Boyd K. Packer
Encyclopedia
Boyd Kenneth Packer is an American
educator and religious leader, and the current president
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve since April 1970. Packer has served as general authority
of the church since 1961. Currently, he is the second most senior apostle among the ranks of the church.
, Utah
. After graduating from high school, he served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces
from 1942 to 1946. Packer flew a number of bombing missions
in the Pacific theater of World War II
.
After leaving the military, Packer initially attended Weber College (now Weber State University
), where he met his wife Donna (née Smith) Packer. They married in the Logan Utah Temple
in 1947, and eventually had ten children. After their marriage, Packer attended Utah State University
, earning bachelor's
and master's degree
s, and later earned an Ed.D. from Brigham Young University
.
In 1961, Packer was called by Church President David O. McKay
to serve as an Assistant to the Twelve, a discontinued general authority
position. While serving in the position, Packer was assigned to serve as mission president
of the New England States Mission
of the church. He also served for a time as the managing director of the church's military relations committee.
as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the church's April 1970 General Conference.
On September 12, 1991, Packer dedicated Ukraine
"for the preaching of the restored gospel".
Packer has served as an advisor to the Genesis Group
. He is credited with having suggested singing a hymn
to drive off bad thoughts.
The only LDS Church temple
that Packer has dedicated is the Regina Saskatchewan Temple
. In one of the Spanish language
dedication sessions at the dedication of the San Diego California Temple
, Packer read the dedicatory prayer.
Packer has been active in obtaining genealogical records on microfilm for the church through its Genealogical Society of Utah
. In 1977, Packer was a key figure in getting Native American-related records filmed from the federal records centers in Los Angeles
, Fort Worth, Seattle and Kansas City
. He was involved in negotiations that same year with archivists and scholars at Jerusalem to microfilm Jewish records.
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Packer is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator
.
, who had been President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
, succeeded to the presidency of the church in 1994, he called as his counselors in the First Presidency
Gordon B. Hinckley
and Thomas S. Monson
, who were the only two apostles senior to Packer. As a result, Packer was named Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
. When Hunter died in 1995 and was succeeded by Hinckley, Monson was again retained in the First Presidency and Packer was again asked to be Acting President of the Twelve. There have been five acting presidents of the Quorum in the church's history. Packer served the longest in that capacity and is the only one to serve in the position twice under two different church presidents.
Packer became the new President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on February 3, 2008, when Thomas S. Monson
, became President of the Church. As President of the Quorum of the Twelve, Packer is second in line of seniority to Monson.
in October 1976, Packer discouraged boys of the Young Men organization in the Aaronic priesthood from pursuing activities which the LDS church defines as immoral, including masturbation
and the use of pornography
.
Packer made international news in October 2010 when, in his sermon given at the 180th Semiannual General Conference of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City, entitled "Cleansing the Inner Vessel", he stated, "Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural. Not so! Why would our Heavenly Father do that to anyone? Remember, God is our Heavenly Father." Because his statements characterized homosexual acts as "impure and unnatural" and implied that homosexuality
is not an in-born condition, a petition was submitted to LDS Church headquarters on October 12, 2010 by the gay activist organization, Human Rights Campaign
(HRC). In response to the petition, church leaders acknowledged that while they disagree "on many fundamentals" they join the HRC in condemning any "acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation."
Packer commented at the next general conference: "Some suppose that they were unfairly singled out for a specific temptation. This is the purpose of mortal life — to be tested. We must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind."
, he cautioned, "There is a temptation for the writer or teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful." Arguing that teachers should "give milk before meat", he stated that "some things are to be taught selectively and some things are to be given only to those who are worthy." Packer's opinion applied to all historians who were members of the LDS Church: he stated, "One who chooses to follow the tenets of his profession, regardless of how they may injure the Church or destroy the faith of those not ready for 'advanced history', is himself in spiritual jeopardy. If that one is a member of the Church, he has broken his covenants and will be held accountable."
Packer's comments have raised criticism by some prominent Mormon and non-Mormon scholars. Soon after Packer's 1981 speech, Mormon historian D. Michael Quinn
gave a speech highly critical of Packer's views, and suggested that a historian who followed Packer's advice would sacrifice their honesty and professional integrity. Quinn also discussed what he viewed as a Mormon tradition of portraying LDS leaders as fallible people. C. Robert Mesle has criticized Packer as having created what Mesle views as a false dichotomy "between the integrity of faith and the integrity of inquiry".
