Whether or not Brazilians are Latinos is complicated. They understand that diversity is out there, but they havent lived it, and there is no substitute for living it. Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. Once ordained they joined the growing circle of priesthood power.. And that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned. 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. There is, in fact, a slightly higher divorce rate for interracial marriages. Thank you for sharing! Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. He also has responsibility in the Quorum of the Twelve for the church's Asia and Asia North areas. 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. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. church instruction manuals for institute and youth. 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 . Why treat it like a zero-sum game? I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! In your own life story, you are the main character! 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. Y Magazine is published four times a year by Brigham Young University for graduates and friends. 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. 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. The Gongs were married in 1980, not long after the lifting of the race-based priesthood and temple ban in 1978. I am just grateful to know that this comes one day at a time and that when you are on the Lords errand, you receive the Lords help. That was later postponed indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was never so different [that] I couldnt be potentially included.. 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. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. He will be a good fit with the brethren. He was called to London on a Mandarin-speaking mission in 2011. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. Review of "We Each Have a Story" by Apostle Gerrit W. Gong. 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. Were an international church, and the PTB clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality. 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. Big smiles in the Hedgehog home. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent, First Seven Presidents of the Seventy / First Council of the Seventy, Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the. Donors who contribute . 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 . Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend the event *We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background (some of those are not an absolute necessity, but preferred).. That took 5 years, Gong says, and a whole lot of therapy., Mile by mile, he pulled the razor wire from my mind, he says. 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. His memory is foggy, but he says he woke up four hours later, lying on the floor. 31 October 2021 by Gerrit W. Gong 16,100 sq ft (1,500 m 2) on a 7.7-acre (3.1 ha) site and one of those categories is occupation. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. Youve given me something to ponder this afternoon. Quote #1 (the true litmus test) . [38] On October 16, the church announced that he and his wife had successfully completed their quarantines, and that Gong had been cleared by his doctors to resume his regular assignments the following week.[38]. 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. The couple hosts grandkids camp every summer, which includes crafts and adventures, and loves to travel with their sons. Im sorry for that feeling in the pit of your stomachI know it all too well. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday . Come discover yours. Mental Health Minute: Who is Driving the Bus. We need to learn to love so unconditionally that we do not see race anymore, nor genders, nor other marginalization great and small. Good going 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. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. Patterns of Discipleship. This expressed so much of the happiness I feel today. This means that Gong is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a multi-racial marriage. 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. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. Even though there are many things we dont understand, we know in Gods plan theres a place for every person in [the church].. The choices you make will determine what happens in the "plot" of your life, and education can have a big impact. Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles. 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. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic. [11] Gong was a professor at various times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. 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. Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. Two, he is interested in everything, which makes him a fascinating person to live with. [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. 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. Revelation: 2 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. [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. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. 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. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. Much of this post is good, though the backdrop of white supremacy is a bit much. Sane liberals in the church dont have any illusions about their influence.). 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. :) Hope all is well. Elder Gerrit W. Gong was born on December 23, 1953, in California. Christ Church, Oxford; Edit. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. Elder Gong isnt part-anything. Forgive me, Im not sure. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. Weve always been struck by the enthusiasm and skill of children who come together to beautify their environment, Elder Gong said. Ask Peter. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The hard thing for ALL of us is to cope with (possibly) inspired decisions that conflict with our own political and philosophical intuitions. Ill investigate Rosana. This white British woman with Japanese husband and two children is with you all the way on this one. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. 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. There is a misconception that Asians and Asian-Americans do not experience racism in the US, because their model minority status casts them as the ideal scholars and citizens. Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. [12][13] He joined this latter institution in 1989. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. 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. A powerful couple to help open up China. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same, he said. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. When the family moved to Utah, the young Gong found himself in a much more homogeneous community with a dominant culture, he says, where his peers and teachers werent exactly sure about his ethnicity. (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. Please come find your family, all your generations, and bring them home.". Youd think wed try to start making trends on this issue as opposed to following them. Until he was 10, Matt Gong, the family's fourth of four sons, lived in the Washington, D.C., area, where his dad worked at a policy think tank. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent. 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). (Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) It was my biggest hope for the conference. My last post must have sounded like trolling as it has disappeared. