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

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Just kidding. Dallas Oaks just appointed another ultra-conservative white dude:

https://www.ksl.com/article/51447769/el ... 2-apostles

[Dwight]

Clark is eighteen years younger than Bednar. While I expected some implosions with Dallas, Holland (if he had made it), then bigger problems with Bednar at the top, it may actually be better for the church that Bednar will probably have a long reign of terror, cause this guy might actually be worse. He will, barring anything medical popping up, also get a long reign of terror.

The Tribune isn’t pulling many punches about saying it is a controversial pick.

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/02 ... llin-oaks/

[I Have Questions]

Just kidding. Dallas Oaks just appointed another ultra-conservative white dude:

https://www.ksl.com/article/51447769/el ... 2-apostles

He couldn’t be more typical of an Apostle had he been cloned.

Elder Gilbert obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brigham Young University in 1994, a time he has described as transformational. He interrupted his schooling at BYU to serve as a full-time missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission.

Elder Gilbert earned a master’s at Stanford in East Asian studies and a doctorate in business administration at Harvard before joining its faculty.

He and Sister Christine Gilbert married in 1994 and are the parents of eight children.

[drumdude]

Yes his skin may be white, but how many languages does he speak? Dan Peterson uses that as his yardstick for measuring diversity.

[Shulem]

• Liar for the Lord.

• Brainwashed & programmed to obey.

• Loyalty to the Church above all.

[Gadianton]

Yes his skin may be white, but how many languages does he speak? Dan Peterson uses that as his yardstick for measuring diversity.

One is especially diverse if they speak perfect German.

[malkie]

Yes his skin may be white, but how many languages does he speak? Dan Peterson uses that as his yardstick for measuring diversity.

One is especially diverse if they speak perfect German.

Perfect German!

[Rivendale]

• 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.

[Shulem]

• 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.

Yes, he would lie, cheat, and steal for the LORD/Church (one in the same). He has been bred and conditioned for this single purpose. Leaders at the top are very deceptive and will lie in your face while looking you in the eyes.

[I Have Questions]

Gilbert is not the most popular of choices…

There has been some outcry online, especially in Reddit forums, where people are discussing his previous role as the Church’s education commissioner—critics say he implemented strict policies at LDS-owned private universities, carried out intense oversight and pushed out dissenting opinions.

And…

Several LDS Reddit threads show people voicing concerns about Gilbert’s appointment, often citing a 2025 piece in The Salt Lake Tribune that reported on BYU staff who said Gilbert pushed a doctrine of obedience over personal choice, sowed an environment of distrust and negatively affected some students, especially women and members of the LGBTQ community.

Music professor Jason Bergman said at the time that BYU was “not safe anyone who doesn’t fit the orthodox mold,” who told how he eventually left the university.

“I had LGBTQ students and saw how they suffered,” Bergman said. “I started to pay attention to how people of color and women were treated. It was and continues to be hard for them.”

These claims were repeatedly referenced in Reddit threads about the appointment, including one called “Clark G. Gilbert Is Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.”

A user called otherwise7337 said, about Gilbert’s time at BYU: “He has tirelessly created an environment of fear among both students and faculty by punishing their livelihoods for holding dissenting opinions and tightening the vice of authority across the board.

“This appointment by Oaks will serve to perpetuate strict enforcement of obedience to church practice and adherence to church ideology,” they added.

I recall us discussing the regime of fear at BYU but hadn’t remembered that Gilbert was the Church’s enforcer. I guess this is his reward for doing all that dirty work.

I’d be interested to hear Dr Moore’s take on this appointment.

For reference 1
For reference 2
For reference 3