“You Are the Message”: Elder Patrick Kearon Inspires Missionaries at the Philippines MTC

With warmth, joy, and apostolic testimony, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged nearly 300 missionaries at the Philippines Missionary Training Center (MTC) to embody the gospel of Jesus Christ not just in word, but in who they are.

As part of a 10-day ministering visit to the country, Elder Kearon and his wife, Jennifer, met with missionaries in training on May 29, 2025. Their visit was marked by expressions of love, deep gratitude for the missionaries' sacrifice, and a clear call to joyful discipleship.

“You are going to be the message,” Elder Kearon taught. “If you start like this, you look like your message. You look like messengers of joy… So, whenever you do that, you are joyful, you are happy.”

Elder Kearon emphasized that the power of a missionary's message comes not only from what they teach but from how they live and who they are becoming. He invited the missionaries to reflect the hope and light of the restored gospel through their demeanor, actions, and attitudes.

He also spoke about the sacred privilege of inviting others to follow Jesus Christ through baptism, urging missionaries to approach such moments with reverence and heartfelt happiness.

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“When you extend an invitation to be baptized, it should be full of wonder,” Elder Kearon said. “Imagine you’re offering a precious gift…something you’ve saved for, something deeply meaningful to you. You should be beaming with joy at the thought of them being baptized, not bouncing with excitement, but radiating a sacred, joyful wonder as you offer them the opportunity to come unto Christ.”

Elder Kearon also acknowledged the emotional challenges many missionaries face, especially in the early days of their service. He spoke with compassion about feelings of loneliness, homesickness, and the difficulty of adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings – feelings especially real for some missionaries who had arrived at the MTC just hours before the devotional.

He also prepared them for the reality of rejection, noting that it is a natural part of missionary life. Yet, he offered reassurance that through consistent faith and a Christlike example, they would be led to those prepared to receive the gospel.

"If you dwell on your loneliness, your homesickness, your out-of-placeness – it’s understandable but it’s a hard place to remain,” Elder Kearon said. “Beyond that, you will face rejection. But among that rejection will be souls—souls you will take by the hand and lead to the waters of baptism.”

“You will be the message,” he continued. “Not just speak it, but live it—with joy, with hope. Yes, you’re going to face boatloads of rejection. But within that, there will be those precious few who are ready. And you will reach them by being the message.”

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Elder and Sister Kearon were joined by Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Shelley, along with Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of the Philippines Area Presidency and his wife, Carol.

During the devotional, Elder Nash also addressed the missionaries, bearing testimony that they have been “reserved for this amazing time” and entrusted with a sacred role to help believers turn to Christ and come unto Him.

Many missionaries shared that Elder Kearon’s message resonated deeply with them. His invitation to “be the message” inspired excitement and anticipation for their upcoming missionary service.

Missionaries Inspired to 'Be the Message'

Sister Cinco, who has been called to serve in the Japan Tokyo South Mission, said, “I was reminded of the joy that I’ve felt when I received the gospel. It was a message of hope and comfort. It gave me the assurance that with the Lord, I can do all things.”

“I am grateful for Elder Kearon’s reminder to always reach out to the Lord and find strength in Him,” she added.

Sister Zafra, who is also assigned to serve in Japan, expressed feeling a strong sense of unity with others who have trusted the Lord through uncertainty. “One line that stood out to me was when Elder Kearon said, ‘Don’t worry about the language, just be the message with joy.’”

“I was reminded that the Lord truly knows us better than we know ourselves. Despite my lack of background, it strengthened my testimony that He doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies those He calls,” she said.