Elder Kearon to Davao Young Single Adults: “You Are Loved More Than You Can Imagine”

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ministered to more than 500 young single adults in Davao City on May 25, 2025. During the devotional, he testified of Heavenly Father’s deep and personal love for each individual.

Elder Kearon was joined by his wife, Jennifer; Elder Michael B. Strong, Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, and his wife, Cristin; as well as several local stake leaders.

In his message, Elder Kearon shared cherished personal experiences from his courtship with Sister Kearon and encouraged the young single adults to value dating and marriage. "Enjoy dating. Marry well. Don’t complicate it,” he counseled.

Reflecting on his youth, Elder Kearon shared valuable lessons he learned while attending boarding school. He quoted President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency, sharing a message he said he wished he had understood earlier in life: “The Lord doesn’t put us through this test just to give us a grade; He does it because the process will change us.”

Elder Kearon emphasized the power of change and the enduring love of God. He invited the young adults to embrace the gift of the Savior’s Atonement and to see repentance as a hopeful and transformative process. "Repentance is a beautiful opportunity to be relieved of our sins and mistakes," he said.

He also offered a reassuring message: "You are loved more than you can imagine,” reminding them of the deep and unconditional love they receive from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, their families, and their Church leaders.

Sister Kearon shared an inspiring message using the simple act of breathing as a spiritual metaphor. She invited the young single adults to "breathe in" peace, the love of Christ, deeper faith, and to remember their divine identity, especially during times of stress, worry, anger, or fear. She also encouraged them to "breathe out" negative emotions and unhelpful thoughts, making space for healing and perspective.

Following the devotional, many attendees expressed joy and a renewed commitment to becoming more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Frethz Avel Justaga from Davao, Philippines Stake shared that the messages strengthened his desire to serve a full-time mission. “I really liked the talks today because I learned a lot and my heart is filled with inspiration,” he said. “Earlier, I seriously asked myself if I truly wanted to go on a mission, and my answer is yes—I would really love to serve.”

Miles Caburnay from Davao West Philippines Stake described the devotional as "a very humbling experience listening to the servants of the Lord," adding that it was both inspiring and joyful. She expressed particular appreciation for Sister Kearon’s message. "It was such a good analogy," Miles said. "It helps us remember to take in the good things, feast upon the words of Christ, and let go of all negative influences."

Seth Jared Sayson from Buhangin Philippines Stake shared that he found comfort and answers during the devotional. “I felt the Spirit strongly and all my questions were answered through the Spirit,” he said. “Elder and Sister Kearon spoke about focusing on the Savior and the things that matter most. Their words comforted me and reminded me to think celestial, to simply keep going, and to simply ‘breathe in and breathe out’ in times of hardship.”

Elder Kearon’s visit to Davao City was part of his 10-day ministering visit to the Philippines. During his visit, he met with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David in Caloocan City, led a donation handover in Manila, paid a courtesy call to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and met with BYU–Pathway Worldwide students and community leaders supporting the Global Education Center in Cebu, among other engagements.