‘Look Outward and Upward,’ Elder Patrick Kearon Says at BYU Devotional

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Jennifer, encouraged listeners to “look outward and upward,” and “surprise God” with their faith and service, during a campus devotional at Brigham Young University on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

Elder Kearon spoke to the students about the unique experience offered by Brigham Young University: “[It] has been blessed. It has been consecrated so that you can come here and become ambassadors, to take what you learn in terms of your studies, but also in terms of the development of your character, the development of your nature, around the world.”

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Teaching that we can turn the “rocks,” in life to our good, he emphasized the word “rejoice” in the scripture 1 Peter 4:12-13: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice ....”

Quoting President Henry B. Eyring on the nature of mortality, he said, “The Lord doesn’t put us through this test just to give us a grade; he does it because the process will change us” (“Waiting on the Lord,” BYU speech, Sept. 30, 1990).

“We’re all being changed,” Elder Kearon said, “and it takes the rough and the smooth to achieve that.”

Look Outward and Upward

Elder Kearon shared a video clip in which President M. Russell Ballard relates the experience of a merchant in the 1849 California Gold rush who expressed frustration about not finding the large nuggets he had expected. A more experienced miner helped him recognize the value of the flakes that he did find.

“Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure,” taught President Ballard, “our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy.”

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This is “an invitation to look outward and to look upward,” Elder Kearon said. “So please think about this. Please pray about this and how you can apply this simple invitation every day to bless you as you bless others, as you turn upward to our Father in heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Understand We Are Children of God

Elder Kearon spoke of the “foundational truth” that we are all children of God. “This is a glorious revelation,” he said.

“We have to come to a deeper understanding of … this beautiful truth. We have to come to a deeper, … more simple understanding of the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, the plan of mercy. We have to understand that the design is one of a gift for us, eternally, and that we truly are children of our Father in heaven.”

“My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God,” he taught. “You have sung this truth since you learned the words to ‘I Am a Child of God.’ If everybody knew that they were a child of God, I think everybody would look at the world differently.”

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An Invitation and Testimony

Elder Kearon extended this invitation to listeners: “become flecks of gold to an often troubled world. … [and] practice these simple principles of reaching out in kindness and love each day, in your apartment, in your classes, in your ward, in your branch, at home.”

He concluded with a testimony of “our loving Father in heaven; His Son, Jesus Christ; and of a living prophet to guide us, and of the glorious fact that we will have prophets to guide us until our beloved Savior returns to the earth.”

Choose Faith During Life’s Surprises

Sister Kearon said that many surprises that come into our lives are wonderful, and just what we need. But other surprises “spring up on us in a shocking, unwelcome jolt, bringing with them difficult and even disastrous consequences.”

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“Good or bad, surprises cause us to pivot, recalibrate, modify and adapt,” she said.

She shared two principles taught by the Lord in the following scriptures that can increase our faith, trust and resilience when we are faced with surprises.

In Doctrine and Covenants 90:24, the Lord teaches us to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly,” she said.

In Matthew 7: 7, the Lord commands us to ask, seek and knock, and He promises to answer, she said. “When surprises come our way, … Jesus is promising that … all things, even the surprises, will eventually be for our good.”

“Believe these promises are for you. Increase your faith and trust and fall into His hands. He has got you. … Surprise Him with your choice to choose Him because he will always choose you.”

Church News 3 Ideas for Progressing on the Gospel Path Plus the Power of Positivity

“Some of God’s surprises are wonderful, some confusing, some difficult to navigate, and some perfectly heartbreaking,” said Sister Kearon. “But hold on to him through it all, if you have eyes to see and if you choose faith. He will surprise you with His goodness and love. He will surprise you with His wisdom and foresight.”

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Church News 3 Ideas for Progressing on the Gospel Path Plus the Power of Positivity