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> ... News & Feature Stories > Feature

Elder Clark G. Gilbert Shares 4 Ways Education Will Bless You

By Julie Redd
, October 5, 2026

Before he was called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, learn why this apostle prioritized teaching others about the blessings of education

Elder Clark G. Gilbert waves to the audience alongside his wife at General Conference.
In April 2026, the inaugural president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Elder Clark G. Gilbert was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1
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See Scott Taylor, “Elder Clark G. Gilbert Called as Church’s Newest Apostle,” Church News, Feb. 12, 2026
 Throughout his years of service as president of BYU-Idaho, president of BYU-Pathway, and Commissioner of the Church Educational System, Elder Gilbert has testified that the gospel of Jesus Christ and education are naturally intertwined. 2
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See “Elder Clark G. Gilbert Is Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” Church Newsroom, Feb. 12, 2026

As we learn from Elder Gilbert, God will bless you with hope, guidance, fulfilled potential, and confidence, and He will prepare you for all He is calling you to become.

Blessing #1: Education will give you hope

The blessings of job security, financial stability, and spiritual strength may seem beyond reach, but because of Jesus Christ “hope is never lost.” 3
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Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 41.
The purpose of BYU-Pathway is to bring Christ-centered education of a high quality to people who thought they could never have access to an education. If I had to boil down the miracle of BYU-Pathway into one word, it would be hope.
Clark G. Gilbert 4
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Pathway to Hope, directed by Chantelle Squires; produced by Jane Clayson Johnson, Chantelle Squires, and BYUtv, in association with Kaleidoscope Pictures and Mango Media (BYUtv, 2025), byutv.org/pathway-to-hope

Blessing #2: Education takes you beyond your starting point

If you’ve ever felt behind in life, or like it’s too late to go back to school or make a career change, the Lord cares more about the direction you are going in than your speed.

Elder Gilbert said, “Our future will be determined far less by our starting point and much more by our slope. Jesus Christ sees divine potential no matter where we start. … Christ considers what we do with what we are given.” 5
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Clark G. Gilbert, “Becoming More in Christ: The Parable of the Slope,” Liahona, Nov. 2021

Through marketable certificates, BYU-Pathway helps you build your education from where you are, strengthening your skills as you work toward a bachelor’s degree.

Blessing #3: Education helps you reach your divine potential

God made education a religious responsibility 6
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See Russell M. Nelson, “Education—A Religious Responsibility” (BYU-Idaho devotional, Jan. 26, 2010), byui.edu/speeches
 not to just learn new skills but to discover all you can do with the talents you’ve been given.Elder Gilbert said, “We will realize our ultimate potential only when we make God our partner. … Imagine if your whole life, you were told you could never succeed. Then consider the impact of being taught that you are an actual son or daughter of God with divine possibility.” 7
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Ibid

Education through BYU-Pathway can help you continue to grow as a child of God with divine potential.

Blessing #4: Education prepares you for the Lord’s work

Only God knows why you were meant to be here on this earth at this time 8
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See Esther 4:14
 , so involve him in discovering that reason! BYU-Pathway’s Christ-centered curriculum teaches the importance of involving God in your learning because His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, is the ultimate teacher of truth.Elder Gilbert said, “The Lord is coming again, and He’s hastening His work, and one of the ways He is preparing His people is through education. ... When you involve the Lord in your learning, He’ll take you to places you could never go by yourself.” 9
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“‘They Just Need the Opportunity’: Church Education Blesses Lives in West Africa,” Church Newsroom, Aug. 30, 2026

Embrace the blessings of education

On our blog, hundreds of students have shared their stories with us about how education has blessed their lives.

Are you looking to gain the blessings of education in your life? Explore what the blessings of education at BYU-Pathway might look like for you.

Article published on October 5, 2026

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BYU-Pathway WorldwideLow CostSpiritual GrowthSpiritualHope