They will share some of their stories at Family Discovery Day during RootsTech 2023. The current government is becoming more repressive about such matters. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. In order to celebrate Elder Gong's birthday, here are some photos showing his life and ministry to Latter-day Saints around the world. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." This is the very purpose for which God created the heavens and the earth and saw that they were good. Quote #1 (the true litmus test) . 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. 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. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. 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. Weve always been struck by the enthusiasm and skill of children who come together to beautify their environment, Elder Gong said. The couple hosts grandkids camp every summer, which includes crafts and adventures, and loves to travel with their sons. My family name.. 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. Even if you werent aware of all these nuances, youve probably absorbed from US culture the idea that its more normal or expected for a woman of Asian descent to be married to a white man, than for a white woman to be married to a man of Asian descent. Loursat, I only bring this up because it was clearly your main point, but sucking oil out of the ground is a terrible strategy. :) Hope all is well. 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. Submitted on July 23, 2013. Cheers. 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. (Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) Elder Gong was on my list of best case scenarios. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. Forgive me, Im not sure. In fact, the model minority label is itself an example of racism, both because it exists really only for the purpose of supporting white supremacy by attacking other people of color for purportedly being less deserving of respect and success, and because it treats Asian people as a monolith. With all the comments here I echo the joy in seeing a diverse Quorum. Having crushes on boys in elementary school. Reading the D&C, it seems that revelation is often (indeed, almost always) responsive to external realities. Thanks for the correction, Jones. A variety of banchan Korean appetizers are offered to precede the main courses served with white rice. [20][21] Among other activities while Gong was president of the Asia Area, he created the second and third stakes in Thailand. Gong reflects on September 11th and reviews perspectives on war. That was later postponed indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. Once ordained they joined the growing circle of priesthood power.. @Felix, my understanding at least according to Wikipedia is that Elder Gong is the son of a Chinese-Immigrant-family-in-California father and a Chinese-immigrant-family-in-Hawaii mother. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. Did you hear Elder Oaks announce that 40% of.the GAs now have been born outside the US and then rattling off the countries? His first name is "Gerrit" and his last name is . Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Even though there are many things we dont understand, we know in Gods plan theres a place for every person in [the church].. The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/. We feel the need to be compassionate to all. 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. [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. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. 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. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan, participate in a Christmas mural project in Vietnam. 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. Bensen, recounting your personal experience with a few interracial marriages in [your] own family and supposing you can generalize from those experiences with those few particular people to arrive at broad statements about how race functions in marriage is, at the very least, a trifle naive. Its also more than a trifle condescending, considering that youre trying to correct someone who has actual first-hand experience of the potential issues youre describing. Huh. 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. We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities.. 37 Views. Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. Felix was referring to genetics. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. Big smiles in the Hedgehog home. Youd think wed try to start making trends on this issue as opposed to following them. 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. [11] Gong was a professor at various times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. If that makes me bad/wrong, then so be it. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend. But sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. 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. His mother met the missionaries as a teenager in Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. #progress. Thank you Jason K. You make an excellent point. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Our cultural biases are a factor, as well. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday . Cynthia, Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. . We need to love till we do not marginalize any of our Fathers children. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.[6]. I do expect that their calling will reflect a process of opening the churchs leadership to the churchs global realities. BTW, given that oil often is found in strange places, experience and comfort with a wide range of cultures is a pretty big advantage. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? [9][10], In 1985, Gong became a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. AmyT thanks for weighing in! I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. I never thought of myself as nonwhite but as ethnically ambiguous, Gong says in an interview. I commented on another thread here how much I admire Sister Susan Gong. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. 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. I love the more visible presence of minorities. 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. 1. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) 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. Ill check on her. Score: Why does ethnicity have to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon? Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. 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. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. Please come find your family, all your generations, and bring them home.". But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. (If they are, it will be a pleasant surprise.) I agree. I agree that people should go into an interracial marriage being mindful of the challenges. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. His mother's family are ethnic Chinese in Hawaii . 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. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. 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 . Donors who contribute . Again, its complicated and fluid. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. The Church, the Investment Advisor, and theSEC, Worthiness Interviews and MoralAuthority, Inside the UK's Mormon missionary bootcamp - BBC, Linda King Newell, Feminist Scholar of Mormon History, Dies at 82 - The New York Times, 'Mormon Land': Black priesthood ban didn't come from God or - Salt Lake Tribune, Jana Riess: LDS Church's slow shift away from demonizing working - Salt Lake Tribune, Mormon Church fined over claim it hid $32bn of investments - BBC. 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. He was born in Redwood City, California. Mormonism LIVE: 117: Changes To The Temple & The Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors Mormonism Live! [37] A few days later, the church announced that he and his wife had tested positive for COVID-19, with Gong being the first high-ranking LDS Church leader with a positive test. And love that something so small an interracial marriage can yet be so huge for your family and for others. Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. Love your family. Citation Im grateful for that for me, but Im terribly sorry for anyone who has had to endure those remarks. . Brazilian members of the Church make up over 8% of the total church membership (as of just over a year ago). The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . I had won the war in coming out but was left as broken as the battlefield.. 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. A powerful couple to help open up China. They visited Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, including meeting with government leaders of New Zealand and Tonga. 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. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. Ours is a worldwide Church. I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Susan, have rich family histories from Hawaii and Ireland. Fairbanks. Benson, although its not incorrect to say the manuals (Kimball) advise caution, they go a little further than that in recommending/expressing preference for racially homogenous marriages. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? David A. Bednar. 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. 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. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. Both Elder and Sister Gong served as full-time missionaries in Taiwan; the couple married in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. 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. I also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Gong had just been named an apostle. There was almost no better realistic possibility than these two picks. Im also the white half of an interracial marriage. 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. Three, he loves the Lord. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. When I refer to my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Encyclopedia Britannica online, Elder Soares happily fits those definitions of Latino. I have had a testimony of the Church and gospel since I was very young, said Elder Gong. 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. This has been a great day in my long life! 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. Put On Thy Strength, O Zion. [26], In May 2019, Gong and his wife accompanied Russell M. Nelson and his wife on a ministry tour to the Pacific region. 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. I will update the post as I get further information. 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