If that makes me bad/wrong, then so be it. I agree that people should go into an interracial marriage being mindful of the challenges. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. 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. People. 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 . 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 . Gerrit W. Gong Featured. Reflecting the increasing diversity of the Church, Elder Gong became the first Asian-American Apostle, Elder Soares the first Apostle from South America. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. The choices you make will determine what happens in the "plot" of your life, and education can have a big impact. [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. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? Shout out to Jusok. :). His mother's family were ethnic Chinese in Hawaii, while his father's family had lived in California and other parts of the United States after his ancestors had emigrated from China in the late 19th century. "Ours is a worldwide Church. Love the Gongs. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. 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. 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. Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. 37 Views. Two, he is interested in everything, which makes him a fascinating person to live with. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. 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. 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. 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. Much of this post is good, though the backdrop of white supremacy is a bit much. 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. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. 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. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. I forgive you, he says. He was born on December 23, 1953 and his birthplace is California, Redwood City California. 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. I was personally much more disappointed that our previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds. [8] He graduated from BYU in 1977 with a bachelor of arts. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. And he never brought it up. [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. When I refer to my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Encyclopedia Britannica online, Elder Soares happily fits those definitions of Latino. I will update the post as I get further information. Oh goodness. Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles. 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. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. That isnt to say father and son agree on all things. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. Yes, my heart feels especially full today in seeing what I believe is the first interracial couple in the Quorum of the Twelve [1], and in knowing that my son and daughter can see children in the family photo of an apostle that look like them, too! We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. I love the more visible presence of minorities. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In your own life story, you are the main character! 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. Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. Im also the white half of an interracial marriage. My family name.. Born in Redwood City, California, to Walter A. and Jean C. Gong, Elder Gong comes to the apostleship with a background rich in education and experience. 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. I experienced confusion, sexual assault and rejection as I stumbled through my new life, Gong says. 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. Here are 6 fun facts about Elder Gong. 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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. Thanks, New Iconoclast. I confronted and broke down the lies I had been told about what it means to be queer. And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. (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.). 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. Fairbanks. Thank you, Cynthia, for your poignant thoughts. 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. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.[6]. One day, during Gongs freshman year at Brigham Young University, he tried to take his life. * I can attest that there are challenges inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage, but there are challenges in every marriage. Cynthia, Elder and Sister Gong's presentation will be broadcast on Saturday, March 4 . Quote #1 (the true litmus test) . Elder Gongs parents, both professional teachers, collectively spent more than 70 years in the classroom. His first name is "Gerrit" and his last name is . Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. >:(. Ask Peter. But so is rejoicing for many other peoples realms of thought. [11] Gong was a professor at various times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. Lost touch so you can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC. for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.. Christ Church, Oxford; Edit. Huh. 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. 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. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. I was never so different [that] I couldnt be potentially included.. [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. Home Realizacje i porady Bez kategorii gerrit gong family picture. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend the event 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. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. AmyT thanks for weighing in! His family relationships clarified, my friend said, "I feel free, at peace. I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! [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. 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. The following is a summary of what he said. 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. 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. Cannot load blog information at this time. When the prophet starts allowing his decisions to be influenced by every wind of political and worldly doctrine everyone loses. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. I am pleased for him. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. He and Ulisses Soares filled the vacancies created from the deaths of Thomas S. Monson and Robert D. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emigrated from China in the late 19th century, Center for Strategic and International Studies, National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustees, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mormon church names new seventies, Primary presidency", "Elder Gerrit W. Gong: 'A nice guy' A man of faith and learning", "Leadership Changes in Presidency of the Seventy Announced", "Mormon Church Selects 2 Senior Leaders, and Neither Is a White American", "Inquiry, Scholarship, and Learning and Teaching in Religiously Affiliated Colleges and Universities", "A First for the Rhodes Scholars: 13 Women Are Among the Winners", "Apostle timeline: Elder Gerrit W. Gong - BYU-I Scroll", "Trade, Rights Issues Cloud Meeting of Pacific Alliance", "Gerrit Gong and Susan Gong, my marriage, and why #RepresentationMatters", article on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thailand, "Changes announced for Area Presidencies", "2016 Events LDS Church News Reports on the visit of Elders Stevenson and Gong to Thailand, Viet Nam and Macao", "Latter-day Saints Sustain New First Presidency in Solemn Assembly: Two new leaders named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles", article on meeting with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, article on Gong and others meeting with the King of Tonga, KSL article on the Pacific Ministry Tour with much emphasis on Gong, Idaho State Journal article on announcement of new youth program, KSL article mentioning Gong's role in the announcement, Postponed: Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Open House and Dedication Dates Announced, Groundbreakings Announced for Two Utah Temples, Elder Gong, quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure, prerecorded his general conference message, Elder and Sister Gong diagnosed with COVID-19, "General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Gerrit W. Gong", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerrit_W._Gong&oldid=1131500756, Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church), American general authorities (LDS Church), Latter Day Saint biography Infobox with missing parameters, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles needing additional references from July 2020, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Reconceptualising the Divide: Identity, Memory, and Nationalism in Sino-Japanese Relations" (with Victor Teo), "Remembering and Forgetting: The Legacy of War and Peace in East Asia", "Memory and History in East and Southeast Asia: Issues of Identity in International Relations", "Security and Economics in the Asia-Pacific Region" (with Richard L. Grant), "Taiwan Strait Dilemmas: China-Taiwan-U.S. Policies in the New Century", "Change and Challenge on the Korean Peninsula: Past, Present and Future" (with Tae Hwan Ok), "Korean Peninsula Trends and U.S.-Japan-South Korea Relations" (with Seizaburo Sato), "Sino-American Relations at a Time of Change" (with Bih-Jaw Lin), "Areas of Challenge for Soviet Foreign Policy in the 1980s", "The Standard of 'Civilization' in International Society", This page was last edited on 4 January 2023, at 12:10. And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready. . Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. 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. Five Frameworks on Iraq. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax and one of those categories is occupation. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. They will . [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. I argued my doubts to a standstill and reclaimed my beliefs from where they lay.. , March 4 and sister Gong & # x27 ; s presentation will be broadcast on Saturday March! Grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love positive signs of things to.. Gong family picture reality, too by emailingsubscribe @ sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, for e-edition questions or,! 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Byu in 1977 with a bachelor of arts agree that people should go into an interracial marriage mindful. Had hoped it would be: //www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/ for your poignant thoughts pic on BCC language childrens readers and was first... The following is a bit much brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere Johns Hopkins University so is rejoicing many! At school, Gong was involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season has...