Some places wanted to send only the best and most artistic children to participate. [11] Gong was a professor at various times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. Forgive me, Im not sure. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. It depends. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). All quotes by Gerrit W. Gong and in blue (unless otherwise noted). *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).. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? Oh goodness. church instruction manuals for institute and youth. He really desires with all his heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children. The thoughts expressed below are my authentic feelings. One, he is unfailingly kind, she said. 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. His mother met the missionaries as a teenager in Honolulu, Hawaii. Both Elder and Sister Gong served as full-time missionaries in Taiwan; the couple married in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. 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.. Sexuality, however, was never discussed. 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. I hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow Saints! In doing so, he gave himself the chance to extend grace to his past selves. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. Is Elder Gong of mixed race? Ours is a worldwide Church. Our cultural biases are a factor, as well. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. Whether or not Brazilians are Latinos is complicated. Meet Elder Gerrit W. Gong: "Unfailingly Kind" Family Man. This means that Gong is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a multi-racial marriage. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. 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. [9][10], In 1985, Gong became a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State. 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. 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. [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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend the event Their children had a hard time in Korean schools because of the round eyes. Does that mean they never should have gotten married? 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 . Thank you Jason K. You make an excellent point. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. 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. 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. 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. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. It was my biggest hope for the conference. Sign up for Meridians Free Newsletter, pleaseCLICK HERE. Please come find your family, all your generations, and bring them home.". And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! My wife is Japanese and Im Puerto Rican, whoop dee doo. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. Factor does not mean negative or positive it just is. Ill investigate Rosana. Did you hear Elder Oaks announce that 40% of.the GAs now have been born outside the US and then rattling off the countries? The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. 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. As far as Soares goes, He looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian. Review of "We Each Have a Story" by Apostle Gerrit W. Gong. (Courtesy photo by Ryan Di Spaltro) The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . (And alsowhat Kevin said. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. [8] He graduated from BYU in 1977 with a bachelor of arts. Their marriage was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had connections to their families from his time in California. Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. You can produce it under its own pressure; you can lift it out with a pump jack; you can energize it by reinjecting the gas cap; you can push it out by injecting water down a nearby well; you can melt it by injecting steam. 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. Elder Gong, the oldest of three children, inherited his parents love for learning. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. 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. 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]. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Susan Gong will be the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day on the final day of RootsTech, the global family history gathering taking place virtually and in person March 2-4, 2023. 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.. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. [24], On March 31, 2018, Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I was never so different [that] I couldnt be potentially included.. He hasnt aged at all. Love your family. Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan Gong, leave the stand after the Saturday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City, Friday, March 30, 2018. 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. 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. 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. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. In your own life story, you are the main character! Shout out to Jusok. #progress. 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. Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. I have personally experienced stinging examples of this bias: confusion about our children, surprise about us being together, and even comments along the lines that I did it backwards by being a white woman married to my Korean-American husband. Thank you, Cynthia, for your poignant thoughts. The meeting will be available on the Gospel Library app and online in 11 languages beginning . His family relationships clarified, my friend said, "I feel free, at peace. :) Hope all is well. With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. I confess Im a bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage. Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. Our hopes, ideologies, bigotries, boxes, traditions, and so many other human frailties stand in our way of knowing what God really wants for and from us that its sometimes seems a miracle to ever get it right. 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. Score: My sister (who is white) is married to a Korean man and I have never ever considered the fact that they have probably experienced bigoted comments, because their interracial marriage didnt even faze our family. 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. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. Maybe well get rid of those now. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. The following is a summary of what he said. This expressed so much of the happiness I feel today. Very happy about these calls for all sorts of reasons; thanks for adding another very cogent one to the pile! Copyright Daily Herald | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd. 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. The couple hosts grandkids camp every summer, which includes crafts and adventures, and loves to travel with their sons. We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. 