Elder Jörg Klebingat was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2014. Born in Zweibrücken, Germany, on December 19, 1967, Jörg grew up without the influence of the gospel but began to learn about Jesus Christ as a teenager. He had felt a special spirit while visiting a friend’s home and decided to visit this friend’s church. Struck with what he learned there and the testimonies he heard, Elder Klebingat sought after his own witness of the truth, and was baptized in 1985, a decision that would profoundly influence the trajectory of his life.
After serving for 18 months in the German army, his commitment to the gospel led him to serve as a full-time missionary in the Colorado Denver Mission, where he developed a love for teaching. That love stayed with Elder Klebingat as he went on to teach youth the gospel in seminary and institute in many locations around the world.
Elder Klebingat received a bachelor’s degree in Russian from Brigham Young University and later a master’s degree in organizational behavior from the BYU Marriott School of Management. Following his graduation, he worked as a business management consultant for Price Waterhouse and Arthur Andersen and served in several capacities for the Church. These positions have included service center manager in Kyiv, Ukraine; Europe East Area director for temporal affairs; and Europe Area distribution supervisor.
At the time of his call to the Seventy, Elder Klebingat was serving as president of the Ukraine Kyiv Mission. Since his call, he has served as a member of both the Europe East Area and the Africa West Area presidencies and as an area assistant in the North America West and North America Southeast Areas. He currently serves at Church Headquarters in a variety of departments and committees. Before his call, he served as a Sunbeam teacher, Young Men president, elders quorum president, high councilor, and bishop.
He and his wife, Julia Poltorak, have three children and a steadfast commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their firm faith in Him helps them live the gospel every day.
