Clark G. Gilbert called as new Latter-day Saint apostle
Clark G. Gilbert has been called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the church announced Thursday. The 55-year-old church education leader was called on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, and ordained on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 (ET), filling the vacancy created by the December death of Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland.
How the call unfolded
Gilbert was ordained by President Dallin H. Oaks, together with members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The appointment marks one of the faith’s most significant leadership decisions this year and comes four months into President Oaks’ tenure as church president. Gilbert’s addition strengthens the Twelve with a leader deeply tied to the church’s educational system and familiar with global outreach.
Message from Elder Gilbert
In remarks Thursday, Elder Gilbert emphasized pointing people to Jesus Christ as the heart of his new calling. “This is an amazing time to point people to the Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. “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.” He and his wife, Christine, are the parents of eight children.
Faith and scholarship intertwined
Born in Oakland, California, and raised largely in Phoenix, Arizona, Gilbert has long linked faith and learning in his personal narrative. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brigham Young University in 1994, a master’s in East Asian studies from Stanford in 1995, and a doctorate in business administration from Harvard in 2001, later joining the Harvard faculty. He has said his upbringing instilled a view that belief and education reinforce one another, a theme that has threaded through his academic and administrative career.
From classrooms to campuses—and beyond
Gilbert’s leadership résumé spans higher education and media. After Harvard, he moved to BYU–Idaho in 2006 at the invitation of then‑president Kim B. Clark, helping advance initiatives that would later scale globally. He subsequently led Deseret Digital Media and served as president of Deseret News, where he pursued a strategy shift tailored to rapid changes in communications technology. Returning to Rexburg, he became president of BYU–Idaho in 2015 before launching and leading BYU–Pathway Worldwide in 2017, a global online learning program designed to widen educational access while maintaining a spiritual foundation. In 2021, he was called as a General Authority Seventy and appointed Commissioner of the Church Educational System, overseeing BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, Ensign College, BYU–Pathway Worldwide, and Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.
Second apostolic selection by President Oaks
Gilbert is the second apostle selected by President Oaks since he assumed leadership of the church. In November, Gérald Caussé was named to the Twelve. With Gilbert’s ordination, the quorum regains a full complement following Elder Holland’s passing, and adds a voice with extensive experience in building programs that serve members in diverse circumstances and across continents.
Significance and early reaction
The appointment is already generating discussion across Latter-day Saint circles. Supporters highlight Gilbert’s track record of marrying institutional innovation with a clear, faith-first mission, particularly in his stewardship of church education and the expansion of BYU–Pathway Worldwide. Others view the move as a signal that the church may continue to emphasize doctrinal clarity and distinctive campus identities within its schools. In either reading, the selection places a seasoned administrator and educator at the center of the church’s global ministry and governance.
What to watch next
As an apostle, Elder Gilbert will serve as a special witness of Jesus Christ and help guide the faith’s worldwide efforts. His recent focus on engaging the world while maintaining spiritual integrity suggests ongoing attention to both academic excellence and religious purpose within church education. For members and observers, the immediate next chapter will be how his experience—and his emphasis on discipleship—inform the Twelve’s collective priorities in the months ahead.
