Elder Patrick Kearon Invites Students to Become “Flecks of Gold”

Elder Patrick Kearon recently addressed students at Brigham Young University in Provo with a deeply inspiring message of faith, personal growth, and the power of simple, daily actions. He wove together personal experiences, scriptural teachings, and insights from Church leaders to provide students with a vision of their time at the university and beyond.

He began by reflecting on the inspiring messages delivered by Sister Reese and President Reese in previous meetings. He expressed his admiration for Sister Reese’s call to “be positive and look for the good,” remarking that it was a “beautiful” and fitting way to begin the academic year. He also praised President Reese’s counsel, which included setting personal goals, applying oneself, and making and keeping covenants with God: “What a winning combination those things are for you, for me, and for all of us.” Elder Kearon encouraged those who hadn’t reflected on their messages to revisit them, recognizing their importance.

Elder Kearon then shared a personal story from his early 20s, when he first visited BYU as a non-member of the Church. He described the breathtaking beauty of the campus, with the mountains as a stunning backdrop. He recalled being deeply struck by the physical setting of the university: “The first thing that struck me was the physical setting of the campus with the mountain backdrop and the valley where this university is planted—it was literally breathtaking to me, and I loved it.”

He urged the students not to become desensitized to this beauty and encouraged them to view it as a symbol of their potential: “I hope that can be a symbol for the stretching you were invited to do by President Reese last week, as you reach for the higher and the holier, even as you discern what your vision should be and what kind of effort you will apply as you reach for it.”

However, it wasn’t just the beauty of the campus that made a lasting impression on Elder Kearon. The students themselves also stood out to him: “The second thing that struck me was the students themselves, unlike anything I had seen before. They were extraordinary—happy, positive, and anxiously engaged.” Although he humorously noted that in today’s world, the word “anxious” can have negative connotations, he meant it as a description of the students’ eager and enthusiastic participation in campus life. He shared a lighthearted memory of attending a Beach Boys concert on campus, which further added to his sense of BYU being a special place.

“Massive beach balls were being bounced around while the Beach Boys performed. That was one of my first experiences here, but what stood out most were the students.”

Elder Kearon welcomed new students and reminded all of them of BYU’s unique spiritual mission: “You are not meant to be like everybody else as you come here. You’re just not meant to be like every other student at every other university around the world. This is meant to be special. It is meant to be higher. It is meant to be holier. And goodness knows, it is meant to be much more joyful.”

To emphasize BYU’s special purpose, Elder Kearon shared insights from 1 Peter 4:12-13, a passage about enduring trials and finding joy in those experiences. He said: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

This scripture became a foundation for his message about the unexpected challenges life brings, noting that trials can indeed “turn to your good” despite their difficulty. He offered personal witness to this truth: “I am certainly a second witness of that, grueling and excruciating as they may sometimes be in the moment.”

Elder Kearon shared a quote from President Henry B. Eyring that resonated deeply with the students, particularly because of the academic environment they are in. “The Lord doesn’t put us through the test just to give us a grade. He does it because the process will change us.” He recognized the tension students face between striving for academic success and spiritual growth, but he urged them to balance these aims and remember that life is about transformation, not just achievement.

One of the most powerful moments of his address came when Elder Kearon introduced a story from President M. Russell Ballard. The story, which was shown through a short video clip, told of a young man who sold everything he had to search for gold during the California Gold Rush. Despite his great efforts, the young man didn’t instantly find gold. Eventually, an old prospector taught him the importance of gathering “flecks of gold” rather than looking for big nuggets. Elder Kearon linked this lesson to the spiritual truths found in Alma 37:6: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”

 

Elder Kearon read President Ballard’s powerful statement about this principle: “Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.” He encouraged students to reflect on this idea and apply it daily: “For me, what this amounts to is an invitation to look outward and upward.”

Elder Kearon then reflected on how this concept of small acts of kindness can be especially meaningful for missionaries, who often “come to love their missions largely because, for the first time in their lives, they are, to any real extent, looking outward and upward.” He acknowledged that the challenges returning missionaries face can stem from the shift back to focusing inward, and he invited all students to consider the blessings that come from consistent service to others.

He emphasized the importance of the foundational truth that each person is a child of God. He recalled how, as a convert in his mid-20s, this revelation was a “glorious, powerful, beautiful, fundamental truth.” He played a clip from President Russell M. Nelson, who reminded everyone of this essential truth: “My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God.” President Nelson explained how understanding this truth can change the way we view the world: “If everybody knew they were a child of God, I think everybody would look at the world differently. We would all understand that we don’t have to fight this fight on our own.”

Elder Kearon spoke about how easy it can be to forget or devalue this truth, especially for those who have grown up hearing it throughout their lives. He invited students to reexamine their understanding of their divine identity, urging them to embrace the “plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, the plan of mercy.”

“Just imagine if the world understood this. But before the world can understand it, we need to come to a deeper understanding of this beautiful truth. We need to come to a deeper—actually simpler—understanding of the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, the plan of mercy. We need to understand that this design is an eternal gift for us, and that we truly are children of our Father in Heaven.”

To further illustrate this, he shared a quote from President Jeffrey R. Holland: “I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks. He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner—every runner! Meaning you, particularly you, if this is a hard day for you.”

As he neared the conclusion of his talk, Elder Kearon turned to the concept of joy. He quoted President Dallin H. Oaks, who said: “Our Creator wants us to be happy in this life. The things of the earth were created for our happiness, for your happiness, for mine.”

Elder Kearon encouraged the students to remember that repentance is a daily gift available to all of them. He reminded them that their time at BYU is not only an opportunity for academic growth but also a time to “practice these simple principles of reaching out in kindness and love each day—in your apartment, your classes, your ward, your branch, and at home.”

Elder Kearon’s invitation was clear: students should strive to become “flecks of gold” for the world by embracing daily acts of kindness and service.

He said, “If you feel the need to make some changes, remember the beauty we’ve been taught in recent years about the gift of daily repentance. The joy of it is that it’s a gift available to all of us—available to you, me, and everyone. From your hard-won and privileged vantage point, I have an invitation for you: that as you come to a deeper understanding of where those flecks of gold come from, as you look out and look up, you become flecks of gold to an often troubled world.”

He concluded his message by reminding the students of the importance of looking outward and upward, finding joy in the process, and building a life centered on love for God and others. He left them with his testimony of the Savior, the plan of salvation, and the guidance of living prophets, closing in the name of Jesus Christ.

Elder Kearon beautifully illustrated how small and simple actions, rooted in love and faith, can transform lives and bring joy. Through his personal experiences, scriptural teachings, and insights from Church leaders, he provided a profound roadmap for spiritual and personal growth, encouraging students to embrace their divine potential and live with purpose, kindness, and joy.

You can watch the entire devotional below.