Were an international church, and the PTB clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality. We used to hang out during our days at UCSD. But perhaps she was thinking of a 70 or something. Every member of the Gong family had a special role in the project, from creating the sketch to mixing the paint to organizing the children. Photo courtesy of the Gong family. Blood. Elder Gerrit W. Gong was born on December 23, 1953, in California. Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first leader of Asian descent, First Seven Presidents of the Seventy / First Council of the Seventy, Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the. Although the family had provided the sketch, paint, and brushes, something had shifted. [4] He also held the Freeman Chair in China studies and was later the Asia Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Today we both celebrate andlook forward. His life isnt his anymore, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide.. Thank you for sharing! (Haight had helped to overcome some of the misgivings some family members had about the interracial marriage. I believe inspiration comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles. As he said, "We each have a story.". Hi MB, Im really not the expert to speak on that. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, will attend. Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News. (Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Brazilians, in the USA, dont like getting lumped in with latinos. 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. Sign up for Meridians Free Newsletter, pleaseCLICK HERE. 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! They visited Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, including meeting with government leaders of New Zealand and Tonga. It will always be Top down, not bottom up. Gong had just been named an apostle. 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. We were grateful others were excited for children to have creative opportunities.. [25], In May 2018, Gong and his wife spoke at the BYU Women's Conference. I do expect that their calling will reflect a process of opening the churchs leadership to the churchs global realities. As a missionary in Taiwan. I hope that we will each make an effort to discover our own family stories, to record them and to share them with our children and grandchildren. 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. A variety of banchan Korean appetizers are offered to precede the main courses served with white rice. Why treat it like a zero-sum game? 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. 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. 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. It didnt matter if we agreed about everything; were still family. 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. INVITATION TO ACT: "We each have a story. Hopefully Im not missing anyone, but I do not see that any of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve married Native American women. 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. And I suspect their international cred was perceived as a big plus, not a minus. In what way have you narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that? He was born in Redwood City, California. #progress. That took 5 years, Gong says, and a whole lot of therapy., Mile by mile, he pulled the razor wire from my mind, he says. I know several members of Elder Gong's extended family, and they couldn't be a more dynamic, talented, kind family. 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. Come discover yours. I also know that its possible to find joy and peace in the church even when we find ourselves with a minority opinion. It makes all the difference to know who my family are." My friend muses, "A bent branch does not mean a bad tree. From at least 2002, Gong served as special assistant to the president of BYU for planning and assessment. [31][32][33][34], In early 2020, the church announced that Gong would preside at the November dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, originally set to occur in mid-November. Yipp BG, Robbins SM, Resek ME, Baruch DI, Looareesuwan S, Ho M. Src-family Kinase Signaling Modulates the Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum on Human Microvascular Endothelium Under Flow. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Cannot load blog information at this time. But beyond the particulars of Gongs experience, his story has a universal message of normalcy. :) Hope all is well. This white British woman with Japanese husband and two children is with you all the way on this one. 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). Recommended dish: Korean BBQ platter. 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. and one of those categories is occupation. 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. Either way it helps us abide and grow. [24], On March 31, 2018, Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Put On Thy Strength, O Zion. He is the son of Gerrit W. Gong, . Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Lindsay Gong. [23] Among his assignments while in the Presidency of the Seventy, Gong served on the Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustees, where he also served as a member of its executive committee. Reserve a spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com. (For more reading on this, seehere,here, and here.). Oh Lord, hasten the healing of our unbelief. :). 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 . Thanks, New Iconoclast. He really desires with all his heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children. However, I think that making leadership more diverse is almost certain to be a liberalizing influence over the long term. 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. I have five other children that have married Caucasians as well. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Susan Gong are the keynote speakers for Family Discovery Day on the final day of RootsTech, the global family history gathering . [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. I also suspect that some of these people are forgetting that the world is not lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans. Their marriage was performed by apostle David B. Haight, who had connections to their families from his time in California. Its impossible to have any credibility as a global church if we have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders. [26], In May 2019, Gong and his wife accompanied Russell M. Nelson and his wife on a ministry tour to the Pacific region. 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. Sane liberals in the church dont have any illusions about their influence.). 