SALT LAKE CITY — Elder 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 his calling Thursday.

Elder Gilbert, 55, was born in Oakland, California but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He has served as a general authority seventy and as commissioner of the Church Educational System since 2021.

“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,” Elder Gilbert said Thursday.

He said he and his wife are grateful for his calling to be a witness of 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.

Elder Gilbert was ordained on Thursday by church President Dallin H. Oaks and the other members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He fills a position in the quorum that became vacant with the recent death of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

In a 2021 address, Elder Gilbert said his parents taught him that the gospel of Jesus Christ and education are intertwined and his life has had a focus on education, leading him to roles as president of BYU-Idaho and as the inaugural president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, an assignment he held until being called to the Seventy.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree from Stanford in East Asian studies and a doctorate degree from Harvard in business administration.

After receiving his degrees, Elder Gilbert joined the faculty at Harvard, and later was invited by Kim B. Clark, then president of BYU-Idaho, to teach at the school and to help “rethink church education on a global scale.”

He worked at BYU-Idaho from 2006 to 2009 and returned as president in 2015. Between those positions he worked as CEO of Deseret Digital Media and president of Deseret News.

In an October 2021 address at the church’s general conference, Elder Clark talked about focusing on where you are headed rather than where you started.

“One of the miracles of this, the Lord’s church is that each of us can become something more in Christ,” Elder Gilbert said. “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.”

This story will be updated.

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