Charles W. H. Goo, BYU-Hawaii Associate Dean of Students, and his wife Helen Shiu Kuen Kwong Goo ('67), have been called to serve as president and matron of the Hong Kong Temple, starting November 1.
The couple previously served as president and "mother" of the Hong Kong Mission from 1986-89. President Goo also served as a young missionary in Hong Kong from 1965-68. He will succeed President Kwok Yuen Tai.
President Goo, who works mainly with international students and the Honor Code at BYUH, reported he received an early-morning phone call a week ago Monday from President Gordon B. Hinckley, asking him and his wife to serve. "The call only lasted about 30 seconds," he said, "because President Hinckley had over 50 more new temple presidents to call."
"It's thrilling to be able to return to Hong Kong and mingle with the returned missionaries who served with us 20 years ago, also the alumni who have graduated from BYU-Hawaii. We're excited about the great work in China," President Goo said. He added that his father, Charles K.C. Goo, 92, and mother, the late Mildred Goo who retired from BYU-Hawaii, served as missionaries in the Hong Kong Temple when it first opened in 1996. The senior Goo, a long-time resident of Laie, also served in the Taiwan Temple presidency in the mid-80s. In addition, two of the younger Goo's five children have served missions in Hong Kong.
"It's exciting and humbling, and quite an honor to not only represent the Lord, but our family, community, ward and BYU-Hawaii in Hong Kong," President Goo said. He is currently a Laie Hawaii North Stake high councilor, and previously served as a BYU-Hawaii Stake president and counselor in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission presidency. Sister Goo is a former stake Relief Society president. Both of them are Laie Hawaii Temple ordinance workers.
His wife explained that "Charley," as even President Hinckley calls him, had been planning to retire soon from BYU-Hawaii, where he has worked for the past 34 years. He started part-time in the early 70s, helping computerize registration, and then became the full-time registrar and director of admissions.
Noted for her Chinese cooking skills, Sister Goo said she will also retire from her Internet and home-based business, Helen's Kitchen. Originally from Kwong Tung, China, she grew up in Hong Kong before graduating from high school in the U.S. mainland and attending Church College of Hawaii. She transferred to BYU Provo in 1967, because CCH didn't have her major, and graduated the following year. She recently related these and other experiences in her 2007 BYU Women's Conference address.
"It's a very humbling experience to be able to return and work in the temple," she said. "Growing up in Hong Kong, I never dreamed we would have a temple."
