JENNIFER DYE
Speaking as a teacher, President Boyd K. Packer taught students a lesson he titled “The Ordinary Things Every Member of the Church Should Know” at Tuesday’s Devotional.
“If you learn about these things that are not written down, you will be better qualified to be a leader, and you are going to be a leader. The most important position of leadership is in the home,” President Packer said.
Speaking of the “unbidden order of things” in the LDS church, President Packer said, “There is another source of knowledge relating to what makes the church work. You learn it through experience and observation.”
“Now the things that I am going to tell you about are not so rigid that the church will fall apart if they are not strictly observed all the time,” he said. “But they do set a tone, a standard of dignity and order.”
As his first illustration of the natural order of things, President Packer said that the person presiding over a meeting should sit on the stand near the person conducting the meeting.
“The one who presides is responsible for the conduct for the meeting and has the right and the responsibility to receive inspiration and may be prompted to adjust or correct something that goes on in the meeting,” President Packer said. He said that this holds true for any church-affiliated meeting.
President Packer said that one of the most important things we can learn is the line of authority in seeking priesthood counsel. “We do not write to (the general authorities) for counsel supposing that someone in a more prominent position will give a more inspired answer.”
“For counsel, go to your bishop. He may choose to send you to his file leader, the stake president, but you do not write to the general authorities,” President Packer said.
“There is so much that can be learned by watching the experienced leaders of the wards and stakes in which you live. There is so much you can learn by listening to the older brethren and sisters who have a lifetime of experience,” he said.
“Just be alert to the unwritten order of things and take an interest in them, and you will find that you will increase your ability and your value to the Lord,” President Packer said.
When he was released from his calling as a ward gospel doctrine teacher because of his new calling as a stake clerk, President Packer’s bishop thought his talents were not being used in his new calling. But the calling was an important time of training for him, he said.
“I cannot tell you all that I learned in that calling. I learned by observation and experience many things that were not in the handbook,” he said.
President Packer said that there was concern about how certain church meetings are being planned, particularly funerals and mission farewells. We are deeply worried about the drift that is occurring in the church, he said.
“Of all meetings, funerals could and should be the most spiritually impressive. Often the spirit is repulsed by the humorous experiences and jokes when the time could be devoted to teaching things of the spirit,” President Packer said.
“Our meetings should be conducted in such a way that members may be refreshed spiritually and remain in tune with the spirit to meet the challenges of life,” he said.
President Packer said that he was concerned about increased levels of informality in Sunday meetings. He encouraged students to wear their “Sunday best” to church. Slouchy clothing “leads to informal and slouchy conduct,” he said.
President Packer also said that if the presiding officer speaks during the meeting, he should speak at the end of the meeting to be able to correct or clarify things that have been said earlier.
He also reminded students of the divine nature of church callings. “We do not aspire to calls in the church, nor do we ask to be released. You are called to position by inspiration. It is not wise for us to refuse a call. We must presuppose that the call comes from the Lord”.
President Packer also told students to seek inspiration from established channels and that, if they did, great power would rest upon them. Inspiration is not received by counseling with a bishop of another ward or stake.
“Revelation comes from above, not from the side. However more experienced the holder or more spiritual he may be, it is better to go through the proper channels,” he said.
File photo
AS A TEACHER: Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed students Tuesday about the proper order of things done in the church, like seeking counsel and conducting meetings
