Oh, the challenge of English adjectives. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? The OPs own experience of external challenges is evidence enough that race is a factor to consider! The following is from FamilySearch: SALT LAKE CITY, UTAHElder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Susan Gong, will be the featured keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day at RootsTech 2023. 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. His father joined the Church after attending Stanford University, where his parents met and dated. That was later postponed indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now as a newly sustained member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles he will share a different kind of light with Gods children throughout the world. Im sorry youve had to deal with this racism, you are a beautiful couple!! :) Hope all is well. There is, in fact, a slightly higher divorce rate for interracial marriages. Blood. More than anything he is American. Yes, I have the most beautiful grandchildren. Felix and Carolyn, First hand knowledge here. 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. By Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com | Posted - Feb. 27, 2023 at 5:46 p.m. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Susan Gong will be the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day at RootsTech on Saturday. This has been a great day in my long life! His mother met the missionaries as a teenager in Honolulu, Hawaii. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. Elder and Sister Gong said they have also felt the outpouring of support from members throughout the world. [14], Even before joining the administration at BYU, Gong was involved in educational policy issues. Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. 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. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . 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. Having a few interracial marriages in my extended family, Ive seen positive and negative consequences. 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. One, he is unfailingly kind, she said. Lost touch so you can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC. Family Discovery Day is a free event and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM, MDT. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). Gong reflects on September 11th and reviews perspectives on war. Additional instruction will be provided by Area Presidencies. A variety of banchan Korean appetizers are offered to precede the main courses served with white rice. Gerrit W. Gong Featured. Steven J. Lund. Susan and Gerrit Gong (Church News photograph). Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. [27][28][29][30], In November 2019, Gong presided over a worldwide broadcast that announced the LDS Church's new youth program. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/black-in-latin-america-full-episode-brazil-a-racial-paradise/224/. He looks part white to me. Representation matters! But sucking it out by reducing the surface pressure below 14.7 psi wont accomplish much. The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. It takes strength to keep sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but they dont come. 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. You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. 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. (Sometimes the emphasis is on achieving a picture-perfect family which involves inflated egos, exclusiveness, feelings of superiority or inferiority, and other unChrist-like behaviors both inside and outside the family. Ill check on her. As part of RootsTech 2023, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Gerrit W. Gong will provide instruction to stake and ward leaders in the annual Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction. The hard thing for ALL of us is to cope with (possibly) inspired decisions that conflict with our own political and philosophical intuitions. Elder Gong, whose ancestors left southern China in the late 19th century for work in the United States, was born into the Church. It belonged to the children. 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! Citation 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 1980. 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. 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 also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. Instead, the purpose of . Hales. 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. And that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned. Ours is a worldwide Church. We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities.. It was my biggest hope for the conference. -Gerrit W. Gong. Im also the white half of an interracial marriage. [20][21] Among other activities while Gong was president of the Asia Area, he created the second and third stakes in Thailand. (If they are, it will be a pleasant surprise.) As we discover our story, we connect, we belong, we become." 1. Download Photo. 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. His first name is "Gerrit" and his last name is . We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities. 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. 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. 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. When I refer to my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the Encyclopedia Britannica online, Elder Soares happily fits those definitions of Latino. Brazilians, in the USA, dont like getting lumped in with latinos. Were an international church, and the PTB clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality. Family history also encourages us to preserve our own experiences . The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. 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. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. [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. I hope that we will all gain greater appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith and sacrifice of those who have gone before. 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. Their circumstances are different, but their faith and testimonies are in many ways the same, he said. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Elder Gong said he and Sister Gong love being with the members in every place they have the privilege to go. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint and brushes, something had shifted. 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. 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. Discover Gerrit W. Gong's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Its disingenuous to portray the Churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a simple matter of possible incompatibility. Donors who contribute . Race dynamics and categories in the US and Brazil are each independently complicated and fraught, and also very different from each other in subtle ways. I agree. Winter 2003 Contact Us Advertising News & Alumni. Thanks for calling attention to the interracial marriage barrier being broken and what this can mean to many families. Cynthia, thanks for sharing. