The Elder Patrick Kearon biography begins in northern England, but his journey to becoming an apostle took him through Saudi Arabia, business and a religious conversion at age 26. On December 7, 2023, he became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He had already spent more than a decade serving as a senior Church leader before receiving that appointment.
Elder Patrick Kearon Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Kearon |
| Date of birth | July 18, 1961 |
| Age | 65 years old (2026) |
| Birthplace | Carlisle, England |
| Current position | Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Church membership | Baptized December 24, 1987 |
| Wife | Jennifer Carole Hulme Kearon |
| Marriage date | January 12, 1991 |
| Children | Four, including a son who died in infancy |
| Previous profession | Business management and communications consultancy |
| Appointed apostle | December 7, 2023 |
Early Life and Education
Patrick Kearon was born on July 18, 1961, in Carlisle, England, to Paddy and Patricia Kearon. He was the youngest of five children.
His parents had served in the British armed forces during World War II. His father later worked as a defense contractor in Saudi Arabia, where Patrick spent part of his childhood.
At about seven years old, Patrick experienced something he would remember for decades. During a family camping trip in the Saudi desert, he ignored instructions to wear proper shoes and was stung by a scorpion.
He later used the experience in a Church talk about listening to wise advice.
Boarding School in England
Around age ten, Patrick began attending boarding school in England while his parents remained in Saudi Arabia.
Being away from home was difficult. He counted the days until school holidays, when he could return to his family.
During his school years, he also helped with cleanup efforts after serious flooding struck communities near his school. He later described how helping other people eased some of his own feelings of insecurity.
As a teenager, he developed an interest in aviation and took glider-flying lessons with the Royal Air Force.
These childhood experiences became part of the stories he would later share in his religious teachings.
His Life Before Joining the Church
After completing secondary school, Kearon returned to Saudi Arabia and began management training with a multinational food and drink company.
He subsequently worked in several industries across the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
At age 19, he experienced a major personal loss when his father and brother-in-law died in a road accident in Saudi Arabia.
He returned to England with his mother before eventually resuming work in Saudi Arabia.
His professional experience later included running a communications consultancy in England with his wife.
Unlike someone who had spent an entire career working for a religious institution, Kearon had an established business background before accepting full-time Church leadership responsibilities.
How Patrick Kearon Became a Latter-day Saint
Kearon did not grow up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His introduction to the faith came through Church members he met while working in London and spending time in California.
He was particularly interested in a Latter-day Saint family in California whose daily life centered on faith and service.
After returning to England, he met missionaries in London. He initially had questions about their beliefs and spent several months learning about the Church.
A blessing he received from a senior missionary became an important moment in his decision to join.
On Christmas Eve 1987, Patrick Kearon was baptized at age 26.
His conversion later became a significant part of his public story because he entered the Church as an adult rather than being raised in it.
Wife, Marriage and Children
Elder Patrick Kearon is married to Jennifer Carole Hulme Kearon.
They met in London in 1989 while Jennifer was studying abroad. She was a Brigham Young University student from Saratoga, California, taking courses in art history and English literature.
The couple married on January 12, 1991, in the Oakland California Temple.
They spent much of their early married life in England, where they raised their family before relocating to Utah in 2010.
How Many Children Does Patrick Kearon Have?
Patrick and Jennifer Kearon are the parents of four children:
- Sean, their son, who died in infancy.
- Elizabeth, their eldest daughter.
- Susannah, their second daughter.
- Emma, their youngest daughter.
Their son, Sean, was born with a serious heart condition and died during heart surgery when he was 19 days old.
In a January 2024 Church News interview, the couple discussed how losing their son affected their family and tested their religious faith.
Jennifer Kearon has also participated in Church devotionals and public religious activities alongside her husband.
Elder Patrick Kearon’s Church Leadership Career
Before becoming an apostle, Kearon held local Church responsibilities, including service as a branch president, stake president and Area Seventy.
His responsibilities expanded considerably after he became a General Authority Seventy in 2010.
Major Church Appointments
| Year | Position or milestone |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Sustained as a General Authority Seventy |
| 2012–2017 | Served in the Europe Area Presidency, including as Area President |
| 2017 | Began serving in the Presidency of the Seventy |
| 2023 | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
Leadership in Europe
Between 2012 and 2017, Kearon lived in Frankfurt, Germany, while serving in the Church’s Europe Area Presidency.
His work involved traveling to different countries, meeting Church members and supporting local leaders.
In 2017, he joined the Presidency of the Seventy, a leadership body responsible for helping oversee the Church’s global activities.
He eventually became Senior President of the Seventy, a position he held when he received his apostolic appointment.
Becoming an Apostle in December 2023
Kearon was called and ordained as an apostle on December 7, 2023, following the death of M. Russell Ballard.
The ordination was performed by then-Church President Russell M. Nelson and other senior Church leaders.
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the Church’s second-highest governing body, serving under the First Presidency.
Members of the quorum have responsibilities that include:
- Teaching Church doctrine and sharing their testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Supporting Church leadership across different countries.
- Visiting congregations and participating in Church conferences.
- Helping oversee the worldwide Church’s growth and administration.
The official announcement of Kearon’s appointment was published on December 8, 2023.
Important Teachings and Public Messages
Kearon’s public teachings frequently address faith, compassion, difficult life experiences and the importance of Jesus Christ in Latter-day Saint belief.
Several of his general conference addresses have focused on specific challenges facing individuals and families.
- 2016: Refuge from the Storm. He encouraged Church members to help refugees, show compassion and oppose intolerance toward displaced people.
- 2022: He Is Risen with Healing in His Wings. He addressed survivors of abuse and violence, strongly condemned abusive behavior and taught about the possibility of healing through Jesus Christ.
- 2024: God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home. In his first general conference address after becoming an apostle, he spoke about God’s love and the purpose of the plan of salvation in Latter-day Saint teaching.
These messages show how Kearon has connected religious beliefs with experiences such as displacement, suffering and the need for personal support.
His official conference addresses are available through the Church’s general conference library.
Elder Patrick Kearon’s October 2026 Conference Message
On October 3, 2026, Kearon delivered a general conference address titled Jesus Lives to Lift.
He drew on his experience of learning to fly gliders as a teenager in England.
A glider has no engine and depends on rising air currents to gain height. Kearon used this experience to explain his religious understanding of spiritual growth.
He compared the forces that lift or lower an aircraft with the choices and influences that can strengthen or weaken a person’s faith.
His message encouraged listeners to seek spiritual guidance, recognize harmful influences and help others through difficult circumstances.
The address also connected his childhood interest in aviation with his current work as a religious leader.
Readers can find the complete speech in the Church’s official publication: Jesus Lives to Lift, October 2026.
Where Is Elder Patrick Kearon Now?
As of October 2026, Elder Patrick Kearon is 65 years old and continues serving in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His path to that position included childhood years in two countries, a business career, conversion to the Church as an adult and more than thirteen years of senior Church leadership before his apostolic appointment.
He remains active in worldwide Church leadership, with his October 2026 conference address among his most recent published teachings.
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