Elder Keith Karlton Hilbig, who served as a General Authority in the Quorums of the Seventy for more than a decade in various assignments around the world, died Aug. 22 at the age of 73.
Called to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy on March 31, 2001, Elder Hilbig served in many assignments over the five years of his call in that quorum: first counselor in the Europe East Area from 2001-2003, as second counselor in the North America Northwest Area from 2003-2004, and also many executive committees of the Church.
Elder Hilbig was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 1, 2006. In that calling he served on the Audiovisual Committee for the Church, as first counselor in the Australia Area from 2007-2008, as first counselor in the Pacific Area from 2008-2009, on the Scriptures Committee, the Restoration and Cancellation Committee and as assistant executive director of the Curriculum Department from 2009-2010. He was named an emeritus General Authority at the age of 70 in 2012. Prior to that, he had been placed on medical leave in 2010 after developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Prior to his service as a General Authority, Elder Hilbig served as an Area Seventy in the Europe West and North America West Areas. He presided over the Switzerland Zurich Mission from 1989-1992. Other Church callings included Regional Representative, president of the Palos Verdes California Stake for more than ten years, bishop (at age 30), and elders quorum president. He served as a missionary in the Central German Mission from 1962 to 1964.
His education included a bachelor's degree in European history from Princeton University — graduating cum laude — and later a law degree from Duke University. He spent his career working as an attorney. In April 1998, he became International Legal Counsel for the Church, where he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. In that assignment, he oversaw around 40 nations located in Europe and the Middle East.
During his call as a General Authority he spoke two times in general conference. In his general conference talk in October 2007, Elder Hilbig spoke on the topic, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man."
"If we undertake this effort and quench not the Spirit, our inner being is quickened," he taught in his address. "As we persevere, eternal life awaits us. Thus, we dare not quench the Spirit through disobedience or neglect. Rather, let us 'live in the Spirit,' enhancing the sacred and essential role of the Holy Ghost in our individual lives. I testify that as we truly seek the Spirit, we shall benefit more fully from the quiet, but essential, workings of the Holy Ghost."
Elder Hilbig was born on March 13, 1942, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Karl Herbert and Mildred Bower Hilbig. He married Susan Rae Logie in the Salt Lake Temple on June 1, 1967. They are the parents of six children.
Due to Alzheimer’s disease, Elder Hilbig was living in a care facility at the time of his death. Ten days prior to his passing, he fell and broke his hip, which led to more problems up to his death.
A funeral will be held Aug. 29, in the North Salt Lake Stake Center.
mholman@desnews.com @marianne_holman
