Bradley R. Wilcox

Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency

While participating in a youth conference in California, Bradley (Brad) R. Wilcox met a young man who didn’t want to be there. He joined the teenager under a shady tree, and soon they were discussing the youth’s favorite topic—skateboarding.

Brother Wilcox asked the teen to show him some skateboarding moves. Impressed, he invited the youth to do a skateboarding demonstration at Especially for Youth that summer. The young man resisted but eventually agreed. At EFY, he had a life-changing experience and found his testimony of the gospel.

“He got to EFY on a skateboard, but he left as a missionary,” Brother Wilcox said.

“I’ve spent my life with children and teenagers,” Brother Wilcox said, “and I love the youth.”

Bradley Ray Wilcox was born in Provo, Utah, USA, on December 25, 1959, to Ray T. Wilcox and Val C. Wilcox. He grew up in Provo except for spending a few childhood years in Ethiopia.

After serving a full-time mission in the Chile Viña del Mar Mission, Brother Wilcox married Deborah Gunnell in the Provo Utah Temple on October 7, 1982. They are the parents of four children.

Brother Wilcox received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University and his doctorate in education from the University of Wyoming. Brother Wilcox has been honored with several awards for his work in education, has devoted more than 30 years to BYU’s Especially for Youth program, and has relished being an instructor at Campus Education Week.

Brother Wilcox and his family have lived in New Zealand and Spain while he directed study abroad programs for BYU. He has written several books and is currently a professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture at BYU.

Brother Wilcox has served as president of the Chile Santiago East Mission and as a Sunday School general board member, counselor in a stake presidency, and bishop of a young single adult ward. At the time of his call, he was serving as a high councilor and as stake Young Men president.