Photo Credit: Deseret News
When President Dallin H. Oaks called Elder Clark G. Gilbert to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles this week, it marked a historic moment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…and a point of pride for Arizona.
Elder Gilbert, 55, becomes the church’s 105th apostle and the youngest man called to that position in over two decades. But for those familiar with Phoenix’s legal and political circles, his Arizona roots run deep. He’s the son of Paul E. Gilbert, one of Phoenix’s most prominent attorneys and a fixture in Republican politics for decades.
Paul Gilbert has deep roots in the area, having graduated from Arcadia High School in 1988. He built a legendary career in land use and zoning law, handling some of Phoenix’s most high-profile development cases over four decades. A founding partner of Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC, he’s earned top ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and was named Lawyer of the Year multiple times. His practice shaped modern Phoenix: he famously represented the LDS Church before the largest Phoenix City Council crowd ever, helping resolve neighbor concerns for the North Phoenix Temple development.
Beyond law, Paul Gilbert was deeply involved in Arizona politics, serving as co-chair of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns in Arizona during both 2008 and 2012, helping lead fundraising and organizational efforts statewide. And it is also obvious that Paul and his wife Susan were wonderful parents too.
His son Clark grew up watching his father balance professional excellence with church service and civic engagement. The younger Gilbert recalls meeting President Spencer W. Kimball at age 10 near his Arizona home, so excited he kept returning to shake the apostle’s hand repeatedly.
Now he joins that brotherhood of church leadership. In his first interview as an apostle, Elder Gilbert shared the lesson that has shaped him: when asked to leave Harvard for BYU-Idaho, he learned that “Christ is always pointing you to something better.”
That Arizona foundation, built in a home where faith, service, and community leadership were modeled daily, prepared him for this calling. Paul Gilbert’s influence on Phoenix’s physical landscape is well-documented. His son’s influence on the global LDS Church is just beginning.
For Arizonans watching this historic call, it’s a reminder that the values cultivated here — faith, hard work, service — can shape leaders who impact the world.