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. 1. 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. Gong had just been named an apostle. Reflecting the increasing diversity of the Church, Elder Gong became the first Asian-American Apostle, Elder Soares the first Apostle from South America. 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. I know several members of Elder Gongs extended family, and they couldnt be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. 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. 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. Our churchs very highly centralized authority creates a great challenge. The hard thing for ALL of us is to cope with (possibly) inspired decisions that conflict with our own political and philosophical intuitions. Family history also encourages us to preserve our own experiences . 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. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 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. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." He and Ulisses Soares filled the vacancies created from the deaths of Thomas S. Monson and Robert D. Youd think wed try to start making trends on this issue as opposed to following them. But its something a couple should acknowledge and prepare for. Latter-day Saint apostle Gerrit W. Gong speaks to members of the media in Salt Lake City in June 2018. Big smiles from this multiethnic family too. And he still didnt know how to love himself. 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). 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. Love you. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. Shes everything one would hope for someone in that role. 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. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.[6]. This is a big deal. He also on occasion continued to travel to Asia, such as being present for the official recognition of the LDS Church in Vietnam. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. )[16] Gong and his wife are the parents of four sons. Matthew Gong, Matthew Gong is a minority three times over in his own words Chinese American, Mormon and queer.. I believe the Lord uses those who have specific skills to move His church forward.and Sister Gong is fluent in Mandarin. I spent part of the weekend looking for synonyms for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong. Representation matters. The authors presentation assumes an intellectual supremacy that we all should come to the same interpretations.though I guess thats what opinions are. They will share some of their stories at Family Discovery Day during RootsTech 2023. Its disingenuous to portray the Churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a simple matter of possible incompatibility. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. "Ours is a worldwide Church. Cannot load blog information at this time. in 1980. 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. Gong is hardly alone in such a feeling of being misplaced, of course, but his experience is unusual. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. 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. I love the more visible presence of minorities. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same, he said. Im very comfortable standing by that statement. A few early apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but thats really stretching the definition of interracial marriage. (I should be really friendly to this guy, or I just want to spend a lot of time with that boy.), He didnt want to accept himself as gay, because the only queerness I had ever seen was bad the AIDS crisis, promiscuity, death. (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) 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. No registration is required. My last post must have sounded like trolling as it has disappeared. Elder Gong isnt part-anything. (The . Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong. Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! Family Discovery Day is a free event and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT. [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. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. 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 may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic. Gong had the same dreams as other young Latter-day Saints, serving in callings with a wife and children, and spending eternity in heaven with his family. In movies, gays were victims, targets for bullies, or the sassy friend.. Thank you for sharing! [22] While in the presidency of the Asia Area, Gong resided in Hong Kong but supervised the work of the LDS Church in all of continental East Asia except Korea, Taiwan, and all of Southeast Asia, except the Philippines and south Asia. 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. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right In the sweet spot consistent with recent apostle picks. 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.. Love the Gongs. 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. Once ordained they joined the growing circle of priesthood power.. Loursat, I only bring this up because it was clearly your main point, but sucking oil out of the ground is a terrible strategy. 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. The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. Download Photo. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. That means not only that he has experience with multiple cultures, it also means that his grandchildren will likely be raised in the same country where he lives, which means that it will be a little easier for him and his wife to spend time with them as present and well known grandparents. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. Thanks for calling attention to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to many families. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." 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. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. He witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) How can we have a people prepared for the millennium when we have countless exceptions to all are alike unto God? [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. Keynote speakers will include Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Susan Gong; actor Sean Astin of Lord of the Rings fame; singer Jordan Sparks; photographer Me Rah Koh; and others. He was born in Redwood City, California. I seriously doubt President Nelson was pandering to progressive Mormons. Hales. (If they are, it will be a pleasant surprise.) 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. Something had shifted of interracial marriage it has disappeared history Twister, selfie. As it has disappeared and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT by. Sorts of reasons ; thanks for adding another very cogent one to the interracial marriage in 2018... Said Sister Susan Gong Gongs married in the Latter-day Saint garden speaks to members church! Hope this new leader does indeed provide an example that normalizes your family to our fellow!... 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