In the last six months, we have lost two truly extraordinary disciples of Jesus Christ, President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. The outpourings of love and the specifically personal tributes that have flooded the internet show just how much these men had not just global impact, but quite individual influence in the hearts of Church members (and others).
As you read the narratives of their mortal lives that are always shared upon the passing of an apostle, sometimes it feels like they were extraordinary from their youth, guided at every step, and lived a nearly perfect existence. It’s easy to look at your own life, whose setbacks and pitfalls you know so well and feel like you weren’t set up quite as obviously for success. Or didn’t have such inner strength and commitment from hour one.
It is for this reason that the story from President Holland’s funeral that stood out to me most was his eldest son sharing of his weaknesses in carpentry, even in the simplest tasks. “We acquired the habit, whenever he picked up a hammer, of quoting to him Doctrine and Covenants 24:9: ‘In temporal labors, thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling.’” President Holland received the teasing with good humor. He had often told them of the time in his youth when he decided to build an external spiral staircase and entrance to his parents’ attic, which had previously been very difficult to access.
“It was characteristically noble thought of a loving son and he did his level best,” David Holland shared, “but he was crestfallen when an insurance adjuster, who had come to assess some earlier wind damage elsewhere on the property, urgently called my grandfather to the back of the house, pointed to my father’s recently completed summer project, and said, ‘Mr. Holland, I can’t tell you exactly what’s gone on here, but obviously this was the place of the greatest damage.’”
“Even the best of intentions have to contend with the gravitational forces of a fallen world,” David Holland said as he summed up the story, stating that this was a concept his father understood well.
This is a concept we all come to know well, whether we are willing to peacefully accept it or not. It is always a good reminder to know that even the spiritual exemplars that you admire the most were just building their rickety spiral staircase towards heaven one moment of choosing to trust the Savior at a time, even if in the end of their mortal life, the structure seems to look so glorious.
So, as we welcome Elder Clark G. Gilbert as the newest apostle, who was ordained to the office on Thursday, February 12, we are eager to be blessed by the insight of his unique experience, his apostolic mantle, and his hard-earned testimony. But it is also exciting to hear the ways he freely shares how humbled he is by the call and that life to this point hasn’t just been absolutely certain and easy every step of the way.
“There’s a mix of trepidation and joy,” Elder Gilbert shared with the Church News, “two feelings that don’t usually coincide. So much excitement and joy for what opportunities lie ahead to bear witness of Jesus Christ, and trepidation for the responsibility and the weight of the calling.”
“He’s such a joyful, happy person; so positive and enthusiastic,” his wife Christine Gilbert shared as they sat hand in hand. “Sometimes it’s a whirlwind,” she added, “sometimes we’re not sure we have all our pieces in the right place. It’s chaotic, especially with eight kids. But we’re having a good time. We’re being joyful and we’re doing our best. That’s what we always say, you can’t do it perfectly, but do your best.”
Elder Gilbert met the now Sister Gilbert when they were both attending BYU. They married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1994, which was also the year he received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the university.
Elder Gilbert would go on to receive a master’s degree in East Asian studies from Stanford and a doctorate in business administration from Harvard, where he would soon after join the faculty.
During his time in Boston, his experiences with inner-city Latter-day Saint youth fundamentally shaped his thinking in his later position as the first president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, a spiritually based education initiative that has gone on to bring educational opportunity to more than 288,000 students in more than 180 countries.
While those Boston youth were new to the Church and its doctrine, Elder Gilbert said, he learned the key to helping them grow was to focus on their potential.
“In this Church,” he taught, “we believe in the divine potential of all of God’s children and in our ability to become something more in Christ.” While people begin life with differing circumstances, “in the Lord’s timing, it is not where we start but where we are headed that matters most.”
His life’s preparation for this newest, crucial calling also included time as CEO of Deseret Digital Media, president of the Deseret News, and president of BYU-Idaho before he became the inaugural leader of BYU Pathway.
He had been serving as Commissioner of the Church Education System, which involves oversight of all of the Church’s universities, online educational programs, seminaries, and institutes, until this most recent calling.
Elder Gilbert was with President Oaks for the Church Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, February 11, and at the end of the meeting President Oaks said, ‘Elder Gilbert, would you come in for just one item of follow up?’
“I sat down and he extended the calling,” Elder Gilbert shared, “it was immediately sobering and humbling…but beautiful at the same time.”
After receiving the calling, he stepped away privately to call his wife.
“There was a lot of surprise,” Elder Gilbert said of that phone call.
“Surprise was also met with a feeling of sacredness for the trust he was being shown,” the Church News reported, “he and Sister Gilbert stayed up late Wednesday reflecting on what they have learned from each member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.”
I love picturing that scene of receiving such overwhelming, life-changing news and admire so much that they chose to respond to it like Nephi when he first heard of his father’s vision of the Tree of Life. They knew where to turn. They reflected on what the Lord has already taught them in preparation for this moment by the examples of those that have come before in this calling. They invited the spirit by reflecting on the truths that had already been taught to prepare them, even when they didn’t know they were being prepared.
According to the Church Newsroom, Elder Gilbert says he has received over 1,000 text messages since his calling was announced.
“We couldn’t answer every call that was coming in,” Elder Gilbert shared, “but one of them was on [Sister Gilbert’s] phone from one of our inner-city youth. He’s someone we had mentored and loved and watched him grow in the Gospel. But he called her, not me.” Elder Gilbert’s voice filled with emotion as he shared what the message for his wife was: “We know that this wouldn’t have happened without you.”
“And he’s right.” Elder Gilbert said, “and what a tender expression of that…for both of us.”
I do believe that those the Lord calls to lead his Church are prepared for that calling from their earliest days. They are equipped with skills and insights unique to the time they live in. Elder Clark G. Gilbert is no exception. But I believe the Lord prepares us all for the times we live in and the things we are to take from and contribute to them.
Though life can often feel like we live in constant survival mode, the Lord’s hand is orchestrating our opportunities to allow us to accomplish the unique calls and purposes he has for each of us. Perhaps the greatest opportunity we have is to learn to draw close to Him.
“Right now, we live in what the apostle Paul talked about; perilous times.” Elder Gilbert shared, “The world is in commotion and people are struggling. Good is being called evil, and evil being called good. There are anxieties and tumult and polarization. But those are the same things that are creating the most unprecedented opportunities for the Church.”
“It’s much harder, in this climate, to do things without the Lord. But when you involve him, and make him your priority, all of those things calm.”
None of the prophets or apostles that we have loved and lost had the chance to control the events of their lives. But all chose again and again to involve the Lord and it was through Him that they could have such significant impact with the gifts and insights they had.
“He will comfort us in our afflictions, He will strengthen us in our infirmities, and He will succor us when life’s not fair.” Elder Gilbert testified. “I have a testimony that He lives and I am so grateful the opportunity now to share that everywhere I go in the world.”
