In Japan, he's a celebrity and a missionary

It was on the set of a television talk show halfway around the world where Kent Derricott's mother proved more insightful than ever.Her words came years earlier, when Derricott was stuck in a "miserable childhood," finding no success at school, sports or making friends. To make matters worse, his half-inch thick glasses were an invitation for teasing. After one particularly difficult day, Derricott came home and threw his glasses across the room.While comforting her son, Derricott's mother emphasized three points. The first was that he was a person of value, and the second was that he would always be loved inside their home.The third was a little more difficult to believe."This thing that I was hating so badly and was considering the bane of my existence, she said, 'One day it will become your very best thing,"' Derricott said.As baffling as the statement was, those glasses helped see Derricott through and became a defining characteristic for the popular television personality and ambassador for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan.In the years following that conversation, Derricott became somewhat of a comedian, deflecting the teasing and disarming his peers with humor. He went on to become student body president of Jordan High School in Sandy, after which he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. He got married, graduated from BYU and moved to Japan to expand his business venture.While in the midst of what was supposed to be a six-month stay, Derricott fell into television work. He became one of several "gaijins" (foreigners) to join the cast of a long-running comedy show called "Waratte ii to omou" ("It's OK to laugh").After gaining some notoriety with Japanese audiences, Derricott appeared on what he called a "Barbara Walters-type" talk show, where he recounted the story of his childhood. With the camera showing a close-up of his face, Derricott demonstrated one of his more popular gags, removing his glasses and holding them away from his face."Suddenly the TV screen is filled with these two big eyes, and the studio erupts," Derricott said.The glasses trick became a huge hit, and Derricott's six-month business trip evolved into an extended stay. His face became a constant presence on Japanese television, and he even hosted his own show for four years. Though his family relocated to Bountiful, Utah, after 10 years, Derricott returns to Japan regularly for television and consulting work and remains one of the country's most popular celebrities.LDS missionaries learn his name quickly. When Derricott was a missionary in Hokkaido, he used to reference Donny Osmond to help familiarize people with the church. A decade later, missionaries were using Derricott as a point of reference. He appears in two church videos in which he invites viewers to learn more about the church."The missionaries seemed to be really comfortable with using me as common ground," Derricott said. "That's kind of what missionary work is about — trying to find some space of common ground."Opportunities to educate audiences about the gospel have also presented themselves in Derricott's professional life. Early in his career, he was asked to appear on a live late-night variety show, where guests were seated in a half-circle around the show's host.Five minutes before the show started, Derricott realized that each guest was seated in front of a tall glass filled with an alcoholic beverage, the product of the show's sponsor. He informed the show's director about his religious beliefs.The director tried to solve the problem by telling Derricott he didn't have to take a drink and offering to replace it with ginger ale, which was the same color as the original beverage. But Derricott wouldn't budge, knowing it was important the audience knew he didn't drink alcohol. Eventually, his glass was replaced by one filled with orange juice."I don't remember being asked to be a guest on that particular show again," he said. "But through things like that I was able to let them know."On another occasion, Derricott and his family appeared on a popular karaoke show. Although lacking vocal prowess, the family's singing of "Love at Home" brought silence — and a few tears. The show's host said, "Never in the 20 years of our show have our hearts been touched the way they are today.""That was for me a great moment and a great lesson," Derricott said. "We don't have to be quoting from the Book of Mormon or the Bible or the lesson plan to be an ambassador."In representing the church as both a missionary and television personality, Derricott has benefitted from a culture that he describes as gracious and warm."At the same time, I was being taught something about the true meaning of love," he said.