Gerrit W. Gong

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Gerrit W. Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018, during a Solemn Assembly. At the time of his call, he had been serving in the Presidency of the Seventy. He had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area when called to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy at General Conference in April 2010.

Elder Gong received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian and university studies from Brigham Young University in 1977. In 1979 he received a Master of Philosophy and in 1981 a PhD in international relations from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. In 1985 he served as special assistant to undersecretary of state at the U.S. State Department and then in 1987 served as special assistant to the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, China. From 1989 to 2001 he served in many positions for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. He was the assistant to the president for planning and assessment at Brigham Young University.

Elder Gong has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in Taiwan, stake high councilor, high priests group leader, stake Sunday School president, bishop’s counselor, seminary teacher, bishop, stake mission president and stake president.

Gerrit Walter Gong was born in Redwood City, California, on December 23, 1953. He married Susan Lindsay in January 1980 after both served full-time missions in Taiwan. They are the parents of four children. Elder and Sister Gong reside in Provo, Utah.

Apostleship

In January 2023, at the beginning of a new year with many facing new opportunities and new obstacles, Elder Gong wrote on his Facebook and Instagram accounts that he would be sharing doctrinal principles over the following couple of months from the scriptures — principles “that we can personally relate to as we seek healing and peace from life’s trials,” he explained. On Jan. 1, Elder Gong’s first video spoke about how the Atonement is central in God’s plan of redemption and happiness. The second video, posted on Jan. 8, referenced Alma 12:15, which teaches that God is just in all His works and He is merciful unto the children of men. In his third video, posted on Feb. 7, Elder Gong said the Lord gives people divine opportunity to become more like Him as they offer proxy saving temple ordinances others need but cannot do for themselves. The fourth video, posted on Feb. 19, expounded upon the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12.Church News, "Elder Gong shares 4 doctrinal principles from the scriptures for healing and peace"

In November 2022, Elder Gong traveled to Central America where he ministered in Panama, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. He was joined by his wife, Susan, and other leaders of the Church. In addition to meeting with the Saints and attending a cultural performance, he met with the president of Costa Rica and discussed strengthening Costa Rican children and youth, providing them with educational opportunities and teaching values and skills.[1]

In 2021, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Gong spoke together on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, during the final session of a two-day conference “The Islamic World Today: Issues and Perspectives.” The Apostles emphasized the Church’s joint efforts with Muslims to defend religious freedom and engage in humanitarian work. They also pointed to resources that strengthen mutual understanding and highlighted several common beliefs the two faith communities share. Both Apostles visited Indonesia — the country with the most Muslims — after a December 2004 tsunami killed some 225,000 people. Elder Bednar had just been called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Gong was working for BYU. Elder Gong said they met with the president of Indonesia, visited Jakarta’s largest mosque, donated needed medical and humanitarian supplies, and visited the heart of the devastation. Latter-day Saint Charities worked with Islamic Relief and the Indonesian government to provide millions of dollars of needed relief. [2]

Elder and Sister Gong accompanied President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy to New Zealand in May 2019. After announcing a $100,000 donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help rebuild and renovate two mosques damaged two months previous in a deadly attack that killed 51 people and injured many, President Nelson stood arm-in-arm with Dr. Mustafa Farouk, the president of the Islamic Associations of New Zealand. The death and injury of innocent worshippers, gunned down March 15 at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, “is incomprehensible,” President Nelson said. “So what can we do? We can pray, we can love, we can minister, we can give a donation. They appreciate it all. They appreciate the fact that we care.” He added, “Looking ahead, should you require volunteers to assist in the repair and renovation work that will be funded by these donations, we would be honored to lend a helping hand.” Elder Gong said, “I was grateful to stand together with our Church President in love and solidarity with our Muslim friends. We reached out to individuals who had been injured in the mosque attacks. I was glad we could provide practical help in the face of tragedy and pain, and pledge to work together to increase understanding.”[3]

Temples dedicated by Elder Gong

Winnipeg Manitoba Temple · Puebla Mexico Temple · Taylorsville Utah Temple

Books by Elder Gong

The Shepherd and the Lamb (2024)

Quotes from Elder Gong

“Sometimes, we think our decisions affect only ourselves. Discovering our family reminds us otherwise. We are more connected in our generations than we usually think. Often, the more we learn about so-called ‘distant’ relatives, sometimes in faraway places with strange-sounding names, the more we realize we truly are kith and kin, close family.”

RootsTech 2023

“Our joy becomes full as we feel Jesus Christ’s grace and forgiveness for us. And as we offer the miracle of His grace and forgiveness to each other, the mercy we receive and the mercy we offer can help make life’s injustices just.”

Church News, "Elder Gong shares 4 doctrinal principles from the scriptures for healing and peace"

Along life’s path, we may lose faith in God, but He never loses faith in us. As it were, His porch light is always on. He invites us to come or return to the covenants that mark His path. He waits ready to embrace us, even when we are “yet a great way off.”

October 2019 General Conference, "Covenant Belonging"