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. Thanks for the correction, Jones. [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. Theres also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support. 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 . I dont know of anything further back in the family tree than that. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . Love the Gongs. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. 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. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday, March 4 . Huh. Their marriage was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had connections to their families from his time in California. I have five other children that have married Caucasians as well. Im also the white half of an interracial marriage. I love the more visible presence of minorities. 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. A Rhodes Scholar who worked for the U.S. State Department and for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., Elder Gongs travels have taken him to all seven continents, including living in Asia for more than a decade. Did you hear Elder Oaks announce that 40% of.the GAs now have been born outside the US and then rattling off the countries? They visited Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, including meeting with government leaders of New Zealand and Tonga. [17] Prior to joining the BYU administration, the Gongs had spent most of their married life in Maryland and Virginia. 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. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. The storyteller and artist came out in defiance of my depression, he says, with a desperate will to survive. Having people who know about petroleum extraction is always useful! 1. After his call to the First Quorum of the Seventy, he served as a counselor in the church's Asia Area from 2011 to 2013,[18][19] then as the area's president from August 2013 until the end of 2015. 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. 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. Its impossible to have any credibility as a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders. Happening March 4, Family Discovery Day is free online and in-person. However, I think that making leadership more diverse is almost certain to be a liberalizing influence over the long term. While for *me* its not a big deal to see two races come together in marriage, to pretend its *objectively* not a factor at all is a trifle naive. 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. 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. If there are, I would love to meet them for a nice cup of group therapy., When the senior Gong took his place for a lifetime appointment in the faiths Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the younger Gong thought: Today is the day I lost my father. Next I would really love for Adam and Eve in the temple videos to be an interracial couple. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). . Representation matters. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://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. He really desires with all his heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, . I believe inspiration comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles. There are both benefits and penalties to being racially mixed. 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. 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. It will be another important step when we have the first woman of color wife of an apostle, the first black man, more examples of lives lived on more continents and in bodies with different abilities, anddare we hopethe first woman. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan, participate in a Christmas mural project in Vietnam. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. If that makes me bad/wrong, then so be it. Brazilians, in the USA, dont like getting lumped in with latinos. Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. His mother's family are ethnic Chinese in Hawaii . "Ours is a worldwide Church. Oh goodness. 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. Ill check on her. He was born on December 23, 1953 and his birthplace is California, Redwood City California. From one who knows nothing, I couldnt help but see Elder Gong being placed in position to help open up China. And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. [35] The church later announced that Gong, whose wife has ties to Taylorsville, Utah, would preside at the October 2020 groundbreaking for the temple in that city. 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). Assigned to organize the second stake in Bangkok, Thailand, Elder Gong participated in the calling of priesthood leaders. But you probably didnt know how cool it was. 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. This is a big deal. I had won the war in coming out but was left as broken as the battlefield.. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. [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. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. It belonged to the children. Why does ethnicity have to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon? This has been a great day in my long life! 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. STE 1058, Provo, UT 84601, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, wife to keynote RootsTech Family Discovery Day. He looks part white to me. Da de descubrimiento familiar: lder y hermana Gong. 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. Five Frameworks on Iraq. [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. Similarly, we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this wonderful land. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? But beyond the particulars of Gongs experience, his story has a universal message of normalcy. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. I also know that its possible to find joy and peace in the church even when we find ourselves with a minority opinion. 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. [8] He graduated from BYU in 1977 with a bachelor of arts. And I suspect their international cred was perceived as a big plus, not a minus. We feel the need to be compassionate to all. As of June 2018, he was serving as chair of the church's Scriptures Committee (which, among other things, oversees the translation of the scriptures) and as a member of the Leadership and Training Committee, the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, and the Outreach Committee. Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! 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. 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. :). [27][28][29][30], In November 2019, Gong presided over a worldwide broadcast that announced the LDS Church's new youth program. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. 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]. (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. Meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong: "Unfailingly Kind" Family Man. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. [7], Gong graduated from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California, in 1971. Ask those who believed in the 1978 Official Declaration long before it came. But its something a couple should acknowledge and prepare for. The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. 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