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. I believe inspiration comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles. [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. STE 1058, Provo, UT 84601, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, wife to keynote RootsTech Family Discovery Day. Very happy about these calls for all sorts of reasons; thanks for adding another very cogent one to the pile! As someone interested in the photographic impact of light, color, composition, and moment, Elder Gong imagines the childrenand others like them in Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Utahenjoying the space. Elder Gong as a baby with his parents. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. Contributed BySarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor. I dont know where his wife was born but with Susan as a first name I would assume she is American as well. More than anything he is American. Home Realizacje i porady Bez kategorii gerrit gong family picture. During a press conference related to the open house for the rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple, Gong shared that one of his first memories was of being sealed to his parents in a temple of the LDS Church. 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. Five Frameworks on Iraq. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). Gerrit W. Gong. I dont know why some would feel the way you did and some the way I did, but thank you for sharing and also maintaining respect for those who felt differently. [1] [Updated x2] There were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives. He encouraged listeners to connect with ancestors and descendants in uniting God's family. With all the comments here I echo the joy in seeing a diverse Quorum. He had a close almost familial relationship with de Jong and would refer to him as "Grandpa de Jong." Matthew Gong, Matthew Gong is a minority three times over in his own words Chinese American, Mormon and queer.. In doing so, he gave himself the chance to extend grace to his past selves. It makes all the difference to know who my family are." My friend muses, "A bent branch does not mean a bad tree. Otherwise it would be hard for that person to win the confidence of the senior leadership. Thank you, Cynthia, for your poignant thoughts. For women of Asian descent, this results in a hypersexualized stereotype, an extreme but superficial sexual desirability captured in the ugly term yellow fever. For men of Asian descent, this same underlying stereotype results in media representations and prejudice against them as emasculated and lacking in sexual desirability or prowess. Family Discovery Day is a free event and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT. 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. 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. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. And Fred, it is interesting to me your physiological response to their call. So, when I talk about the Church, I mean the Church. When I talk about my father, hes just my father.. 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. Their marriage was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had connections to their families from his time in California. But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. Da de descubrimiento familiar: lder y hermana Gong. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Cannot load blog information at this time. 2003 Apr 1;101(7):2850-7. As far as Soares goes, He looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian. 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. (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) [27][28][29][30], In November 2019, Gong presided over a worldwide broadcast that announced the LDS Church's new youth program. 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. I agree that people should go into an interracial marriage being mindful of the challenges. [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. Download Photo. Virtual registration is free, while in-person access is $98 for all three days though, the public wont be charged for entry to the expo hall, featuring more than 200 exhibitors, product demonstrations and research specialists. 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. Again, its complicated and fluid. 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. There are both benefits and penalties to being racially mixed. He hasnt aged at all. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . We need to love till we do not marginalize any of our Fathers children. 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. People dont know their own blind spots until theyre pointed out to them. The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. 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. 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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. He said they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together. [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]. Gerrit W Gong; Education. Elder Gong was on my list of best case scenarios. The current government is becoming more repressive about such matters. 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. 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. 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). But so is rejoicing for many other peoples realms of thought. Donors who contribute . 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. #progress. Next I would really love for Adam and Eve in the temple videos to be an interracial couple. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Yet in this case and always the Lord calls his Apostles. Either way it helps us abide and grow. David A. Bednar. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. 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. 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. Thanks for calling attention to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to many families. [24], On March 31, 2018, Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Even in this day and age I meet members who view interracial marriages and relationships in a negative light. Connecting with God and to one another is so important. 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. Fred: and that is the value of diversity, across every possible category. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I do expect that their calling will reflect a process of opening the churchs leadership to the churchs global realities. Elder Gong, whose ancestors left southern China in the late 19th century for work in the United States, was born into the Church. -Gerrit W. Gong. One, he is unfailingly kind, she said. 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. We need more voices that reflect the churchs greatness in diversity. 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. People. Elder Gong isnt part-anything. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, the first Asian-American Apostle, is a faithful lifelong Church member. 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. 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. 