After 200 Years, The Church Finally Gets Its First African American Apostle

[sock puppet]

• Liar for the Lord.

• Brainwashed & programmed to obey.

• Loyalty to the Church above all.

I would bet he would hand his wife over if Oaks asked. He would sign off on 50 shell companies if asked. He would give any talk thrown his way. He would fire anyone if asked.

How about handing over a 14 year old granddaughter if asked?

[Rivendale]

I would bet he would hand his wife over if Oaks asked. He would sign off on 50 shell companies if asked. He would give any talk thrown his way. He would fire anyone if asked.

How about handing over a 14 year old granddaughter if asked?

Absolutely. He would be happy to participate in Mt Meadows. Mormonism froze him in permanent neoteny reaching only the maturity of the class hall monitor in elementary school and revels in the tattling aspect of his job. His childhood tree house was peppered with No Girls Allowed signs and he despised the song" I am woman hear me roar".

[I Have Questions]

How about handing over a 14 year old granddaughter if asked?

Absolutely. He would be happy to participate in Mt Meadows. Mormonism froze him in permanent neoteny reaching only the maturity of the class hall monitor in elementary school and revels in the tattling aspect of his job. His childhood tree house was peppered with No Girls Allowed signs and he despised the song" I am woman hear me roar".

I don't have personal experience of Gilbert, but those that do speak very badly of him. He seems very much the kind of bloke that can be trusted to get those excommunication numbers up. His fellow Apostles would do very well to guard their speech around him, because he will tell Oaks everything. He's Oaks' Borman or Himmler.

[Tom]

I am utterly delighted by the news, and even predicted it to my family a few days ago. Elder Clark G. Gilbert Is Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Predictably, however, the call to the apostleship extended to Elder Gilbert has been met in certain circles with indignation and snorts of derision.
 
Boring.  White bread.  Not Black. From Utah.  Not a fisherman.  Not a carpenter.  Upper middle-class.  Educated.  Not a poor and illiterate peasant.  Another former BYU president. Clone of other apostles.  Actually, Elder Gilbert was born in Oakland, California, and spent most of his childhood in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a religious minority. (He knows what it feels like to be a minority.) His paternal grandfather served at BYU as the dean of continuing education. His parents met at BYU. His dad was an attorney and taught as a visiting professor in the BYU Law School with his partner, Rex E. Lee, and later served as the BYU alumni president. He served a mission to Japan and speaks flawless Japanese. He met his wife at BYU. He has degrees in international relations and East Asian Studies. He received a doctorate in business administration from Harvard. As a Harvard Business School professor, he observed and worked with the Church’s inner-city youth in Boston, Massachusetts, which is not insignificant. He’s quoted a general authority who quoted Nelson Mandela (see previous link). He’s lived in Palo Alto, California, and even southeastern Idaho. And he served as inaugural president of the global online program known as BYU–Pathway Worldwide, which serves students in countries around the world, including countries in Africa, and which I consider to be among the most phenomenal things that the Church has ever done. He knows how to alleviate poverty through global education, as Jasmin Rappleye has pointed out. As president of the Deseret News, he put his superb academic training into action by overseeing a visionary 43 percent reduction in staff. And he has refocused BYU on fulfilling its unique mission, which I consider to be a good thing. (We don’t need any more David P. Wrights at BYU.)

Elder Gilbert is not as “white bread” American and stereotypical as some might expect.

Here are some helpful resources on Elder Gilbert and his call:

Elder Gilbert Called and It’s Already Political

President Oaks calls another apostle: Elder Clark G. Gilbert joins Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

In new interview, Elder Clark G. Gilbert shares details of his call as an apostle, what has shaped him

[drumdude]

When asked whether members who support same-sex marriage or disagree with parts of the family proclamation should be given a temple recommend, his answer was more opaque than the one offered by apostle D. Todd Christofferson — who gave a qualified yes.

Under Gilbert’s direction, though, BYU faculty could be in danger of losing their jobs or applicants might not be hired if they took those positions.

“The recommend questions are clear and straightforward, but this is a big tent church,” Gilbert said in the interview. “We want people to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion, but we also are true to the teachings of the Savior Jesus Christ. … [Apostle] Jeffrey Holland once [pointed out] that Christ never once said, ‘because I love you, you are free to choose which commandments to keep,’ but [Jesus] also had an infinite capacity to forgive when we made mistakes. ... Christ was the one who taught God’s laws and never once backed away from them.”

The faith’s prescribed temple recommend questions do not ask about the family proclamation or same-sex marriage.

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/02 ... h-new-lds/

[malkie]

When asked whether members who support same-sex marriage or disagree with parts of the family proclamation should be given a temple recommend, his answer was more opaque than the one offered by apostle D. Todd Christofferson — who gave a qualified yes.

Under Gilbert’s direction, though, BYU faculty could be in danger of losing their jobs or applicants might not be hired if they took those positions.

“The recommend questions are clear and straightforward, but this is a big tent church,” Gilbert said in the interview. “We want people to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion, but we also are true to the teachings of the Savior Jesus Christ. … [Apostle] Jeffrey Holland once [pointed out] that Christ never once said, ‘because I love you, you are free to choose which commandments to keep,’ but [Jesus] also had an infinite capacity to forgive when we made mistakes. ... Christ was the one who taught God’s laws and never once backed away from them.”

