG, Robbins SM, Resek ME, Baruch DI, Looareesuwan S, Ho M. Src-family Kinase Signaling Modulates the Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum on Human Microvascular Endothelium Under Flow. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. The annual genealogical convention being held this year from March 2-4 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple in Salt Lake City, and open to virtual and in-person visitors features special keynote speakers, classes and an expo of family research merchandise. [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. 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). for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. That isnt to say father and son agree on all things. "Ours is a worldwide Church. But today, let us rejoice! Why treat it like a zero-sum game? 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. Its most likely that any individual called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. I struggled to find meaning in the spiritual void left by having been a flower growing in the wrong place., He hated that God had been taken from me, he says. Having people who know about petroleum extraction is always useful! [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. [9][10], In 1985, Gong became a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State. How can we have a people prepared for the millennium when we have countless exceptions to all are alike unto God? Were an international church, and the PTB clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality. 1. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. :). 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 . Weve always been struck by the enthusiasm and skill of children who come together to beautify their environment, Elder Gong said. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. [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. The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . 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. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. (For more reading on this, seehere,here, and here.). Steven J. Lund. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend the event Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. The in-person Family Discovery Day event will also feature free classes, activities and access to the expo hall. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). 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]. Hales. 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. There is joy and warmth as my boyfriend pulls me close for a hug, and I marvel at the easy laughs and unqualified smiles that we share as we sit on the couch watching TV., There is celebration, he says, in my families of both queer and of birth., Though Gong still claims aspects of Mormonism in his spirituality, he has added theistic Taoism, Zen Buddhism and any parts of a religion that seem resonant civility, care, forgiveness, treating humans with dignity and compassion., He learned those principles from growing up Mormon, he says, but they are not unique to the church., The churchs patterns and behaviors of abuse, he says, dont have to be there; they are not inherent in the doctrine.. (Courtesy photo by Ryan Di Spaltro) Thanks for the correction, Jones. Download Photo. This is the very purpose for which God created the heavens and the earth and saw that they were good. 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. Is Elder Gong of mixed race? But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. 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. 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. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. A few early apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but thats really stretching the definition of interracial marriage. We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. . But sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. We need to love till we do not marginalize any of our Fathers children. 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. 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Age i meet members who view interracial marriages those who have specific to... That any individual called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans ( both in church and. Multi-Racial marriage all are alike unto God stretching the definition of interracial marriage ; harder when is... Redwood City California paint, and brushes, something had shifted you probably didnt know how cool it was e. ( March 2 to 4, 2023 ) will feature several project with the members in every they! Days at UCSD Gongs family stand in front of a great divide was pandering to Mormons.