My Favorite Song

From an interview with Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy; by Anna Culp

Image

Elder Kevin W. Pearson

Sing unto the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:23).

My favorite song has always been “I Am a Child of God.” When I was a young boy and would get into a little bit of trouble, my dad would talk to me about my potential. He helped me understand that I could do anything if I just worked hard and kept the commandments, because I am a child of God.

From the time I was nine, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I lived for baseball. I got a scholarship to play at the University of Utah. But because of my patriarchal blessing, I knew that Heavenly Father wanted me to serve a mission. I left on a mission to Finland before the baseball season started.

It was very hard for me to learn the Finnish language, but I learned how to sing “I Am a Child of God” in Finnish. That helped me remember who I was, what I could do, and whose help would always be available to me. There is not a more powerful scripture in my mind than “I am a child of God, and He has sent me here.”* The gospel of Jesus Christ has helped me remember who I am. I believe that when you know you are a child of God, you can do anything.

Illustration by Eric Barclay