Elder Gilbert Interview with Peggy Fletcher Stack

[MG 2.0]

In the following interview Elder Gilbert comes across across as a humble servant of the Lord. Some of the things covered in the wide ranging interview were:

1. The church is a 'big tent' church while at the same time under obligation to emphasize the fact that Jesus gave commandments to be followed.
2. Elder Gilbert made clear that he is not the arbiter of orthodoxy. That safety comes from being grounded in church doctrine and following the living prophet.
3. Women are continuing to play an important part in the administration of the church at both the local and general level. He gave an example of an instance where revelation had been given to a Young Women's President and that he needed to listen to her council.
4. He describes his call as being a combination of overwhelming "fear and joy' likening it to the apostles running to Christ.
5. He showcased Utah as being an innovator in how to work with and treat immigrants. He mentioned the Utah Compact and "Utah Solution" as rooted in LDS doctrine.

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

if that link doesn't work, try this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FPwhJhBJ-A&t=1s

He came across as being a sincere and humble man.

Regards,
MG

[sock puppet]

Gilbert is just another corporate tool to complement the other 14. Nothing to see here; move along.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

That interview was a train wreck of condescension, surveillance-state vibes and misogyny. Gilbert comes off sounding like a complete dick.

The story regarding women in leadership is perhaps the most telling moment of the interview. Gilbert actually needed a prompting from God before he would ask a female colleague for her input. What an amazing heartwarming example of inclusion. Gilbert is like a CEO bragging about how progressive he is because he once allowed a vice president to speak during a board meeting.

Another disturbing example of Gilbert's modus operandi is the surveillance and auditing of BYU faculty's social media and personal lives. As has been previously discussed, professors have reported feeling their privacy violated, with some losing their jobs because of their public support on social media for LGBTQ+ rights or feminism.

Gilbert is the ultimate Big Brother who will monitor your social media, but needs a prompting from God just to remember that women might actually have something useful to say. The church is in big trouble with this guy.

[I Have Questions]

Words speak louder than actions…or something like that. I recall interviews where Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi came across as a humble and sincere man. Gilbert’s actions…

…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.”

It is worth noting that the person who wrote the OP and who obviously lauds Gilbert for his treatment of LGBTQ students has mentioned on the board that he has a gay child. I wouldn’t be lauding anyone that treated my children that way. There is nothing in Gilbert’s recent Church employment history, at the Deseret News or at BYU that would indicate he is a humble, sincere, Christlike, man. Rather he has shown himself to be brutally ruthless, intolerant, and 100% committed to doing the Church President’s bidding no matter what.

[MG 2.0]

This interview is just another 'data point' as we try to understand Elder Gilbert more fully. Views, such as those expressed here, can sit in tension with opposing views. We have a man who believes deeply in hierarchy and obedience, who has made decisions that some/many see as harmful, and who also, in some settings, comes across as humble, reflective, and spiritually serious.

And even kind.

It's interesting, isn't it, how different people view things so differently. And able to act (agency) upon that choice.

On the "God writes straight using crooked lines" thread which has been wildly successful (thanks all!) someone recently said that we literally do not have agency. I believe we do. It's been demonstrated in real time often on this board where 'choices' are made depending on one's predispositions and worldviews.

Also, it never ceases to amaze me just how much angst some folks have against the leadership of the church.

My guess is that if a neutral party without any connections with the LDS church watched this interview they would very possibly come away thinking that this is a good and decent man. And in my opinion, they might be right.

Regards,
MG

[I Have Questions]

This interview is just another 'data point' as we try to understand Elder Gilbert more fully.

It’s just words. Talking is cheap. Acting involves effort, sacrifice, risk, or trade-offs. Because actions are more costly, they’re a more accurate signal of priorities.

[Rivendale]

That interview was a train wreck of condescension, surveillance-state vibes and misogyny. Gilbert comes off sounding like a complete dick.

The story regarding women in leadership is perhaps the most telling moment of the interview. Gilbert actually needed a prompting from God before he would ask a female colleague for her input. What an amazing heartwarming example of inclusion. Gilbert is like a CEO bragging about how progressive he is because he once allowed a vice president to speak during a board meeting.

Another disturbing example of Gilbert's modus operandi is the surveillance and auditing of BYU faculty's social media and personal lives. As has been previously discussed, professors have reported feeling their privacy violated, with some losing their jobs because of their public support on social media for LGBTQ+ rights or feminism.

Gilbert is the ultimate Big Brother who will monitor your social media, but needs a prompting from God just to remember that women might actually have something useful to say. The church is in big trouble with this guy.

He is exactly like Jared Halverson. Jared was mystified as to why more women are leaving the church compared to men. He had no idea what women's concerns were. When blasted on social media he reached out to few of the prominent women and requested a dialog. But in private only. A few weeks later he was right back where he was before. Clark Griswald created a transcendent communication between a reanimated supreme primate and himself to learn exactly what women need. Paltry excuse.

[MG 2.0]

He is exactly like Jared Halverson. Jared was mystified as to why more women are leaving the church compared to men. He had no idea what women's concerns were. When blasted on social media he reached out to few of the prominent women and requested a dialog. But in private only. A few weeks later he was right back where he was before. Clark Griswald created a transcendent communication between a reanimated supreme primate and himself to learn exactly what women need. Paltry excuse.

Using overstatements like “exactly like Jared Halverson” and “paltry excuse” are uncharitable. Using such rhetoric says as much about your own worldview as it does about Jared Halvorson or Elder Gilbert.

Do you think they are both decent human beings?

Regards,
MG

[drumdude]

My guess is that if a neutral party without any connections with the LDS church watched this interview they would very possibly come away thinking that this is a good and decent man.

The LDS church does rely on the average person not going deeper than surface level investigations.

[Limnor]

My guess is that if a neutral party without any connections with the LDS church watched this interview they would very possibly come away thinking that this is a good and decent man.

The LDS church does rely on the average person not going deeper than surface level investigations.

I’d agree with this. It all seems normal until you find out about rocks in hats.