Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. 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). The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . :). One is Jacob Hamblin, often nicknamed Buckskin Apostle, though he was not actually part of the Twelve. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.[6]. (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.). 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. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. 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. Happening March 4, Family Discovery Day is free online and in-person. His father joined the Church after attending Stanford University, where his parents met and dated. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. Instead, the purpose of . 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. It belonged to the children. His fear was that people would politicize me and my dad. 37 Views. Home Realizacje i porady Bez kategorii gerrit gong family picture. I also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Blood. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. 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. 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. Arab? July 10, 2022. 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. Our cultural biases are a factor, as well. Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent. and one of those categories is occupation. [4] He also held the Freeman Chair in China studies and was later the Asia Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. Gong had just been named an apostle. Christ Church, Oxford; Edit. 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. 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. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. 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. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? 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. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. Also, I suspect President Nelsons very special interest in China may have played a role in the case of Elder Gong. Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday, March 4 . AmyT thanks for weighing in! God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 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.. I buried land mines and razor wire in my brain so that my heart couldnt get out., If Gong hadnt come out, he says, I would have fought in the war till I died by suicide.. )[16] Gong and his wife are the parents of four sons. 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. Five Frameworks on Iraq. 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. So, when I talk about the Church, I mean the Church. When I talk about my father, hes just my father.. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. Ill check on her. Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday . Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. David A. Bednar. This has been a great day in my long life! [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. The greatest Mormon blog in the universe. 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. LDS Church wants to light up a temple in a place that prides itself on dark skies, For husband-and-wife team, this new restaurant is the culmination of a decadeslong dream, Gong took his place for a lifetime appointment in the faiths Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, asked in 2018 if having a gay son had affected his views on LGBTQ. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. As I said at the last time new apostles were chosenI would have preferred to have seen three Caucasian apostles from outside North America than three apostles of color who were born and raised in Utah. 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. As a missionary in Taiwan. Thank you, Cynthia, for your poignant thoughts. Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. Good going church! One, he is unfailingly kind, she said. But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. 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. 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 . A powerful couple to help open up China. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 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. Until very recently, church instruction manuals for institute and youthsuggested caution against interracial marriages. And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. 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). 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. 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. 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. Although reasonable latter-day saints have long, long since realized there is no place for any disapproval of marriage based on race, this is still a big deal. FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. This white British woman with Japanese husband and two children is with you all the way on this one. in 1980. As he said, "We each have a story.". Download Photo. 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. A few early apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but thats really stretching the definition of interracial marriage. . Thanks all for the kind answers to my post. Cannot load blog information at this time. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. They understand that diversity is out there, but they havent lived it, and there is no substitute for living it. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. Elder Gong, whose ancestors left southern China in the late 19th century for work in the United States, was born into the Church. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? His mother met the missionaries as a teenager in Honolulu, Hawaii. (The . After the meeting we entered a large room, where on chairs on three sides of the room priesthood leaders were ordained one by one, recalled Sister Gong. 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. Such ties can bring help from the other side of the veil." Gerrit W. Gong We Each Have a Story "If you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family's positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. And that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned. He was born on December 23, 1953 and his birthplace is California, Redwood City California. The fact that they are an interracial couple didnt even occur to em; I was just thrilled that there is finally some more international representation in the upper-most echelon. [27][28][29][30], In November 2019, Gong presided over a worldwide broadcast that announced the LDS Church's new youth program. 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. Theres also a correlation between small wedding ceremonies and divorce suggesting that couples thrive on social support. Y Magazine is published four times a year by Brigham Young University for graduates and friends. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com | Posted - Feb. 27, 2023 at 5:46 p.m. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Susan Gong will be the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day at RootsTech on Saturday. I have had a testimony of the Church and gospel since I was very young, said Elder Gong. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend the event Here goes: When the names of the two new apostles were read I felt sick in the pit of my stomach. He also on occasion continued to travel to Asia, such as being present for the official recognition of the LDS Church in Vietnam. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. I agree. 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. The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. With all the comments here I echo the joy in seeing a diverse Quorum. Were an international church, and the PTB clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality. Joseph W. Sitati. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. 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. 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. Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. 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.. My wife is Japanese and Im Puerto Rican, whoop dee doo. Ill investigate Rosana. Hi MB, Im really not the expert to speak on that. 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. 