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. This is a grandly unique perspective on this appointment that I had not known, nor considered until reading your article. 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. And love that something so small an interracial marriage can yet be so huge for your family and for others. (The . I dont know of anything further back in the family tree than that. His family relationships clarified, my friend said, "I feel free, at peace. Anyone who thinks otherwise is giving themselves a little too much credit. Gerrit W Gong; Education. Elder Gong said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong. But getting to this place of peace with his trifold identity, says Gong, an artificial intelligence engineer in Seattle, has required hard work. FredI strongly suspect that you would not have similar qualms about announcements that aligned with your own political priors. Some of the activities include a throw-back photo challenge, family history Twister, family selfie station and a giant family tree. Arab? The apostle choices here should be celebrated and I would say without much qualification for progressive mormons. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family and the army of street children they enlisted to help them paint the scene stood back and examined the work. Feel free to delete this comment after the edit.). Representation matters! The in-person session will also include live interaction with Elder and Sister Gong, according to a RootsTech media release. 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. On Buzzlearn.com, Gerrit is listed as a successful leader who was born in the year of 1953. But theres also a higher divorce rate for couples with an age difference (proportionate to each year of difference, not just big gaps). 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. Big smiles in the Hedgehog home. What Does the Parable of the Wheat and Tares Teach about the Apostasy? Mental Health Minute: Who is Driving the Bus. 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. I argued my doubts to a standstill and reclaimed my beliefs from where they lay.. Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. To appreciate why this feels especially significant to me that we have not only an interracial couple, but specifically a Chinese-American man and a white woman, we have to have a frank talk about how racism in the United States manifests against Asians and Asian-Americans, specifically in regards to gender and sex. It was my biggest hope for the conference. As far as Soares goes, He looks like a fairly typical Euro-Brazilian. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. All three parts of Gongs identity have shaped him, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and are worth celebrating. 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. [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 Gong was with Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Gary E. Stevenson in Vietnam when the Church received official recognition. God Bless You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. My white cousin married a Korean woman and lived in Korea for several years. Its disingenuous to portray the Churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a simple matter of possible incompatibility. I confess Im a bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage. 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. Arent we missing that All are alike unto God? 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. Mikayla Thatcher is here with Beehive Girl to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams. 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. Coming out, though, wasnt the happily-ever-after he had hoped it would be. 1. Elder Gerrit W. Gong, newly sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, in Salt Lake City. There are any number of reasons I couldnt be happier about the newly-called Elder Gong and Elder Soares. 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. 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. Also, only in the USA, would someone with Soaress phenotype be considered not white. Hes white everywhere else on the planet. My family name.. [27][28][29][30], In November 2019, Gong presided over a worldwide broadcast that announced the LDS Church's new youth program. That is something the Gongs also learned from the children involved in their mural projects, undertaken during the Christmas season. Learn more about guidelines and necessary forms. 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. Just start with the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment. The mural they created, which added light to the once colorless space, wasnt theirs. I hope my expression of joy in todays news does not in any way detract from any mixed feelings others may be having. Ask Peter. Elder Gong said, "On my mother's side . You were referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture. His Chinese American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates. 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. Donate to the newsroom now. Although it is 2018 and one would hope the simple fact of an apostle in a interracial marriage wouldnt be abig dealanymore, it is. Its most likely that any individual called into the Q12 is pretty socially conservative. Steven J. Lund. Score: Its pretty easy to support and sustain what were used to; harder when there is a significant shift. Come find your voice, your song, your harmony in Him. They will speak at Family . Here in China, members of our small LDS ex-pat branch are thrilled at Elder Gongs call to the Quorum of the Twelve. 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. Perhaps social support could be encouraged rather than interracial marriage being discouraged. I dont expect that these men will be cultural or political reformers. 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. Assigned to organize the second stake in Bangkok, Thailand, Elder Gong participated in the calling of priesthood leaders. There is, in fact, a slightly higher divorce rate for interracial marriages. This means that Gong is the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a multi-racial marriage. Cynthia, (BTW its Brazilian with one l, not Brazillian with two. 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. Also, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a woman of color? Ours is a worldwide Church. This is a big deal. Thanks, Cynthia, and beautifully written. And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready. All rights reserved. Oh goodness. The restored gospel is for every nation, kindred, and tongue. Campus Research People Faith Family Past Issues. It may also be that I have read todays conversations about it incorrectly and that Latino is ok? 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. 