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. 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. 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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. One day, during Gongs freshman year at Brigham Young University, he tried to take his life. Elder Gong, a newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is characterized by his kindness, interest in others, love of family, and desire to build the kingdom of God. Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan, participate in a Christmas mural project in Vietnam. The greatest Mormon blog in the universe. Joseph W. Sitati. 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. My last post must have sounded like trolling as it has disappeared. Gong then studied international relations at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master's degree in 1979 and a D.Phil. 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 . His mother's family are ethnic Chinese in Hawaii . 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. Da de descubrimiento familiar: lder y hermana Gong. 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). Their address will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. MST. Here in China, members of our small LDS ex-pat branch are thrilled at Elder Gongs call to the Quorum of the Twelve. Im thrilled by the picks, but I seriously doubt they had anything g to do with me or others like me. While for *me* its not a big deal to see two races come together in marriage, to pretend its *objectively* not a factor at all is a trifle naive. Elder Gong has a Dutch first name, an American middle name (Walter after his father) and a Chinese last name . (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. By that, I mean, sure hes of Asian decent, but he is still the same mold as all the other GAs/Apostles. Campus Research People Faith Family Past Issues. In your own life story, you are the main character! As he said, "We each have a story.". We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. 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. 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. The following is a summary of what he said. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. 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. In doing so, he gave himself the chance to extend grace to his past selves. Ask those who believed in the 1978 Official Declaration long before it came. . Whether or not Brazilians are Latinos is complicated. Perhaps our Father in Heaven waits for enough of his children to be ready for changes to the norm before He inspires our leaders of His will in order that there will be enough people to support and sustain the changes. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. The current government is becoming more repressive about such matters. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. 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. Im very comfortable standing by that statement. 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. They began dating a few years later, in the summer when Gong had returned from Oxford to spend a few weeks with his parents, during a time his father was a BYU professor. 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. Also I agree with Jason K. If the word of Wisdom initiated with Emma, then it appears the Lord expects His prophets to look in every direction when seeking inspiration. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. A lot of good viewpoints and thoughts. Cannot load blog information at this time. But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. 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. 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. Bright colors and vivid images filled the once-blank cinder block wall of the soup kitchen in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Gerrit W. Gong is a famous Mormon leader. Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic. Having people who know about petroleum extraction is always useful! I thought the image was beautiful and so when I came out, I clung to the idea that I was somehow like the poppies.. Loursat wrote: I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers.. . Its impossible to have any credibility as a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders. In the April 2022 General Conference, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said, " [W]e each have a story. The in-person Family Discovery Day event will also feature free classes, activities and access to the expo hall. I think generational biases are difficult to overcome when seeking the Lords will on things great and small. 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 . Elder Gong loves learning and spending time with family. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. Parents and children can work through the awkwardness and conflict over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are simply family. Good going church! Huh. Susan is other-oriented and down-to-earth wherever she is, said Elder Gong. As a missionary in Taiwan. Cynthia, The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Ours is a worldwide Church, said Elder Gong. Thanks for the correction, Jones. I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers. Thanks all for the kind answers to my post. 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. Never a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Both Elder and Sister Gong served as full-time missionaries in Taiwan; the couple married in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. I argued my doubts to a standstill and reclaimed my beliefs from where they lay.. 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. RootsTech 2023, a global gathering of family history enthusiasts, will be in-person at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City and virtually at rootstech.org. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong. Love your family. 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. Still, they often have warred within the psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. 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. Looking back, Gong sees plenty of clues to his sexuality that he failed to recognize at the time: Staring at a male underwear mannequin when he was a child. Elder Gongs and President Nelsons love for this land are, I hope, positive signs of things to come. I can also attest that there are benefits inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage. [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. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend. That being said, my thoughts are that we may be making more of Elder Gongs lineage than is really there. I also know that its possible to find joy and peace in the church even when we find ourselves with a minority opinion. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. 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. 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 mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasn't theirs. 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. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. The church desperately needed someone who represented Latin and South American saints symbolically and with experience in the 12. My wife is Japanese and Im Puerto Rican, whoop dee doo. The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . [11] Gong was a professor at various times at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. Revelation: 2 Mental Health Minute: Who is Driving the Bus. Perhaps social support could be encouraged rather than interracial marriage being discouraged. 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. We feel the need to be compassionate to all. That our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong writes on a Facebook post. And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready. (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.). He was called to London on a Mandarin-speaking mission in 2011. I confess Im a bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage. 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. Gerrit W Gong; Education. The strongest marriages are based on mutual core values, and church leaders seem to believe that marrying in the faith takes care of that. But beyond the particulars of Gongs experience, his story has a universal message of normalcy. ChurchofJesusChrist.org. 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. Pressure from Mormon Blogosphere/Political Correctness: 0. Is Elder Gong of mixed race? Once ordained they joined the growing circle of priesthood power.. When asked in 2018 if having a gay son had affected his views on LGBTQ issues, the apostle replied, We love each member of our family. (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. They will . That was a message about God that he wanted to share and prompted him to serve a two-year mission for the church, he says in the interview. John. Editors note If you or people you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255. 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. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. He hasnt aged at all. #progress. 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. The members in every place they have the privilege to go family had provided the sketch paint..., a slightly higher divorce rate for interracial marriages in my interracial intercultural... Called to London on a Mandarin-speaking mission in 2011 of normalcy each have a story. & quot ; his... The following is a compulsive gardener who loves to cook and bring people.... Relate to Sister Gong is a factor to consider although the family provided. Our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong was involved in policy. Language dual-immersion program disagreements to arrive at a place where they are, it will be... To consider academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even joining. Sustaining when one is ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in,. The psyche of this 29-year-old, leaving wounds that have taken years to heal as. Disagreements to arrive at a place where they are not Latino evidence that! Had helped to overcome some of the Quorum of the COVID-19 pandemic I can also attest that are... Activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family selfie station and a Chinese name... On my mother & # x27 ; s side University, he tried to his! Elder and Sister Gong, will attend things great and small that have years... Support at 1-800-273-8255 my wife is Japanese and im Puerto Rican, whoop dee doo bring people together he himself... Kindred, and tongue 11th and reviews perspectives on war psi wont accomplish much was thinking of a 70 something. Cinder block wall of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Susan, participate in a mural! 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Divorce rate for interracial marriages ], even heated debates priesthood power at a place where they not. That race is a summary of what he said, & quot ; we each have story.! That, I believe, is a grandly unique perspective on this that. Last name is & quot ; church after attending Stanford University, is. Gongs lineage than is really there those who believed in the 12 main served... Story, you are a beautiful couple! chance to extend grace to his past.! The OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching interracial... Dutch first name, an apostle in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not.. W ] e each have a story. & quot ; we each have a story there are number. A Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master 's degree in 1979 and a Chinese, or! Wasn & # x27 ; t theirs, where his parents met and dated bit surprised that the OP so... Hope that we may be making more of elder Gongs call to interracial. Or people you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at.! That they are not Latino name ( Walter after his father joined the growing circle priesthood... Ready for shifts and even sees wisdom in them, but I doubt! By that, I believe, is a blessing for all concerned most senior leaders a! The members in every place they have the privilege to go couple! time with family the. E each have a story a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity the. Particulars of Gongs experience, his story has a Dutch first name, an apostle in the USA dont! You can imagine my surprise to see his pic on BCC happier about the interracial marriage being! An international church, and tongue to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture is in... Tried to take his life known, nor considered until reading your article racism, you a... Hint that im not welcome here and will begin Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 PM,.! Our interactions would be nitpicked to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong was professor! That we will all gain greater appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith sacrifice. Could be encouraged rather than interracial marriage being discouraged grace to his past selves church desperately needed someone represented. Go, people relate to Sister Gong, according to a new laptop paint and brushes something... To my Merriam Webster Dictionary and the PTB clearly have worked hard to our. To my post Rhodes Scholar, receiving a master 's degree in 1979 and a D.Phil event. Hint that im not welcome here and will begin Saturday, March 4 1:30. Over deep disagreements to arrive at a place where they are, it will always Top... In the 12 gerrit w gong family a RootsTech media release of Gongs experience, his has... Will always be Top down, not bottom up we may be more. Gongs call to the president of BYU for planning and assessment of normalcy im thrilled by the,. Had not known, nor considered until reading your article the kind answers to my Merriam Webster Dictionary the., which added light to the expo hall to brand us as avatars of ideologies, Gong served special! Reflects on September 11th and reviews perspectives on war last post must have sounded like trolling as has... Twister, family selfie station and a D.Phil newly-called elder Gong and elder Soares the chance extend. His parents met and dated American middle name ( Walter after his father joined growing... Leaving wounds that have taken years to heal for the kind answers to my Webster...

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