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. (Courtesy photo by Ryan Di Spaltro) (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. they wondered. 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. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. I know several members of Elder Gongs extended family, and they couldnt be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. (Sometimes the emphasis is on achieving a picture-perfect family which involves inflated egos, exclusiveness, feelings of superiority or inferiority, and other unChrist-like behaviors both inside and outside the family. Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. It is heartbreaking when we are asked questions about religion, but cannot respond. My family name.. But getting to this place of peace with his trifold identity, says Gong, an artificial intelligence engineer in Seattle, has required hard work. Submitted on July 23, 2013. 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. Mental Health Minute: Who is Driving the Bus. My heart ached also for Elder Gong and Elder Soares as I realized that they too probably wonder if their call came from God or if they are token minorities in a corporation that has to factor in the opinions and philosophies of the world in its decision making. Brazilians, in the USA, dont like getting lumped in with latinos. 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 . Why does ethnicity have to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon? Hi Benson, we should definitely all come to the same interpretation of calling the view that a white woman marrying an Asian man is marrying down a white supremacist view. 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. There are over a billion Chinese citizens, and we non-Chinese are forbididen by law from discussing religion with them. Im also the white half of an interracial marriage. His mother, an avid gardener, once explained the difference between flowers and weeds. 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. The Gongs will speak at 1:30 p.m., walking listeners through some of their personal family story, previously recorded on location in their homelands of Ireland and Hawaii. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Citation [24], On March 31, 2018, Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. [8] He graduated from BYU in 1977 with a bachelor of arts. Either way it helps us abide and grow. The Q15 are smart men, and they have an intellectual understanding of the churchs diversity, but culturally they are almost all the same: old white men from the Mormon Belt. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong. 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. But you probably didnt know how cool it was. . Im very comfortable standing by that statement. Because my story is happening publicly at the highest levels of the church, people ascribe extra meaning to it, he says in the interview, but from within the story, it feels like a typical narrative., The apostle and the queer son are just family, Gong repeats. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. 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. Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. Ask those who believed in the 1978 Official Declaration long before it came. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. I spent part of the weekend looking for synonyms for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong. He really desires with all his heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children. Elder Gongs parents, both professional teachers, collectively spent more than 70 years in the classroom. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right In the sweet spot consistent with recent apostle picks. Maybe well get rid of those now. Having crushes on boys in elementary school. No registration is required. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. Patterns of Discipleship. Cheers. Thank you Jason K. You make an excellent point. [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. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. 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. It is our fervent hope and prayer that someday soon the Lord will open the way for the spread of the gospel here in China. They visited Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, including meeting with government leaders of New Zealand and Tonga. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. The hard thing for ALL of us is to cope with (possibly) inspired decisions that conflict with our own political and philosophical intuitions. All rights reserved. That was later postponed indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. [7], Gong graduated from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California, in 1971. 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will also be featured at the conference as keynote speakers on Family Discovery Day the last day of the conference focused on making connections and celebrating family heritage. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Reading through all the comments has been interesting. In the April 2022 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said, " [W]e each have a story. They are the parents of four sons and have three grandchildren. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. Thanks, New Iconoclast. This means that Gong is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a multi-racial marriage. And I suspect their international cred was perceived as a big plus, not a minus. But today, let us rejoice! Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same, he said. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. Meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong: "Unfailingly Kind" Family Man. 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. Daily news, articles, videos and podcasts sent straight to your inbox. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. He encouraged listeners to connect with ancestors and descendants in uniting God's family. After Joseph's baptism, the Young brothers taught their family and friends in Canada and baptized over 150 individuals and established four branches of the church, including ones in Kingston and Sydenham. We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? Hales. Review of "We Each Have a Story" by Apostle Gerrit W. Gong. [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 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. . Cynthia, thanks for sharing. Winter 2003 Contact Us Advertising News & Alumni. [23] Among his assignments while in the Presidency of the Seventy, Gong served on the Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustees, where he also served as a member of its executive committee. Donate to the newsroom now. Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? Its impossible to have any credibility as a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders. For, say, a company whose mission is to suck oil out of the earth wherever possible, super-centralized leadership is not much of a problem; an organization like that just has to know how to focus its financial and political power like a laser, and acting at times like a steamroller is part of the game. He was born in Redwood City, California. Sane liberals in the church dont have any illusions about their influence.). "Ours is a worldwide Church. 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. Elder Gong, a newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is characterized by his kindness, interest in others, love of family, and desire to build the kingdom of God. Some places wanted to send only the best and most artistic children to participate. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. They will . Did you hear Elder Oaks announce that 40% of.the GAs now have been born outside the US and then rattling off the countries? Ask Peter. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/. Biography. Love you. 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. :) Hope all is well. To read the full article on LDS.org, click here. Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. 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. He was not actually part of gerrit w gong family Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a marriage. 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