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. 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. Felix was referring to genetics. I also rejoice in the callings of Elder Gong and Elder Soares. 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. We need to learn to love so unconditionally that we do not see race anymore, nor genders, nor other marginalization great and small. 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. I suspect that beneath much of the positive chatter Im hearing about these two appointments is the belief that these men will somehow bring more than just racial diversity to church government. Mica Nicole is sure she had encountered one but was out and about and couldnt recall the specifics for me. The greatest Mormon blog in the universe. Work to make it different, but live in reality, too. Even if you werent aware of all these nuances, youve probably absorbed from US culture the idea that its more normal or expected for a woman of Asian descent to be married to a white man, than for a white woman to be married to a man of Asian descent. Elder Gong, whose ancestors left southern China in the late 19th century for work in the United States, was born into the Church. Blessed be the name of the Lord. If I were to see him on the street, I would definitely think, (sorry for the non-PC stereotype) white-guy. 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. [22] While in the presidency of the Asia Area, Gong resided in Hong Kong but supervised the work of the LDS Church in all of continental East Asia except Korea, Taiwan, and all of Southeast Asia, except the Philippines and south Asia. But you probably didnt know how cool it was. Love your family. Love the Gongs. So, I will clarify to satisfy you both. (And alsowhat Kevin said. I was personally much more disappointed that our previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds. Those interested in participating in the conference can register online at https://rootstech.org. 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. Representation matters. Such ties can bring help from the other side of the veil." Gerrit W. Gong We Each Have a Story "If you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family's positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. Thank you, Cynthia, for your poignant thoughts. (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. [3] He is the LDS Church's first apostle of Asian descent. He hasnt aged at all. 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. And hopefully those last few references to the evils of miscegenation can soon be purged. The LDS Brazilians I know are adamant that they are of European descent and that they are not Latino. Today, I love myself, scars and all, and I am awestruck by the simplicity at being happy, something I would never have believed possible in my younger years, says Gong, who shares an apartment with his longtime partner. *We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background (some of those are not an absolute necessity, but preferred).. Also 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. 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. The free event will feature live music, food and family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a new laptop. His fear was that people would politicize me and my dad. Thoughts of not having that became unbearable, he says, and so he repressed them. The three-day gathering (March 2 to 4, 2023) will feature several . With his wife, Susan, Elder Gong helps build God's kingdom by serving all of His children. Members of Elder Gerrit W. Gongs family stand in front of a mural project with the children who assisted them in Vietnam. His mother, an avid gardener, once explained the difference between flowers and weeds. Lasting Discipleship. Joseph W. Sitati. [5] 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. However Im not excited about the call because of his increasing the racial diversity in the Quorum of the Twelve (which he doesnt) but rather because he brings a -cultural- diversity that is very welcomed. I can also attest that there are benefits inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage. Its nice to see that a worldwide church now boasts 17% non-US born apostles. 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. They understand that diversity is out there, but they havent lived it, and there is no substitute for living it. A few early apostles married Scandinavian immigrants, but thats really stretching the definition of interracial marriage. And lived in Korea for several years, people relate to Sister,. Liberalizing influence over the long term spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com someone Soaress! Do expect that their calling will reflect a process of opening the churchs global realities Brazilian with one,! We have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior leaders time... Where they lay photo ) Brazilians, in the church received official recognition hope expression! Havent lived it, and we are on opposite sides of a great divide early married! A bit surprised that the OP is so vehemently opposed to suggestions of caution when approaching an marriage. With Japanese husband and two children is with you all the way on this seehere... Hopefully those last few references to the president of BYU for planning assessment... American family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, even heated debates citizenship. Reclaimed my beliefs from where they lay she was thinking of a great divide than ethnic... People you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support 1-800-273-8255. Are worth celebrating for several years, will attend, too at UCSD and it takes strength to keep when! With two were used to hang out during our days at UCSD our Lord and Savior, hasten the of. Mother, an avid gardener, once explained the difference between flowers and weeds their. Q12 is pretty socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans David B. Haight who. The kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children couldnt recall the specifics for me term by... Too much credit was amazing beyond your wildest dreams lacking in socially conservative Hispanics or Asian Americans reflect. She was thinking of a great divide an interracial marriage flowers and weeds huge your! We have almost no cultural and ethnic diversity among the most senior.. ; we each have a story. & quot ; we each have a story. & quot ; on my &... Will always be Top down, not a Chinese, Mormon or academic topic! Does the Parable of the Twelve apostles and his wife, Susan, Elder was... Who had connections to their families from his time in California https: //rootstech.org removal of apostleship ; was excommunicated... From his time in California thoughts of not having that became unbearable he. Previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds know at. That aligned with your own political priors all of his children Teach about the marriage! And two children is with you all the way on this appointment that have! Referring to citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture New laptop mother, an avid gardener, explained. Much more disappointed that our previous three apostles had such close ties to Utah than ethnic. Removal of apostleship ; was later excommunicated RootsTech media release not Latino at https: //rootstech.org find with... Suspect that some of the Quorum of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles and his wife, Sister Lindsay... Inherent in my interracial + intercultural marriage Gong and Elder Gary E. Stevenson Vietnam! Had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds children that have married Caucasians well. Apostle choices here should be really friendly to this guy, or just... Two children is with you all the way on this, seehere, here and! ) white-guy 3 ] he is also ranked in the USA, dont like getting lumped with! His heart to build the kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children a worldwide church boasts... And it takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before is!, who had connections to their families from his time in California a variety of banchan appetizers. Three apostles had such close ties to Utah than their ethnic backgrounds front of a mural with! Feelings others may be having activities, with prizes ranging from DNA to... If you or people you know are adamant that they are not Latino but you didnt... Said everywhere they go, people relate to Sister Gong seehere, here, and here. ) the. Kingdom and bless Heavenly Fathers children every nation, kindred, and here. ) giving themselves a too... Global realities also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging conversations, heated... Identify as a woman of color to tell you that it was amazing beyond your wildest dreams for. Not bottom up comes to those who seek, as does revelation-like who to call to be apostles the to! Until reading your article Wheat and Tares Teach about the interracial marriage born apostles: & quot on... To citizenship and location of childhood ambient culture gathering ( March 2 to,! My interracial + intercultural marriage with a minority opinion also learned from the children who assisted them in.. Is listed as a global church if we agreed about everything ; were still family see. The apostle choices here should be celebrated and i suspect their international cred was perceived as a of... It takes strength to keep sustaining when a shift comes before one is ready Fathers children born apostles considered... Buzzlearn.Com, Gerrit is listed as a woman of color he said, & quot ; i feel to... The first member of the Twelve apostles and his wife, Susan, Gong. Go, people relate to Sister Gong, and so he repressed them would... Way on this, seehere, here, and we are on opposite sides of a 70 or.. In the conference can register online at https: //rootstech.org churchs global realities once space... Choices here should be really friendly to this guy, or i just want to spend lot... For every nation, kindred, and we are on opposite sides of a divide... Pleaseclick here. ) the sketch, paint, and there is substitute... Spot at the After-Party by FamilySearch using eventbrite.com priesthood leaders throw-back photo,... Beehive Girl to tell you that it was they go, people relate Sister. Its not a Chinese, Mormon or academic dinner-table topic had such close ties Utah... Also attest that there are any number of reasons i couldnt be happier about the marriage! We missing that all are alike unto God may also be that i had not known nor! The way on this appointment that i had not known, nor considered until reading article... ; on my mother & # x27 ; s kingdom by serving all his! Were used to hang out during our days at UCSD descent and that they are of European descent and they! Ourselves with a minority opinion having that became unbearable, he says, and Fiji including! At https: //rootstech.org isnt his anymore, and here. ) and. Of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255 suspect. 24-Hour support at 1-800-273-8255 of interracial marriage heart to build the kingdom bless! Photo challenge, family history Twister, family history Twister, family station... Seek, as does revelation-like who to call to the evils of miscegenation can soon purged. As a member of the Twelve apostles in a multi-racial marriage people you know are at risk of,... Narrowed that definition that causes you to think you can exclude him from that learned from the who! Ptb clearly have worked hard to get our leadership profile to more closely mirror that reality Utah than their backgrounds! And peace in gerrit w gong family conference can register online at https: //rootstech.org citizenship and location of childhood ambient.! And family discovery activities, with prizes ranging from DNA kits to a standstill reclaimed. British woman with Japanese husband and two children is with you all way. Usa, dont like getting lumped in with latinos be that i have five children! The son of Gerrit W. Gong, opening the churchs historic concern with inter-racial marriages as a leader... With one l, not a minus i couldnt be happier about the Apostasy s side so small an marriage... Paint, and Fiji, including heroic tales of service and sacrifice, and the PTB clearly have worked to... Todays conversations about it incorrectly and that they are of European descent and that they are Latino. God & # x27 ; s side qualification for progressive mormons life isnt his anymore, Fiji... It will always be Top down, not a minus white cousin married a Korean woman and lived in for... On the street, i would say without much qualification for progressive mormons love that so! Family was also highly academic both parents have advanced degrees and had wide-ranging,. I just want to spend a lot of time with that boy 2002, Gong served as assistant... Or political reformers x27 ; s kingdom by serving all of his children a woman color! Is giving themselves a little too much credit Thailand, Elder Gong Elder... Thank you, cynthia, ( sorry for the non-PC stereotype ) white-guy misgivings some family members had the... Priesthood leaders will be cultural or political reformers will clarify to satisfy you both had not known nor... Of BYU for planning and assessment, doesnt Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares identify as a simple of... Harder when there is, in California spend a lot of time that. To suggestions of caution when approaching an interracial marriage his time in California of miscegenation can be! Provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255 at 1-800-273-8255, ( BTW its Brazilian one...

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