Elder Gilbert Meets with the Media

Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Christine, speak to news media outlets in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Friday, February 13, 2026.

SALT LAKE CITY — In an intimate gathering at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Friday, Elder Clark G. Gilbert met with members of the media for the first time since being sustained as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Addressing a room of journalists just two days after his call to the Church’s second-highest governing body, the 55-year-old Apostle described a profound spiritual transformation already underway.

“I feel the mantle strengthening me,” Elder Gilbert remarked. “It is sometimes described as a burden and a weight, but it’s also a protection and a shield and a strength.”

A Call to the "One"

Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks to news media outlets in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The vacancy in the Quorum followed the recent passing of President Jeffrey R. Holland. Elder Gilbert was called on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, and was subsequently ordained on Thursday by President Dallin H. Oaks and the First Presidency.

Despite the administrative magnitude of his new role, Elder Gilbert emphasized that his initial impressions from the Lord have been deeply personal. He spoke of a divine "worry" for the individual—a theme he expects to define his ministry.

“The Lord has planted feelings in my heart already... feelings to get up and send a message to someone or to make a call in the middle of such a busy moment,” he said. “I think the Lord’s telling me to keep reaching out to the one, and especially to the one who struggles.”

A Partnership of Faith

Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks to news media outlets in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Standing beside him was his wife, Christine Gilbert. The couple, parents of eight children, shared how their 32-year marriage has prepared them for this global responsibility. Elder Gilbert credited his wife’s "confidence and conviction" as the anchor that allowed him to become who the Lord needed him to be.

Sister Gilbert reciprocated the sentiment, describing her husband as a "builder of people" whose infectious optimism and enthusiasm have shaped their family life. The personal impact of their past service was highlighted by a touching anecdote: among the 1,000 text messages received since the announcement was a call from a former inner-city youth from Boston, now a father of five, who reached out specifically to thank Sister Gilbert for her influence years ago.

A Legacy of Education and Self-Reliance

Prior to this calling, Elder Gilbert served as the Church’s education commissioner. His professional and ecclesiastical background is deeply rooted in the pursuit of knowledge. A former faculty member at Harvard Business School, he served as the president of Brigham Young University–Idaho and was the foundational architect and inaugural president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide.

Elder Gilbert noted that his transition from the world of academia to the full-time ministry of an Apostle is a natural extension of his belief that education is a "religious responsibility."

“God loves us. He loves all His children,” Elder Gilbert stated. “He wants us to serve in the kingdom and grow in our testimonies. And to do that, He needs us to be able to provide for our temporal self-reliance, even as we’re building our spiritual self-reliance.”

A Global Witness

As he settles into a lifetime of service, Elder Gilbert acknowledged the weight of representing the Savior in an increasingly divided world. He expressed a mix of "trepidation and joy"—two emotions he noted rarely coincide—but concluded with a firm witness of his new mission.

“What an opportunity it is to wear out my life in service of the Lord Jesus Christ and in testifying of Him to all the world,” he said. “In a chaotic, polarized, conflicted world, we can find peace and comfort in the Savior Jesus Christ.”

Elder Gilbert’s appointment marks a new chapter for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as they continue to oversee the Church’s global operations and mission.