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Summary of “Receive His Gift” by Elder Patrick Kearon
In his address, “Receive His Gift,” Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offers a heartfelt and poetic invitation to each of us to more deeply receive and internalize the greatest of all gifts: the gift of Jesus Christ and the divine truth that we are beloved children of God. Using the familiar concept of gift-giving, Elder Kearon provides a deeply personal, emotionally rich, and spiritually enlightening message about how to receive rather than merely accept what God offers.
The Nature of Gift Giving
Elder Kearon opens with a reflection on the universal human tradition of gift-giving, spanning time, cultures, and even species—penguins give pebbles, and bonobos share fruit. Gifts are tokens of love, gratitude, and relationship. He invites listeners to remember a time they gave or received the perfect gift, highlighting the deep emotional connection associated with such moments.
This leads naturally into a personal story from his own childhood.
A Treasured Toy Car
As a child growing up in Arabia, Elder Kearon desperately wanted a toy replica of the flying car from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His father, while on a business trip to England, asked if he wanted anything. Elder Kearon asked for the toy car, but when his father returned, no gift appeared, leaving him disappointed.
Ten days later, on his birthday, he unwrapped a beautifully wrapped package—and to his joy, found the very car he had wished for. The gift moved him to tears. Not only did it bring happiness, but it came to symbolize his father’s love and attentiveness. This story is more than nostalgic—it becomes a metaphor for how God gives, and how we can truly receive.
Three Parts of Gift Receiving
Elder Kearon outlines the three-part nature of receiving a gift:
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Giving: Thoughtful selection and offering of a gift by the giver.
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Accepting and Opening: The recipient opens the gift, expressing thanks and joy.
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Receiving: The most profound stage—when the gift is internalized, valued, and used with gratitude, deepening the relationship with the giver.
Receiving is not passive. It’s a process that connects the heart of the recipient with the heart of the giver. He compares this to remembering his father’s love when he sees that toy car.
Heavenly Father’s Gifts
Elder Kearon shifts focus to our Heavenly Father’s innumerable gifts—truth, light, peace—all flowing from His infinite love. Yet above all these stands the supreme gift: Jesus Christ. The Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection are the channel through which all divine blessings flow.
He states, “All of our Father’s gifts flow from and are activated by the Saviour’s willing offering.” Christ is the Father’s ultimate gift—both an expression of His love and the mechanism for our return to Him.
One Vital Truth: You Are God’s Child
The cornerstone truth Elder Kearon emphasizes is this: You are a child of God. This knowledge is not symbolic, but literal. If fully received, this truth can transform how we view ourselves, our lives, and our relationship with God.
Elder Kearon challenges us to reawaken our sense of awe at this truth. We may have heard it sung in Primary or quoted in scripture, but have we really let it into our soul? If left unopened—unreceived—it remains a gift wasted.
The Invitation to Receive
He pleads with listeners to accept and receive this divine identity, not to let feelings of unworthiness or familiarity block it. None of us are “deserving”—we receive all blessings through the grace of Jesus Christ. But the Giver still yearns for us to open His gift.
He recalls how this understanding came alive in his own life in his mid-20s, after he found faith. As he internalized the reality of his divine identity, his past griefs and challenges took on new meaning. This process, he says, has been deepened by scripture, temple worship, service, and heartfelt prayer.
“Come Unto Christ and Receive”
Citing Moroni, Elder Kearon urges us to not deny the gifts of God, but to “lay hold upon every good gift” by coming unto Christ. The more we truly receive the reality of our divine heritage, the more receptive we become to the Father’s other gifts—joy, peace, revelation, wisdom.
He concludes with a plea: Will you receive this gift, truly and fully? Will you let it transform how you see your life, others, and your eternal destiny? Because through the gift of His Son, God is offering us a “more excellent way”—a way of joy.
10 Questions
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Do I truly believe and feel that I am a beloved child of God?
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Have I allowed myself to receive that truth deeply into my soul?
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What are the “gifts” God may have given me that I have yet to truly receive?
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How do I view the Savior—as an abstract figure or as a personal gift from my Father in Heaven?
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What holds me back from receiving God’s love and grace more fully?
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In what ways has my understanding of divine identity shaped or healed my life?
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When have I felt a strong connection with God as the Giver of all good things?
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What experiences or practices help me more fully “receive” rather than just “accept” spiritual truths?
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How can I better express gratitude to God for His gifts, especially the gift of His Son?
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What could change in my life if I more fully lived in the knowledge that I am a child of God?
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dyejo
Guest Author
