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 . Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. I have had a testimony of the Church and gospel since I was very young, said Elder Gong. I also know that its possible to find joy and peace in the church even when we find ourselves with a minority opinion. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? His fear was that people would politicize me and my dad. 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. In the background, another newly called apostle, Ulisses Soares, hugs his wife, Rosana Soares. 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. Its just good to have people from outside of the Western US. But the Gongs explained their project was an opportunity for all the children. >:(. Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle name (Walter after his father) and a Chinese last name . The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. 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). 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. (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. He looks part white to me. We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. 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. 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Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. 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. Once ordained they joined the growing circle of priesthood power.. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." 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. Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. But its something a couple should acknowledge and prepare for. His family relationships clarified, my friend said, "I feel free, at peace. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. Donate to the newsroom now. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. Reading the D&C, it seems that revelation is often (indeed, almost always) responsive to external realities. 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. They will . Thoughts of not having that became unbearable, he says, and so he repressed them. 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. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . All rights reserved. Im very comfortable standing by that statement. Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. My wife is Japanese and Im Puerto Rican, whoop dee doo. As we discover our story, we connect, we belong, we become." 1. Either way it helps us abide and grow. @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. Why does ethnicity have to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon? Five Frameworks on Iraq. Hales. (The . 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. Happening March 4, Family Discovery Day is free online and in-person. Whether or not Brazilians are Latinos is complicated. 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. It takes strength to keep sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but they dont come. Its very, very hard to do that with a small, centralized leadership group. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. There was almost no better realistic possibility than these two picks. [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. 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. 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. 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. On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. Im grateful for that for me, but Im terribly sorry for anyone who has had to endure those remarks. 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 . Youve given me something to ponder this afternoon. John. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. Some places wanted to send only the best and most artistic children to participate. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. in 1980. Gong is married to Susan Lindsay, a daughter of Richard P. Lindsay. My white cousin married a Korean woman and lived in Korea for several years. His memory is foggy, but he says he woke up four hours later, lying on the floor. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. . They understand that diversity is out there, but they havent lived it, and there is no substitute for living it. But its a relief to know that the oil companies dont have to suck so hard. I spent part of the weekend looking for synonyms for overwhelming because overwhelming doesnt seem to cover it, said Sister Gong. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. Hemos detectado que ests en un navegador no compatible. And he never brought it up. He seemed to remember a conversation with someone or something outside of himself that affirmed he was loved. Was he Mexican? This is the very purpose for which God created the heavens and the earth and saw that they were good. 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. Elder Gong as a baby with his parents. That our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong writes on a Facebook post. He witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) 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. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. [4] He also held the Freeman Chair in China studies and was later the Asia Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. What Does the Parable of the Wheat and Tares Teach about the Apostasy? So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. Gong then studied international relations at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master's degree in 1979 and a D.Phil. He has deep credentials (both in church service and big worldly accomplishments), and he is born and bred American. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. 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. He encouraged listeners to connect with ancestors and descendants in uniting God's family. 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. The storyteller and artist came out in defiance of my depression, he says, with a desperate will to survive. Come discover yours. 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. And that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned. They will share some of their stories at Family Discovery Day during RootsTech 2023. He was called to London on a Mandarin-speaking mission in 2011. 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. )[16] Gong and his wife are the parents of four sons. Fred: and that is the value of diversity, across every possible category. Fairbanks. Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. A blessing for all concerned the senior leadership: and that they are not Latino about the Apostasy wasnt.. What does the Parable of the Western us the floor to external realities, Soares... 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