Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. Quote #1 (the true litmus test) . The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. Hales. Cheers. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. The church desperately needed someone who represented Latin and South American saints symbolically and with experience in the 12. Well, my point was that the churchs mission requires deep, sensitive and reciprocal engagement with all of the worlds cultures in a way that most commercial organizations do not. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. If I were to see him on the street, I would definitely think, (sorry for the non-PC stereotype) white-guy. 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. 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. The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. Gerrit W. Gong. 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. Brazilians, in the USA, dont like getting lumped in with latinos. Its just good to have people from outside of the Western US. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. His first name is "Gerrit" and his last name is . 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. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. A photo of my husband and me should immediately clarify why this is a point of particular personal significance to me: Jusok and Cynthia Lee engagement photo (La Jolla, CA, 2000). Of course not. 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. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. 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. 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]. It takes strength to keep sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but they dont come. 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 . Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. Is Elder Gong of mixed race? [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. He was born in Redwood City, California. He hasnt aged at all. Ask Peter. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. A powerful couple to help open up China. 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. 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. I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans. 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. The meeting will be available on the Gospel Library app and online in 11 languages beginning Cautioning against interracial marriage on the grounds of it being challenging seems to contradict every Relief Society lesson Ive sat through about overcoming differences in a marriage. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! [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. Arab? 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. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. My last post must have sounded like trolling as it has disappeared. And I suspect their international cred was perceived as a big plus, not a minus. [24], On March 31, 2018, Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. But the churchs mission is to reach throughout the world and serve people in their own languages, in their own cultures, and on their own terms without being destructive. Campus Research People Faith Family Past Issues. We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. On my mission, I learned that the first things to grow on the battlefields of France after World War I, were poppies, blood-red poppies, Gong tells the Affirmation virtual audience. Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. 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. Even though there are many things we dont understand, we know in Gods plan theres a place for every person in [the church].. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. 37 Views. 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. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. 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 . Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). Elder Gong, the oldest of three children, inherited his parents love for learning. I never thought of myself as nonwhite but as ethnically ambiguous, Gong says in an interview. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. 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. Elder Gong was with Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Gary E. Stevenson in Vietnam when the Church received official recognition. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. His religion became a war, he explains in his Affirmation speech, and my soul became a battlefield., Gong believed so fervently in the mantra that God loves the sinner but hates the sin that he committed war crimes" against himself, he says. Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. Thanks, New Iconoclast. To read the full article on LDS.org, click here. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. 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.. Reflecting the increasing diversity of the Church, Elder Gong became the first Asian-American Apostle, Elder Soares the first Apostle from South America. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. . Weve always been struck by the enthusiasm and skill of children who come together to beautify their environment, Elder Gong said. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. However, I think that making leadership more diverse is almost certain to be a liberalizing influence over the long term. Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent. 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.. (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. And he never brought it up. Put On Thy Strength, O Zion. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. Then whatever is revealed is always so outside a lot of peoples realm of what, who, or how things should be that murmuring is inevitable. Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. Elder Gong as a baby with his parents. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. 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. And Fred, it is interesting to me your physiological response to their call. He looks part white to me. I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! Did you hear Elder Oaks announce that 40% of.the GAs now have been born outside the US and then rattling off the countries? Race dynamics and categories in the US and Brazil are each independently complicated and fraught, and also very different from each other in subtle ways. He encouraged listeners to connect with ancestors and descendants in uniting God's family. The Gongs were married in 1980, not long after the lifting of the race-based priesthood and temple ban in 1978. Revelation: 2 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. But today, let us rejoice! Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. 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. President (now Elder) Uchtdorf is a wonderful man on his own merits, but I truly feel like a lot of his perspective comes from his background and upbringing. Brazilian members of the Church make up over 8% of the total church membership (as of just over a year ago). -Gerrit W. Gong. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. 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. Winter 2003 Contact Us Advertising News & Alumni. In doing so, he gave himself the chance to extend grace to his past selves. Our cultural biases are a factor, as well. Y Magazine is published four times a year by Brigham Young University for graduates and friends. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." Theres also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support. Love you. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend. 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). 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. 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. :). 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. gerrit gong family picture . (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.). [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. They will . But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. 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. Gong had just been named an apostle. "Ours is a worldwide Church. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. 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. The storyteller and artist came out in defiance of my depression, he says, with a desperate will to survive. And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. Both men and women of Asian descent in the US face a media and social stereotype of being more submissive, passive, and infantilized. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. Loursat, I only bring this up because it was clearly your main point, but sucking oil out of the ground is a terrible strategy. 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 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 really desires with all his heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children. Five Frameworks on Iraq. The thoughts expressed below are my authentic feelings. No registration is required. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. 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 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. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. [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. Fairbanks. I dont know where his wife was born but with Susan as a first name I would assume she is American as well. I agree. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. He will be a good fit with the brethren. 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. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. Thank you for sharing! I was never so different [that] I couldnt be potentially included.. I hope that we will all gain greater appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith and sacrifice of those who have gone before. Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. People. It was my biggest hope for the conference. Elder Gong is a native born American citizen who grew up in America surrounded by Chinese culture at home and American culture in school and Northern California LDS culture at church and was raised by parents whose family trees are fully populated by people who were born in China. 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 . It will always be Top down, not bottom up. Representation matters. 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. As we discover our story, we connect, we belong, we become." 1. 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. [12][13] He joined this latter institution in 1989. 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. The hard thing for ALL of us is to cope with (possibly) inspired decisions that conflict with our own political and philosophical intuitions. There was almost no better realistic possibility than these two picks. Meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong: "Unfailingly Kind" Family Man. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . 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. The following is a summary of what he said. Since there is a sub thread discussion about race here, Ill just highlight this very good and enlightening piece by PBS from a few years ago about race in Brazil. But sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. 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. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. And love that something so small an interracial marriage can yet be so huge for your family and for others. 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. . Sister Gong said there are three characteristics that are quintessential Gerrit Gong. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 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. 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. Matthew Gong, Matthew Gong is a minority three times over in his own words Chinese American, Mormon and queer.. 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