In a moment of both solemnity and anticipation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the calling of Elder Clark G. Gilbert as the newest member of its Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The news, confirmed on Thursday, February 12, 2026, in Salt Lake City, comes at a pivotal time for the faith’s global community. Elder Gilbert, age 55, assumes a role shaped by deep spiritual meaning and immense responsibility, filling a vacancy left by the recent passing of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.
Born in Oakland, California, and raised in the sun-baked neighborhoods of Phoenix, Arizona, Elder Gilbert’s journey to apostleship is a testament to the intertwining of faith and education—a theme that has defined much of his life’s work. As reported by KUTV and the Deseret News, his early years were marked by a nurturing family environment where, as Elder Gilbert himself recalled, “They never made me think that education and the gospel were decoupled in any way—the more you have faith, the more you want to learn and grow, and the more you learn and grow, the deeper your faith can become.”
His academic pursuits led him first to Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations in 1994. He went on to Stanford for a master’s in East Asian studies and then to Harvard, where he completed a doctorate in business administration in 2001. According to the Church Newsroom, after a stint on the faculty at Harvard, Elder Gilbert was invited by Kim B. Clark, then president of BYU–Idaho, to join the university’s faculty and help “rethink church education on a global scale.” This invitation marked the beginning of a career deeply embedded in educational innovation and spiritual leadership.
From 2006 to 2009, Elder Gilbert worked at BYU–Idaho, and he later returned as its president in 2015. In between, he took the helm as CEO of Deseret Digital Media and as president of the Deseret News. But perhaps his most far-reaching impact came as the inaugural president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide, a global online educational initiative launched in 2009. Under his leadership, BYU–Pathway expanded rapidly, serving more than 288,000 students across over 180 countries, as reported by the Church Newsroom.
His service within the Church extended beyond academia. Elder Gilbert was called as a General Authority Seventy in April 2021 and, just a few months later, was asked to serve as Commissioner of the Church Educational System. In this capacity, he oversaw a network of institutions including BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, Ensign College, BYU–Pathway Worldwide, and the Church’s seminaries and institutes of religion. He also served as a full-time missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission, and in various local leadership roles such as elders quorum president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, and Area Seventy.
Throughout his career, Elder Gilbert has been a vocal advocate for the transformative power of Christ-centered education. In a 2021 general conference address, he emphasized, “One of the miracles of this, the Lord’s church, is that each of us can become something more in Christ. I know of no other organization that gives its members more opportunities to serve, give back, repent, and become better people. Whether we start in abundant or difficult circumstances, let us keep our sights and our slopes pointed heavenward. As we do, Christ will lift us to a higher place.”
His personal life is equally rooted in faith and service. Elder Gilbert and his wife, Christine, were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1994. Together, they are the parents of eight children—a family whose story, according to the Deseret News, is woven into the fabric of Elder Gilbert’s ministry and leadership. “We’re so grateful that I have this calling now to witness that Jesus is the Christ. If people all across the world will look to Him, He will make their lives better, more meaningful, more joyful. And it happens in and through our Savior Jesus Christ,” Elder Gilbert said upon his ordination.
The process of calling a new apostle is both sacred and steeped in tradition. Elder Gilbert was ordained on Thursday, February 12, 2026, by President Dallin H. Oaks and the other members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The announcement, which quickly spread across church news outlets and local media, was met with a sense of unity and hope for the Church’s future direction. As reported by KSL, President Oaks has now called two apostles since becoming president of the church, including Elder Gérald Caussé in November 2025.
In public addresses, Elder Gilbert has consistently returned to the theme of hope through Christ. “This is an amazing time to point people to the Savior Jesus Christ. … When we do that, we can find joy and comfort and peace in Him,” he said, echoing the words of President Russell M. Nelson. For Elder Gilbert, the intersection of faith and learning is not just a professional mission but a personal conviction. “Being a light to others requires that we simultaneously pursue excellence even as we maintain our spiritual integrity,” he said in an August BYU devotional. He added that the Lord will use the university to prepare for His return, a sentiment reinforced by President Oaks in his own remarks about BYU’s destiny as “the great university of the Lord, not in the world’s way but in the Lord’s way.”
Beyond the headlines and official statements, Elder Gilbert’s story resonates with many Latter-day Saints who see in him a leader shaped by both rigorous scholarship and humble discipleship. His experiences—from guiding inner-city youth in Boston to launching global educational initiatives—have underscored his belief in the divine potential of every individual. As he explained in a recent reflection on BYU–Pathway’s impact, “The fruits of the program are its focus on each student’s divine potential.”
With the ordination of Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gains a leader whose life has been marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge, a commitment to service, and an unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ. As the Church continues to expand its reach and deepen its roots worldwide, Elder Gilbert’s voice is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping both doctrine and direction for years to come.
For the millions of Latter-day Saints watching from around the globe, the message is clear: in times of change and challenge, the call to look to Christ—and to lift others through education and service—remains as vital as ever.