Elder Patrick Kearon, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, urged high achievers to balance intensive service with periods of stillness during a campus devotional at Brigham Young University on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Speaking during BYU Education Week, Kearon addressed the pressures of productivity, advising listeners that their worth is not determined by their achievements.
Balancing Service and Stillness
During the devotional held at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, Kearon addressed individuals tempted to tie their self-worth to success and productivity. He expressed a wish for attendees to slow down and turn toward Christ to find peace. The Apostle, who was accompanied by his wife, Jennifer, acknowledged the doubts often felt by devoted members who worry if their best efforts are sufficient.
The Trap of Achievement
Kearon taught that focusing excessively on to-do lists and final accomplishments can diminish the enjoyment of the process and reduce personal peace. He noted that excessive focus on personal achievement can shift focus toward one's own hustle and efforts rather than toward the Savior. "Our praise for — and delight in — personal accomplishment keeps our eyes focused on us," Kearon said, suggesting that such focus places the individual at the center of a story that the Savior is meant to occupy.
Lessons from Martha and Mary
To illustrate the necessity of both action and rest, Kearon referenced the New Testament account of sisters Martha and Mary. He described Martha as a hardworking disciple whose service became a source of worry and overwork, potentially causing her service to compete with her communion with God. In contrast, he presented Mary, who sat and listened, as a model of what it means to love God through sitting and attending.
Trusting God's Timing
Kearon's message included reflections on the Sabbath, which he described as an opportunity to retrain focus and slow down. He noted that the day is holy because it is when God rested. He encouraged followers to allow themselves to be a work in progress, trusting in God's timing rather than attempting to finish every task or achieve every goal immediately.
A Life of Conversion
Kearon, who was born in Carlisle, England, on July 18, 1961, has a life history marked by significant transitions and personal loss. He was a convert to the Church, having been baptized on Christmas Eve in 1987 after meeting missionaries in London. He is the only member of the Church among his siblings.
Path to Apostleship
Kearon's path to leadership included serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy starting in 2017, following five years in Germany. He was named senior president of the Seventy in August 2020. On December 7, 2023, he was called and ordained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President Russell M. Nelson and other members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, filling a vacancy left by the death of President M. Russell Ballard.
Trials and Resilience
Kearon's personal history includes the loss of his father and brother-in-law in a car accident in Saudi Arabia when he was 19. He also shared the experience of losing his oldest son, Sean, to a heart condition when the child was three weeks old. He noted that through these trials, the grace of Jesus Christ provided a healing balm. His parents, Paddy and Patricia, were members of the British armed forces during World War II, with his mother serving as an army nurse in India and Burma and his father in the Royal Air Force.
