Copyright Salt Lake Tribune
The elevation of 62-year-old Frenchman Gérald Caussé to apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints drew widespread praise from members inside the global religion and even from observers outside the Utah-based faith: “The main surprise here is that it puts a third person from Western Europe in the quorum in an era when Western Europe represents a very small percentage of church membership with no real immediate prospects for growth. It suggests that President Oaks was looking more for a highly trusted and capable leader than one who represented a particular demographic.” [Read more about Caussé‘s call to the apostleship.] — Patrick Mason, scholar of Mormon history and culture, Utah State University. “I feel this camaraderie of being French with him. He really cares about people and reaching out to people. This is true of his wife as well. They see people. He is available and accessible.” — Mathilde Oscarson, second-generation French American and BYU student. “Between the loss of USAID [the U.S. Agency for International Development] and cuts to Medicaid, the poor in both the U.S. and the world are facing significant headwinds. To the extent he can help the church orient its humanitarian aid — something he dealt with as presiding bishop – that will help both the world and the church itself.” — Sam Brunson, law professor, Loyola University Chicago. “Caussé’s ordination to the [Quorum of the] Twelve Apostles speaks to the ongoing internationalization of the church’s hierarchy. …My favorite thing about Caussé is that he’s performed with The Piano Guys.” — John Turner, Mormon studies scholar, George Mason University. “He visited my ward while I was living in Minnesota. After meeting him, I sensed that he has a deep understanding of our church globally.” — Vinna Chowriamah, doctoral candidate in religious studies, University of North Carolina. “I loved his talk on stewardship in 2022. His teaching about how God trusts us is fire.” — Benjamin Gonzalez, Latter-day Saint and former missionary. “I lived in France near Caussé and met with him multiple times. He has a powerful dignity, vision and compassion about him.” — Ben Abbott, ecologist, Brigham Young University. “He was my first guess weeks ago. I think he’s amazing, and I’m so excited.” — Mikaila Worthen Reeder, Latter-day Saint and BYU student. “I’ve met Elder Caussé several times. He’s thoughtful and kind. I still remember from decades ago [while serving a mission in France] his generosity and the warm welcome he extended to the missionaries in his ward. He was always quick to recognize how difficult it can be to navigate an unfamiliar culture and language. His family would host the missionaries frequently and share French culture with them as a way of helping missionaries become acclimated in a safe, welcoming environment.”
