After the December death of Jeffrey R. Holland, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints eagerly waited for church President Dallin H. Oaks to choose the faith’s next apostle.
Last Thursday, the church announced his decision, and Oaks ordained Clark G. Gilbert as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Some Latter-day Saints are excited about Gilbert’s selection, while others worry about his controversial role as commissioner of education over Brigham Young University campuses and other church schools.
Here are some of those reactions:
“As someone who considers myself politically progressive and who has worked closely with individuals across the political spectrum at BYU — from some of the most conservative to some of the most progressive voices — I’ve come to deeply value ideological diversity. While we don’t know Elder Gilbert’s personal political views, I appreciate that the Quorum of the Twelve reflects a wide range of life experiences and perspectives. That diversity strengthens the church. I’m confident that Elder Gilbert is the apostle we need at this moment, and I’m especially grateful for the way he has consistently prioritized education and thoughtful discipleship.”
— Ella Paligo, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.
“The thing that I expect most from Elder Gilbert is empathy with young adults. And something that I’ve seen from him before is a lot of clarity in his speaking. As he’s given devotionals and spoken in General Conference, he’s very clear and says important metaphors and analogies to help you understand what he’s teaching. So I’d love to see that more from him.”
— Addison Hewitt, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.
“I remember the way his wife talked about him on one of the latest posts was so sweet. I’m excited!”
— Allie Davison, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.
“Our first priority and our first identity should be as disciples of Christ. And so as far as Elder Gilbert’s political orientation, I think I’m more focused on his testimony of Jesus Christ, which is his role as an apostle. And I think he also has made that clear since being called and I really appreciate that.”
— Alex Keogh, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.
“He seems like a pretty cool guy.”
— Kyla Schramm Ethington, Latter-day Saint.
“I do not know him personally, and was more upset about President Nelson and Elder Holland passing away. I’m sure that in time, I will come to appreciate the new apostle as I listen to him and find ways in which his words relate to myself.”
— Garin Boggs, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.
“I was originally born and raised in Chicago, and so I have seen the culture of the church outside of Utah. I served part of my mission reassigned temporarily in Utah. So I’ve seen the church culture there, and I’ve seen the church culture here on BYU campus. And I can say that the culture is often different, sometimes starkly so. But I would say that that usually comes down to the individuals, not the leadership, a lot of the time. The leadership is very clear in the unified message of the prophets and apostles, no matter where the church is... And so, I don’t believe that my view of Gilbert has shifted dramatically because of my time here at BYU.”
— Jonathan Barker, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.
“One of my favorite things is when he shares those personal experiences that he has with the apostles, because we don’t often get to view much into their personal lives because the church is so big. But when you feel how he was able to receive their ministering, receive their teachings, and just testify that he knows that they are prophets, seers and revelators, you can just feel that testimony from him.”
— Alex Stringham, Latter-day Saint and BYU student.