The faith’s prescribed temple recommend questions do not ask about the family proclamation or same-sex marriage.

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/02 ... h-new-lds/

I've sat on both sides of the TR interview table, back in the days when there was much more latitude in the questions you asked beyond a strict reading of the wording in the handbook. Some folks needed a bit of encouragement during the interview, and I wasn't always the best at providing it. But If I recall correctly I never turned anyone down, and never had my district president turn down anyone whose recommend I signed.

I once had the counselor in the stake presidency tell me, without my asking, that I needed to go to the temple, even though he knew I was struggling, and couldn't give satisfactory answers to all of the questions. He told me that I needed to linger in the celestial room, even if the workers asked me to move on, because I was to receive a personal message there. I tried - really I did - but nothing came. To paraphrase Ashleigh Brilliant, I waited and waited, and when no message came, I knew it must be from God.
[I wasn't sure about adding this story, but it's something that often pops into my head when I think about the temple, so here it is!].

7. Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Church Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions

... Leaders should not add or remove any requirements. However, they may adapt the questions to the age and circumstances of the member.

Sometimes members have questions during a temple recommend interview. The priesthood leader may explain basic gospel principles. He may also help members understand the temple recommend questions if needed. However, he should not present his personal beliefs, preferences, or interpretations as Church doctrine or policy.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/26-temple-recommends?lang=eng

If necessary, confirm that you understand the questions you are asked, answer them as briefly as possible, and don't ask any questions.
Looks to me like you only need to convince yourself that your views on same-sex marriage and the family proclamation are in line with church doctrine, as you understand it, and you're OK on the teachings, practices, and doctrine question.

[I Have Questions]

Some more support for Gilbert being chosen as an apostle…

On the whole, let’s say it like this: Gilbert had a chilling effect. Some smart and spiritual professors liked him, some told me that under Gilbert and his stern version of Christianity, their faith had been stricken with fear.

Among other measures, Gilbert had a formula by which he judged individuals who either taught at BYU or applied to teach there. He herded believers into four classifications of devoutness, classifications meant to label and cull them, to accept or reject them.

Gilbert’s gauges could easily be considered by reasonable followers as harsh and not a true representation of real faith, real spirituality. They seemed more a barometer of ardent compliance.

Some professors said they were afraid to say what they honestly felt or to even ask religious questions in public or private settings for fear of losing their jobs. One professor, a gifted educator who cared about his students and his church, said he wished Gilbert would take a kinder, more charitable approach. He felt so unnerved by Gilbert’s manner that he retired.

“At BYU now,” said another faithful instructor, “there’s a level of mistrust. There are faculty who are angry, frustrated and discouraged at what they’re witnessing.”

You might be wondering what Gilbert’s four gauges were…

In his first year as CES commissioner, Gilbert undertook an informal study of BYU faculty members and grouped them into four categories:

• The Faithful Core: They teach with the Holy Spirit and weave in church tenets as they understand them.

• The Supportive Center: They support the church but are not as enthusiastic as church leaders think they ought to be.

• The Secular First: They put “truth” from any source on an equal footing with the Latter-day Saint gospel.

• Open Foes: They write an article or take a public position contrary to that of the church.

When presenting this to a Salt Lake City dinner group of prominent Latter-day Saints, Gilbert said that the faith’s governing First Presidency “will not stand for a contrary opinion by professors at BYU,” according to several attendees, and that he would find a way to “get them out.”

The third category is particularly enlightening. As is his statement that the First Presidency demand agreement with them and their statements regardless of a persons own conscience or opinion. Gilbert’s jackbooted manner hasn’t been seen since Packer passed. Holland tried, but ultimately couldn’t carry it off with any credibility. Church members have got Gilbert for a long time - he’s in his mid fifties. Oaks is bringing in hardliners and Yes men. I find it hard to believe that Jesus had any say in the appointment.

[I Have Questions]

Interestingly, the Afore is keen to share Gilbert's current spotlight.

“Elder Clark G. Gilbert Is Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.” I first met Elder Gilbert when he was the president of the Deseret News. He is, among other things, a person of tremendous capability, enthusiasm, and vision. (I won’t forget that first meeting.) I like his past background in Asia (Japanese mission, Stanford M.A. in Asian studies) and I love his involvement with BYU-Pathway.

I can’t say that I expected his call but, reflecting on it, I’m not surprised and I’m happy. Over at the Peterson Obsession Board, he and I (!) are being attacked principally because he’s not Black. His call to the apostleship is supposedly proof that Latter-day Saints are white supremacists. If he were Black, though, they would attack him (and somehow me, as well) for some other reason. Already, they’re criticizing him for his servility and corruption and dishonesty and, umm, commitment to orthodoxy. What wonderful lives they lead!

He simply cannot bear it when this board's attention is elsewhere. I'm not aware of anyone blaming Peterson for Gilbert's appointment. I do note that he is keen to misrepresent the criticism being levelled at Gilbert. Dan, get over yourself, not everything is all about you.

[Marcus]

and spent most of his childhood in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a religious minority. (He knows what it feels like to be a minority.)
viewtopic.php?p=2922776#p2922776

This is laughable. Which story will he go with?
Arizona is currently about 70% christian, so did he fit right in or was he a non-christian minority?

[Marcus]

Interestingly, the Afore is keen to share.

at the Peterson Obsession Board, he and I (!) are being attacked principally because he’s not Black.

What?? The Afore is desperate for attention.