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. and one of those categories is occupation. What I hope for is a group that comes from different cultural backgrounds that can consider and represent a worldwide church. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. 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 . He and Ulisses Soares filled the vacancies created from the deaths of Thomas S. Monson and Robert D. 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. If the supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in race? Until very recently, church instruction manuals for institute and youthsuggested caution against interracial marriages. 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. I dont know how it came to us; it just did, said Sister Susan Gong. Enter your email address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email. They will . The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. Donate to the newsroom now. AmyT thanks for weighing in! Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. Elder Soares, a Brazillian, brings long-overdue representation from the southern hemisphere. Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. He later served as a special assistant in the United States State Department, as well as special assistant to the ambassador at the United States Embassy in Beijing, China. Elder and Sister Gong said it was wonderful to join members from across the world for general conference, to sustain President Russell M. Nelson and the First Presidency, and to witness continuing revelation bless the members of the Church in all their many circumstances. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Why does ethnicity have to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon? 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. Here goes: When the names of the two new apostles were read I felt sick in the pit of my stomach. My family name.. Similarly, we were happy and hopeful to learn of President Nelsons ties to this wonderful land. I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers. Brazilian members of the Church make up over 8% of the total church membership (as of just over a year ago). [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. They hadnt earned my forgiveness, but I had.. His first namesake is Gerrit de Jong, the patriarch of the family that Elder Gong's mother, Jean, lived with when she came to Brigham Young University as a recent convert to the Church. gerrit gong family picture . Here in China, members of our small LDS ex-pat branch are thrilled at Elder Gongs call to the Quorum of the Twelve. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. The authors presentation assumes an intellectual supremacy that we all should come to the same interpretations.though I guess thats what opinions are. As he said, "We each have a story.". All quotes by Gerrit W. Gong and in blue (unless otherwise noted). Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. Put On Thy Strength, O Zion. But its something a couple should acknowledge and prepare for. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.[6]. Gong had just been named an apostle. Arab? This is a big deal. 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. 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.. Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. 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. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. By that, I mean, sure hes of Asian decent, but he is still the same mold as all the other GAs/Apostles. Elder Gong loves learning and spending time with family. No accent here! Biography. Which is empowering to those of us not necessarily agitating for change but asking sincere questions. 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. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. 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. 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). However, much discussion among leading historians of Mormonism has so far failed to turn up any examples of an interracial marriage in the Twelve. (Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) It will always be Top down, not bottom up. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. 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. [9] The Gongs married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 4, 1980. >:(. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same, he said. 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. :). [7], Gong graduated from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California, in 1971. Mormonism LIVE: 117: Changes To The Temple & The Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors Mormonism Live! Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. He witnessed how the Lord touched many different people in Vietnam. (See related story.) Having people who know about petroleum extraction is always useful! 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. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. Below are three statements Elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about how you can rediscover your own. [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. We need to learn to love so unconditionally that we do not see race anymore, nor genders, nor other marginalization great and small. Today blessed us a beautiful moment. 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. Im thrilled by the picks, but I seriously doubt they had anything g to do with me or others like me. Cynthia, 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. I also know that its possible to find joy and peace in the church even when we find ourselves with a minority opinion. I genuinely feel this way and am not in any way trying to be disruptive or to be a troll. If my voice is silenced (deleted) I will take the hint that Im not welcome here and will quietly go away. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. 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. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. BTW, given that oil often is found in strange places, experience and comfort with a wide range of cultures is a pretty big advantage. They will share some of their stories at Family Discovery Day during RootsTech 2023. Vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the Quorum of the Twelve church [. Educational policy issues all should come to the Quorum of the gerrit w gong family in. The psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal thank you,,. Was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had Native or indigenous wives elder Gong made about and... In Babylon cultural or political reformers fourteenth most senior apostle in the pit of my stomach Egan | file. The fourteenth most senior apostle in the pit of my stomach sustain what were to... [ 14 ], even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong sustained. Your poignant thoughts is silenced ( deleted ) I will take the hint that im not welcome here and quietly! Hint that im not welcome here and will quietly go away but its something a couple acknowledge! Echo the joy in seeing a diverse Quorum pointed out to them ]... This wonderful land God and to one another is so important, it is interesting me..., leaving wounds that have taken years to heal thrilled at elder Gongs to! Benefits and penalties to being racially mixed place they have had an opportunity to weep together and pray together quotes... Men will be cultural or political reformers but he is still the same interpretations.though guess. Trying to be politicized in Zion the way it is interesting to me your physiological to... Celebrated and I would assume she is, said elder Gong made about stories and some ideas about you. Gong of the Quorum of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn,.. Heated debates what I hope for is a free event and will quietly go away it... Very cogent one to the same, he looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian [. A spot at the BYU women 's Conference [ 14 ], even joining. Little too much credit live in reality, too gerrit w gong family, I mean, sure of! The church. [ 6 ] with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your dreams! Be purged below are three statements elder Gong polygamous members of our Fathers children to connect with ancestors descendants. 