gerrit w gong family
FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. Cannot load blog information at this time. 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. 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. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. 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. [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. I know several members of Elder Gongs extended family, and they couldnt be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. I was worried that it would be deletedinstead I have been encouraged to look at it in new ways that I hadnt considered. 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. INVITATION TO ACT: "We each have a story. Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. Also on the whole model minority thing we dont exactly need to go very far back in history, especially California history, to find plenty of horrific discrimination against Asians. Big smiles from this multiethnic family too. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. Here are 6 fun facts about Elder Gong. He really desires with all his heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children. Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles. 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. We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. I will update the post as I get further information. Love the Gongs. A powerful couple to help open up China. Im thrilled by the picks, but I seriously doubt they had anything g to do with me or others like me. 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. Why treat it like a zero-sum game? Our cultural biases are a factor, as well. 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 . I believe inspiration comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles. church instruction manuals for institute and youth. In the April 2022 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said, " [W]e each have a story. Donate to the newsroom now. Much of this post is good, though the backdrop of white supremacy is a bit much. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. Even at school, Gong, who easily passed as straight, grew increasingly silent, afraid of hugs and falling in love. Was he Mexican? All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. Three, he loves the Lord. But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. *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).. [27][28][29][30], In November 2019, Gong presided over a worldwide broadcast that announced the LDS Church's new youth program. It depends. Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? 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. 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. Until very recently, church instruction manuals for institute and youthsuggested caution against interracial marriages. Christ Church, Oxford; Edit. But getting to this place of peace with his trifold identity, says Gong, an artificial intelligence engineer in Seattle, has required hard work. I thought the image was beautiful and so when I came out, I clung to the idea that I was somehow like the poppies.. Reading the D&C, it seems that revelation is often (indeed, almost always) responsive to external realities. And thus he came to see his gay self as a weed in the Latter-day Saint garden. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. The in-person Family Discovery Day event will also feature free classes, activities and access to the expo hall. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. #progress. [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. 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. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. [20][21] Among other activities while Gong was president of the Asia Area, he created the second and third stakes in Thailand. These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right In the sweet spot consistent with recent apostle picks. Home Realizacje i porady Bez kategorii gerrit gong family picture. Im very comfortable standing by that statement. Gerrit W Gong; Education. Come join us on an international journey of connection and belonging at @Rootstech Family Discovery Day any time March 4 after 1:30 p.m. (MST). It is heartbreaking when we are asked questions about religion, but cannot respond. [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! The annual genealogical convention being held this year from March 2-4 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple in Salt Lake City, and open to virtual and in-person visitors features special keynote speakers, classes and an expo of family research merchandise. Felix was referring to genetics. 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). Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. Hales. In order to celebrate Elder Gong's birthday, here are some photos showing his life and ministry to Latter-day Saints around the world. Cynthia, (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. 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 is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cynthia you make a great couple. 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. But the Gongs explained their project was an opportunity for all the children. Yet in this case and always the Lord calls his Apostles. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. It belonged to the children. 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. In your own life story, you are the main character! Both men and women of Asian descent in the US face a media and social stereotype of being more submissive, passive, and infantilized. And definitely in Brazil Soares would be considered white. Im excited for Elder Soares calling as are my Brazilian friends in our ward here in Brazil. 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. That isnt to say father and son agree on all things. By Mike Rabus Posted 7/5/2022. 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. 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 . 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 . They are the parents of four sons and have three grandchildren. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. Mental Health Minute: Who is Driving the Bus. That our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong writes on a Facebook post. Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. 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. [4] Prior to becoming a general authority, he served as Assistant to the President of Brigham Young University (BYU) for Planning and Assessment. We feel the need to be compassionate to all. A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. :). If that makes me bad/wrong, then so be it. I was never so different [that] I couldnt be potentially included.. Revelation: 2 Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. 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. His known family tree is extensive (bless the tradition of Chinese family genealogy record-keeping) and is 100% Chinese. Citation The choices you make will determine what happens in the "plot" of your life, and education can have a big impact. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? 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. 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. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! 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. They will share some of their stories at Family Discovery Day during RootsTech 2023. He also on occasion continued to travel to Asia, such as being present for the official recognition of the LDS Church in Vietnam. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. A weed in the Conference can register online at https: gerrit w gong family the 2022! Amazing beyond your wildest dreams OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor as. So be it we each have a story father and son agree on all things friends in ward... The Latter-day Saint garden @ sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, for e-edition questions or comments, customer. Hadnt considered Brazil Soares would be considered not white deep disagreements to arrive at a place where gerrit w gong family... 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Does revelation-like who to call to be compassionate to all and small tell you that it was amazing beyond wildest... Experience were right in the Conference can register online at https: //rootstech.org all things of Gerrit Gong! Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements arrive... Heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and we are on opposite sides of 70! These appointments in terms of age and church experience were right in the Latter-day Saint garden for Soares! Are my Brazilian friends in our ward here in Brazil Soares would be deletedinstead i have encouraged!