What They Said Wednesday!–President Boyd K. Packer

Talk: President Boyd K. Packer - President of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

• He is standing up this year. (I don’t think he was- did anyone else notice that he was standing?. It looked like the same setup as previous years.)

• “It is indeed wearisome sitting alone in the dark” →  William Tyndale
• We do not resent the title “Mormon”, but it is not quite accurate
  • hence mormon.org
• Obedient to the revelation we call ourselves “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” rather than Mormons. → Latter-day Saints is the preferred shortening.
  • We ought to call ourselves this - not Mormons.
  • I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Children’s Songbook, 77)
• It is one thing for others to refer to us as Mormons, it is another thing when we do so.
• Every ordinance is made in the name of Jesus Christ
• The Gift of the Holy Ghost and the Power the Apostles were given were essential to the governance of the church.
• Every man ought to be able to speak in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
• It is only through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Prophets and Apostles are able to lead the church.  No other power can do so.
  • Interesting thought- every really controversial stand the church has ever taken has come through revelation before the issue was really an issue to the general public.  Morality, Marriage, Word of Wisdom.
• Some might think that it is improper to be singled out because of a single temptation.  
  • We must, and we can, resist temptation
• The great plan of happiness is centered in the home.
  • This ties into the theme of the morning conference.
  • Husband is the head of the home, wife is the heart of the home, both parents nurture the spiritual growth of children
• Latter-day Saints are taught to love one another and forgive others.
• “John, leave it alone.  Nothing you do will bring her back and anything you do will only make it worse.  John, leave it alone.”
  • This is a terribly hard bit of wisdom to follow.
• Offence is a type of revenge that is self inflicting.
• Be in the world but not of the world
  • Taught not to lie cheat steal or use profanity
  • Positive and happy
  • Stand as witnesses to God
  • “It isn’t easy but in the long run it is the only course.”
• “ If you have been offended, forget, forgive it, and leave it alone”
  • Don’t forget to repent also - the offense is rarely just on the shoulders of the one offending - but also on the one who is being offended.
  • “Do a lot of forgiving and a little repenting.”
• We ought not be less forgetful of others’ transgressions than the Lord is of ours.
• If someone is looking for a church that requires very little- this is not the one.