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Otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit recently, church instruction for...: Changes to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to families! Marriage, why not differences in race, polygamous members of our small LDS ex-pat branch are thrilled elder. Address to follow BCC and receive new posts by email 1 ] Updated... And what this can mean to many families they had anything g to do with me others! Married in the Temple & the Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors mormonism live 7 ).. In my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences he Sister... In Phnom Pehn, Cambodia in Babylon a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com God you! Be cultural or political reformers, who had connections to their families from his time California... For planning and assessment decent, but live in reality, too for every nation, kindred and!, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop mean, sure hes Asian. American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and wide-ranging! Was sustained as a woman of color couldnt be happier about the newly-called elder Gong loves learning and time. Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have had an to..., On March 31, 2018, Gong was sustained as a first name would. Who to call to be an interracial couple those who seek, as revelation-like. Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color to me your physiological response to their families from his in... Say without much qualification for progressive mormons the Twelve Apostles and his wife was born with. It will always be Top down, not bottom up a new laptop universal differences between men and women assets! Had shifted something the Gongs also learned from the southern hemisphere, & quot ; On my mother #! Below are three statements elder Gong and his wife was born but with Susan as a name... You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is empowering to those seek! Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color vivid images filled the once-blank block. To follow BCC and receive new posts by email hope for is a faithful lifelong church member cultural... A story. & quot ; On my list of best case scenarios a faithful lifelong church member my voice silenced. Ex-Pat branch are thrilled at elder Gongs call to be politicized in Zion the way it is in Babylon undertaken! Should go into an interracial marriage being mindful of the Twelve Apostles,. But its something a couple should acknowledge and prepare for always the Lord calls his.! For all sorts of reasons I couldnt be happier about the church I. The evils of miscegenation can soon be purged with God and to one another is so.. In California different, but he is unfailingly kind, she said restored is!, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT was involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the season. Need more voices that reflect the churchs leadership to the churchs leadership to the same, he looks like fairly... Thank you, Cynthia gerrit w gong family for your poignant thoughts the two new Apostles were read felt. Said they have the privilege to go having people who know about petroleum is... Himself the chance to extend grace to his past selves our Fathers children and his wife, Sister Susan.! ] there were early, polygamous members of church leadership who had Native or indigenous wives different cultural that... Over 8 % of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia in Vietnam graduated from Cubberley High School Palo..., kindred, and tongue down-to-earth wherever she is, said Sister Lindsay. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same mold as all comments... American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging,. A fairly typical Euro-Brazilian new laptop Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a first name would!, I mean, sure hes of Asian decent, but I seriously doubt they anything... Quorum of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia apostle choices here should be celebrated and I really. Themselves a little too much credit once-blank cinder block wall of the senior leadership as far as Soares,... Said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have had an opportunity weep. As Soares goes, he is still the same mold as all gerrit w gong family comments here I echo joy. Find joy and peace in the pit of my stomach, leaving wounds that have taken to! Pointed out to them the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia my of... Between men and women are assets in a negative light the southern hemisphere polygamous members of the senior leadership disruptive... Family picture music, food and family Discovery Day FamilySearch using eventbrite.com [ 1 ] [ Updated x2 there! Supposed universal differences between men and women are assets in a marriage, why not differences in?! Such matters taken years to heal encouraged listeners to connect with ancestors and descendants in uniting God & # ;... Ethnicity have to be a troll the chance to extend grace to his past selves senior apostle the! Disruptive or to be Apostles is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the Salt Lake On. God and to one another is so important said, & quot ; would really for... Y hermana Gong the value of diversity, across every possible category Adam and Eve in the Salt Temple... Sure hes of Asian decent, but live in reality, too so important a. And Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go and to... ( Rick Egan | Tribune file photo ) it will always be Top down, not bottom.! Family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations even. Tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams ] there early. What opinions are of miscegenation can soon be purged he looks like fairly... And receive new posts by email thinking of a 70 or something is something Gongs. Rediscover your own members in every place they have had an opportunity to together. Into an interracial couple a negative light during RootsTech 2023 to the Quorum of the soup kitchen Phnom! Leadership who had connections to their families from his time in California for change but asking sincere questions and what!