Packer self-illustrated two books first published in the 1970s: Mothers (1977) and Teach Ye Diligently (1979). The church's Museum of Church History and Art
, although characterizing it as the work of an amateur, exhibited Packer's wildlife paintings and sculptures in 2003 and 2004.
and also explains the importance of family history work.
among members of the LDS Church, on the grounds that for every happy "exceptional" marriage (exceptions such as interracial, underage, short courtship, and others that go against church counsel), he believed there are hundreds or possibly thousands of unhappy ones.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and religious leader, and the current president
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve since April 1970. Packer has served as general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the church since 1961. Currently, he is the second most senior apostle among the ranks of the church.
Background and education
Packer was the tenth of eleven children born to Ira W. and Emma (née Jensen) Packer in Brigham CityBrigham City, Utah
Brigham City is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 17,899 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. After graduating from high school, he served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
from 1942 to 1946. Packer flew a number of bombing missions
Air warfare of World War II
Air warfare of World War II was a major component of World War II in all theatres, and consumed a large fraction of the industrial output of the major powers....
in the Pacific theater of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After leaving the military, Packer initially attended Weber College (now Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
), where he met his wife Donna (née Smith) Packer. They married in the Logan Utah Temple
Logan Utah Temple
The Logan Utah Temple is the 4th constructed and 2nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Logan, Utah, it was the second LDS temple built in the Rocky Mountains .The LDS temple in Logan was announced on May 18, 1877, just after the dedication...
in 1947, and eventually had ten children. After their marriage, Packer attended Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, earning bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s, and later earned an Ed.D. from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
Early employment and service
Packer worked in the LDS Church's education department, where he held various administrative positions overseeing seminary and Institute programs, including assistant supervisor of the church's Native American seminary programs, general assistant administrator of seminaries and institutes, and later as supervisor of Church Seminaries and Institutes. These positions were professional rather than ecclesiastical, as the LDS Church has a lay ministry in which church leaders are unpaid.In 1961, Packer was called by Church President David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
to serve as an Assistant to the Twelve, a discontinued general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
position. While serving in the position, Packer was assigned to serve as mission president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the New England States Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church. He also served for a time as the managing director of the church's military relations committee.
Quorum of the Twelve
Following David O. McKay's death in January 1970, Packer, then 45 years old, was called by newly-ordained Church President Joseph Fielding SmithJoseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the church's April 1970 General Conference.
On September 12, 1991, Packer dedicated Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
"for the preaching of the restored gospel".
Packer has served as an advisor to the Genesis Group
Genesis Group
The Genesis Group is a social organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for African American members and their families. It was first organized in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1971 to provide members an organization where they could affiliate with fellow African American members. ...
. He is credited with having suggested singing a hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
to drive off bad thoughts.
The only LDS Church temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
that Packer has dedicated is the Regina Saskatchewan Temple
Regina Saskatchewan Temple
The Regina Saskatchewan Temple is the 65th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in East Regina on Wascana Creek close to the University of Regina but well away from the downtown business district....
. In one of the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
dedication sessions at the dedication of the San Diego California Temple
San Diego California Temple
The San Diego California Temple is the 47th constructed and 45th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located near the La Jolla community of San Diego, it was built with two main spires, but unique to this temple are four smaller spires at the base of each main spire...
, Packer read the dedicatory prayer.
Packer has been active in obtaining genealogical records on microfilm for the church through its Genealogical Society of Utah
Genealogical Society of Utah
The Genealogical Society of Utah , established in 1894, does business as FamilySearch International, which is the genealogical arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. In 1977, Packer was a key figure in getting Native American-related records filmed from the federal records centers in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Fort Worth, Seattle and Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He was involved in negotiations that same year with archivists and scholars at Jerusalem to microfilm Jewish records.
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Packer is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is currently applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
.
Acting President and President of the Quorum of the Twelve
When Howard W. HunterHoward W. Hunter
Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church...
