Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was born on Dec. 23, 1953, to professional teachers in Redwood City, California. Elder Gong inherited his parents’ love for learning, studying at Brigham Young University and receiving master’s and doctorate degrees at Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
Elder Gong married Susan Lindsay in January 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple after both served full-time missions in Taiwan. They are the parents of four sons and have three grandchildren.
Elder Gong worked for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., the U.S. State Department and as special assistant to the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, China. Before becoming an Apostle, he was in the Presidency of the Seventy. He also served as Asia Area president and as an Area Seventy, stake president, stake mission president, bishop and seminary teacher.
In honor of his birthday today, here are nine of his quotes from the past year.
1. Confidence to feel the Lord’s peace
“Bless your family and serve in the Church. Faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Him bring the Spirit and spiritual growth. Then we can have confidence to stand still and feel the Lord’s peace, assurance and blessings — in His time and way.”
— BYU–Pathway devotional, Dec. 5
2. What Christmas celebrates
“Jesus Christ knows according to the flesh how to succor us with bowels filled with mercy. Then as now, Christmas celebrates covenant belonging, communion and community in Jesus Christ and each other.”
— First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, Dec. 3
3. Speak and hear His love
“May we each learn to speak and hear His love here, in our hearts and homes, and in our gospel callings, activities, ministering, and service.”
— “Love is Spoken Here,” October 2023 general conference
4. Enduring joy
“As we prepare people for baptism and confirmation, we are preparing them to see and enter into the kingdom of God. ...
“This joy cascades through generations. It unites families eternally in the Lord. May you and your missionaries find that enduring joy as you prepare people for baptism and confirmation in every nation, kindred, tongue and people.”
— Seminar for New Mission Leaders, June 22
5. ‘Our own best story’
“Of all the many things that beckon for our attention, that which ultimately matters most does not change: who we are (spiritual identity), whose we are (covenant belonging), and how we use our God-given agency to discover and become our own best story.”
— BYU devotional, April 11
6. Inspired invitations
“In many places, we can reach out, understand others where they are and build relationships when we regularly visit members in their homes. Inspired invitations change lives. When invitations help us make and keep sacred covenants, we draw closer to the Lord and each other.”
— “Ministering,” April 2023 general conference
7. Discovering family
“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 Family Discovery day, March 4
8. Grace and forgiveness
“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.”
— “4 doctrinal principles from the scriptures for healing and peace,” Feb 22
9. Spiritual trail markers
“Dear young friends, God lives. He always loves you. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Because of His Atonement, there is no point of no return. His light is always on, His arms are always open to welcome and embrace us. …
“The Book of Mormon, the ordinances and covenants of the house of the Lord, the testimonies of the prophets and apostles, and especially the Holy Ghost — these precious spiritual trail markers point us to our Savior Jesus Christ, whose witness I am and of whom I solemnly testify.”
— Worldwide devotional for youth, Jan. 29
