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. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. [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. 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 witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) "Ours is a worldwide Church. (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. Thanks all for the kind answers to my post. 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. By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. John. Reflecting the increasing diversity of the Church, Elder Gong became the first Asian-American Apostle, Elder Soares the first Apostle from South America. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve 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. 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. [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. 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). The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic. Five Frameworks on Iraq. for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. Score: Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. 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. :). 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. It takes strength to keep sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but they dont come. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. 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. However, I think that making leadership more diverse is almost certain to be a liberalizing influence over the long term. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. Reading the D&C, it seems that revelation is often (indeed, almost always) responsive to external realities. From one who knows nothing, I couldnt help but see Elder Gong being placed in position to help open up China. Winter 2003 Contact Us Advertising News & Alumni. Hales. 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 . And he still didnt know how to love himself. 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. Hi MB, Im really not the expert to speak on that. But the Gongs explained their project was an opportunity for all the children. So, when I talk about the Church, I mean the Church. When I talk about my father, hes just my father.. I agree that people should go into an interracial marriage being mindful of the challenges. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Both men and women of Asian descent in the US face a media and social stereotype of being more submissive, passive, and infantilized. 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 . Donors who contribute . My wife is Japanese and Im Puerto Rican, whoop dee doo. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. 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. Hopefully Im not missing anyone, but I do not see that any of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve married Native American women. (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. I experienced confusion, sexual assault and rejection as I stumbled through my new life, Gong says. As a missionary in Taiwan. One day, during Gongs freshman year at Brigham Young University, he tried to take his life. I dont know of anything further back in the family tree than that. 31 October 2021 by Gerrit W. Gong 16,100 sq ft (1,500 m 2) on a 7.7-acre (3.1 ha) site 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. 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. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. The churchs rhetoric against such marriages was very strong in the wake of the 1978 revelation, as if SWK wanted to communicate Hey, lets not go crazy with this thing. That attitude has slowly dissipated, but even now its not quite gone. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. It depends. Forgive me, Im not sure. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. 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. If I were to see him on the street, I would definitely think, (sorry for the non-PC stereotype) white-guy. In October 2015, Gong was appointed to the Presidency of the Seventy, filling a vacancy created by Ronald A. Rasband's call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. [5][1][2] As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Gong is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Shes everything one would hope for someone in that role. [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. Assigned to organize the second stake in Bangkok, Thailand, Elder Gong participated in the calling of priesthood leaders. The thoughts expressed below are my authentic feelings. He was born in Redwood City, California. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build Gods kingdom by serving all of His children. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. 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. We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities. Submitted on July 23, 2013. Connecting with God and to one another is so important. Come discover yours. 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. >:(. Prior to becoming a general authority, Gong served in the church as a stake Sunday School president, high councilor, seminary teacher, bishop, stake president, and area seventy. I agree. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. I am pleased for him. 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. 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. Put On Thy Strength, O Zion. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same, he said. 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. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. Elder Gong loves learning and spending time with family. I hope that we will all gain greater appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith and sacrifice of those who have gone before. I love the more visible presence of minorities. Ours is a worldwide Church, said Elder Gong. Ill check on her. Similarly, we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this wonderful land. Having people who know about petroleum extraction is always useful! Joseph W. Sitati. Today, I love myself, scars and all, and I am awestruck by the simplicity at being happy, something I would never have believed possible in my younger years, says Gong, who shares an apartment with his longtime partner. 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. 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. Oh goodness. I commented on another thread here how much I admire Sister Susan Gong. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? Our cultural biases are a factor, as well. Again, its complicated and fluid. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. It makes all the difference to know who my family are." My friend muses, "A bent branch does not mean a bad tree. And he never brought it up. His father joined the Church after attending Stanford University, where his parents met and dated. Fred: and that is the value of diversity, across every possible category. In order to celebrate Elder Gong's birthday, here are some photos showing his life and ministry to Latter-day Saints around the world. Love you. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. Love the Gongs. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. 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. What I hope for is a group that comes from different cultural backgrounds that can consider and represent a worldwide church. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Elder Gong as a baby with his parents. The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. I know several members of Elder Gongs extended family, and they couldnt be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. He looks part white to me. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles. Matthew Gong, Matthew Gong is a minority three times over in his own words Chinese American, Mormon and queer.. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. 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. Loursat wrote: I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers.. Elder Gongs parents, both professional teachers, collectively spent more than 70 years in the classroom. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). Two, he is interested in everything, which makes him a fascinating person to live with. Its disingenuous to portray the Churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a simple matter of possible incompatibility. We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. (The . This white British woman with Japanese husband and two children is with you all the way on this one. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. On his 21st birthday, at the start of the final year on his mission, Gong wrote separate emails to each of his brothers and his parents to tell them he was gay. )[16] Gong and his wife are the parents of four sons. Its very, very hard to do that with a small, centralized leadership group. They will . 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. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. 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. Who knows nothing, I would definitely think, ( sorry for feeling... 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