, who had been President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
, succeeded to the presidency of the church in 1994, he called as his counselors in the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
and Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
, who were the only two apostles senior to Packer. As a result, Packer was named Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
. When Hunter died in 1995 and was succeeded by Hinckley, Monson was again retained in the First Presidency and Packer was again asked to be Acting President of the Twelve. There have been five acting presidents of the Quorum in the church's history. Packer served the longest in that capacity and is the only one to serve in the position twice under two different church presidents.
Packer became the new President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on February 3, 2008, when Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
, became President of the Church. As President of the Quorum of the Twelve, Packer is second in line of seniority to Monson.
Sexuality
In a General Conference SessionGeneral Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
in October 1976, Packer discouraged boys of the Young Men organization in the Aaronic priesthood from pursuing activities which the LDS church defines as immoral, including masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
and the use of pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
.
Packer made international news in October 2010 when, in his sermon given at the 180th Semiannual General Conference of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City, entitled "Cleansing the Inner Vessel", he stated, "Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural. Not so! Why would our Heavenly Father do that to anyone? Remember, God is our Heavenly Father." Because his statements characterized homosexual acts as "impure and unnatural" and implied that homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
is not an in-born condition, a petition was submitted to LDS Church headquarters on October 12, 2010 by the gay activist organization, Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
(HRC). In response to the petition, church leaders acknowledged that while they disagree "on many fundamentals" they join the HRC in condemning any "acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation."
Packer commented at the next general conference: "Some suppose that they were unfairly singled out for a specific temptation. This is the purpose of mortal life — to be tested. We must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind."
Faith-promoting history
Packer has advocated that LDS historians should refrain from discussing history that does not promote faith in the organization. In a 1981 speech to educators in the LDS Church Educational SystemChurch Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
, he cautioned, "There is a temptation for the writer or teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful." Arguing that teachers should "give milk before meat", he stated that "some things are to be taught selectively and some things are to be given only to those who are worthy." Packer's opinion applied to all historians who were members of the LDS Church: he stated, "One who chooses to follow the tenets of his profession, regardless of how they may injure the Church or destroy the faith of those not ready for 'advanced history', is himself in spiritual jeopardy. If that one is a member of the Church, he has broken his covenants and will be held accountable."
Packer's comments have raised criticism by some prominent Mormon and non-Mormon scholars. Soon after Packer's 1981 speech, Mormon historian D. Michael Quinn
D. Michael Quinn
Dennis Michael Quinn is a historian who has focused on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a professor at Brigham Young University from 1976 until his resignation in 1988. At the time, his work concerned church involvement with plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto, in which...
gave a speech highly critical of Packer's views, and suggested that a historian who followed Packer's advice would sacrifice their honesty and professional integrity. Quinn also discussed what he viewed as a Mormon tradition of portraying LDS leaders as fallible people. C. Robert Mesle has criticized Packer as having created what Mesle views as a false dichotomy "between the integrity of faith and the integrity of inquiry".
Arts and church worship
Packer has spoken on the dynamic between the arts and church worship, characterizing some "highly trained" musicians as, "temperamental...more temper than mental." But added, "That, I suppose, describes all of us at one time or another." He encouraged musicians in church settings to focus on inviting a spirit of worship. He has also suggested that organists playing prelude music for worship services should focus on hymns, rather than classical music, in order to better prepare congregants to feel the Spirit.Packer self-illustrated two books first published in the 1970s: Mothers (1977) and Teach Ye Diligently (1979). The church's Museum of Church History and Art
Museum of Church History and Art
The Church History Museum is the premier museum operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is opposite the west gates of the church's Temple Square...
, although characterizing it as the work of an amateur, exhibited Packer's wildlife paintings and sculptures in 2003 and 2004.
Temple worship
One of Packer's most popular books is The Holy Temple. This book gives a doctrinal description of the church's templesTemple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
and also explains the importance of family history work.
Race
In 1977, Packer gave a speech in which he discouraged interracial marriageInterracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
among members of the LDS Church, on the grounds that for every happy "exceptional" marriage (exceptions such as interracial, underage, short courtship, and others that go against church counsel), he believed there are hundreds or possibly thousands of unhappy ones.
See also
- Council on the Disposition of the TithesCouncil on the Disposition of the TithesThe Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is a leadership body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Council determines how the tithing funds of the church will be spent...