Elder Kearon Inspires Latter-day Saints in Northern Luzon

Elder Patrick Kearon, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Jennifer Kearon, met with and addressed Latter-day Saints from several stakes in Northern Luzon during a devotional held Friday, August 23, 2024, in Laoag City.

Elder Kearon and Sister Kearon were accompanied by Elder Michael B. Strong, Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, and his wife, Sister Cristin Strong. As a representative of Jesus Christ, Elder Kearon is in the Philippines to oversee the growth of the Church, share God’s love with His children, and invite all to come unto Christ, learn of Him, and follow Him.

Nearly 700 Latter-day Saints from the Laoag, Batac, and Vigan stakes gathered for the devotional, with many traveling for several hours to attend. The meetinghouse and adjoining cultural hall were filled to capacity, prompting organizers to set up chairs and televisions outside.

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Despite being unable to enter, attendees eagerly participated, expressing their excitement to hear from an Apostle of Jesus Christ, even if it meant sitting outside.

During the meeting, Elder Kearon emphasized the importance of courage and faith, drawing from the hymn "Let Us All Press On," which the congregation had just sung. He reminded the Saints that the goal of Heavenly Father’s plan is for everyone to return to His presence and gently reassured them, saying, "Please don’t worry so much."

Before concluding his message, Elder Kearon offered a heartfelt prayer for the Saints in Northern Luzon. After the prayer, he expressed his gratitude and offered simple counsel: "Thank you for your good life. Just keep being a good person. The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple—don’t make it complicated."

Many of those present were moved by Elder Kearon’s message and heartfelt prayer for the attendees and their families. They also appreciated his sincere efforts to greet and shake hands with as many people as possible, despite his tight schedule, making each individual feel valued and appreciated.

Sister Vera D. Ayala, a young single adult from the Batac Stake, shared how she prayed for personal guidance before attending the devotional. "I felt reassured, knowing that the Lord was aware of my sincere intentions," she said. "The experience deepened my commitment to aligning my life with Heavenly Father's will," Sister Ayala added.

For Sister Guillermina Agbayani, a Relief Society sister from the Laoag Stake, the highlight was hearing an Apostle pray for them. "I strongly felt the Spirit, especially when he prayed for and asked God to bless us and our families. It was indeed an incomparable and unforgettable experience!" she remarked.

Sister Naomi Queja, a young single adult from the Laoag Stake, shared how her understanding of sacrifice changed during the devotional. "I learned that we should look at sacrifice from a different perspective. Instead of seeing it as a burden, we should view it as a way to express our love for the Lord and recognize that the gospel is worth any sacrifice," she noted.

Brother Yztaree Elixir Agbayani, also from the Laoag Stake, described feeling the comforting influence of the Holy Ghost as Elder Kearon spoke. "As soon as Elder Kearon settled into the pulpit, I could feel the welcoming and inspiring presence of the Spirit. His words were uplifting and promising, and I could feel the comforting words of the Savior through him," he shared.

Sister Joanna Kaye Rotor, a young single adult from the Vigan Stake, was particularly touched by Elder Kearon’s optimistic outlook. "What I love about Elder Kearon’s talk is how optimistic and cheerful he was, not just during the devotional but also about the future. I felt like my worries faded away a little bit when he said that we shouldn’t spend so much time worrying."

Brother Angelo Jandoc, a newly returned missionary from the Batac Stake, felt Elder Kearon’s message arrived at a crucial moment in his life. "His message made me realize that, with the Savior at our side, our lives are like a song that we can play beautifully," he said.

Elder Kearon recently concluded an eight-day ministering visit to the Philippines. He participated in various events, including meetings with government and religious leaders such as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Archbishop Pablo David. He also met with local Church leaders, members, and missionaries from different regions and attended an international forum discussing the vital synergy between law and religion in promoting global peace.

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