LDS spotlight – Patrick Kearon  – w/ infographic

Patrick Kearon

Patrick Robert David Kearon (born July 18, 1961) is a British religious leader currently serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been a general authority of the church since 2010 and was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from August 2017 to December 2023.

Early Life and Career

Born in Carlisle, England, Kearon spent part of his youth in Saudi Arabia. After his father’s death when he was 19, he entered the workforce. His career included:

• Working for a Member of Parliament in the UK
• Employment with Nestlé in England, Saudi Arabia, and the United States
• Owning a public affairs consulting company

Conversion to the LDS Church

Kearon was introduced to the LDS Church in the mid-1980s while staying with a Latter-day Saint family in Laguna, California. He later met missionaries in London and was baptized on Christmas Eve 1987.

Church Service

In the LDS Church, Kearon has served in various positions:

• President of the Bristol England Stake
• Area Seventy
• Member of the First Quorum of the Seventy (2010-2023)
• Member of the Presidency of the Seventy (2017-2023)
• Senior President of the Seventy (2020-2023)
• Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (2023-present)

Notable Contributions

Kearon has been vocal on several important issues:

• Advocating for religious freedom
• Addressing European Commission officials regarding the refugee crisis
• Initiating programs to assist refugees in Europe

Personal Life

Kearon is married to Jennifer Carole Hulme. They met while Hulme was a student at Brigham Young University studying abroad in London. They were married in the Oakland California Temple in 1991 and have four children.