Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Early Life and Education

Born on July 18, 1961, in Carlisle, England, Elder Patrick Kearon’s upbringing was diverse and international.¹  He lived in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, where his father served in the British Royal Air Force.² 

Elder Kearon’s path to the Church was unique; he was introduced to the gospel in his early twenties while living in London, and then again in California. When he moved back to England, he met missionaries on the streets of London and told them to not try to convert him. Eventually he was baptized on Christmas Eve in 1987. He notes that a priesthood blessing he received from a senior missionary was a turning point for him.³ 

He married Jennifer Carole Hulme in 1991 in the Oakland California Temple. The couple has four children, one of whom—their firstborn son—passed away in infancy, an experience that has deeply informed Elder Kearon’s empathy for those in grief.⁴ 

Professional Career

Before his full-time Church service, Elder Kearon lived and worked in London and Saudi Arabia. He ran his own communications consultancy, specializing in public affairs and health and safety.⁵  

Recent teachings

During the February 2026 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, Elder Kearon discussed the Savior's song of redeeming love and taught those in attendance how to sing well. He invited those present to sing loud and exuberantly: "But we have to work and put the energy there."⁶ 

In his October 2025 general conference talk, Elder Kearon's talk was entitled Jesus Christ and Your New Beginning. He invited believers to embrace a fresh start through Jesus Christ:

"To those who are struggling with the same sin or the same setback over and over again, you keep going. He hasn’t put a roadblock in front of you. He hasn’t set a limit on your second chances. You press on. You keep striving. You seek help from those around you. And you trust in the new beginning that is there for you every time you turn back to your Father in sincerity of heart. Leave deliberate sinning, casual repeats, and prideful rebellion behind you, where they belong. You don’t have to be who you’ve been before. Embrace your fresh start, your second or third or fourth—or hundredth—chance, offered to you through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ."⁷ 

• ^{1. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/patrick-kearon?lang=eng}
• ^{2. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2017/11/news-of-the-church/elder-patrick-kearon?lang=eng}
• ^{3. https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/1/23/24046407/elder-patrick-kearon-apostle-2023/}
• ^{4. Ibid.}
• ^{5. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/patrick-kearon?lang=eng}
• ^{6. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults/2026/02/12panel?lang=eng}
• ^{7. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/31kearon?lang=eng}