Gerrit Gong makes Mormon history to become first apostle of Asian ancestry as church signals interest in China
Appointment could be a sign of church’s ambition to establish a stronger foothold in China, a country that currently doesn’t officially recognise the religion
The Mormon church made history and injected a bit of diversity into a previously all-white top leadership panel on Saturday by selecting the first-ever Latin-American apostle and the first-ever apostle of Asian ancestry.
The selections of Ulisses Soares of Brazil and Gerrit Gong, a Chinese-American, were announced during a twice-annual conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. The choices triggered excitement among a contingent of Mormons who for years have been hoping for the faith’s top leadership to be more representative of a religion that has more than half of the its 16 million members outside the United States.
“It’s a sign that the church is for everyone,” said Guilherme De Castro, a 37-year-old Mormon from Brazil who was there for the announcement.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from or the way you look.”
The selections come during a two-day conference – the first presided over by new church President Russell Nelson. His choices for the two open leadership spots sparked hope that the 93-year-old former heart surgeon will focus on the globalisation of the faith during his tenure.
He is set to embark on a trip in April to visit eight cities in Europe, Africa and Asia, including Hong Kong.