Boyd K. Packer
Born: 10 September 1924
Called as Assistant to the Twelve: 30 September 1961
Called to the Quorum of the Twelve: 9 April 1970
Became Acting President of the Twelve: 5 June 1994
Became President of the Twelve: 3 February 2008
Died: 3 July 2015
Called as Assistant to the Twelve: 30 September 1961
Called to the Quorum of the Twelve: 9 April 1970
Became Acting President of the Twelve: 5 June 1994
Became President of the Twelve: 3 February 2008
Died: 3 July 2015
Biographical Articles
Improvement Era, December 1961, Boyd K. Packer, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Relief Society Magazine, December 1961, Boyd K. Packer Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Improvement Era, November 1967, Boyd K. Packer Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Improvement Era, May 1970, Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve
Relief Society Magazine, June 1970, Elder Boyd K. Packer Called to the Council of the Twelve
Ensign, June 1986, Elder Boyd K. Packer: Disciple of the Master Teacher
Ensign, February 2004, President Boyd K. Packer: Apostle and Artist
Ensign, April 2008, President Boyd K. Packer
Ensign, In Memoriam: August 2015, President Boyd K. Packer: Farewell to a Master Teacher
Ensign, In Memoriam: August 2015, Tributes from President Boyd K. Packer's Funeral
Relief Society Magazine, December 1961, Boyd K. Packer Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Improvement Era, November 1967, Boyd K. Packer Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
Improvement Era, May 1970, Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve
Relief Society Magazine, June 1970, Elder Boyd K. Packer Called to the Council of the Twelve
Ensign, June 1986, Elder Boyd K. Packer: Disciple of the Master Teacher
Ensign, February 2004, President Boyd K. Packer: Apostle and Artist
Ensign, April 2008, President Boyd K. Packer
Ensign, In Memoriam: August 2015, President Boyd K. Packer: Farewell to a Master Teacher
Ensign, In Memoriam: August 2015, Tributes from President Boyd K. Packer's Funeral
Zobell, Albert L., Jr. "Boyd K. Packer, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve." Improvement Era. December 1961. pg. 910-911.
BOYD K. PACKER ASSISTANT TO THE COUNCIL OF THE TWELVE ALBERT L. ZOBELL, JR. RESEARCH EDITOR As the General Authorities and general officers of the Church were presented for the sustaining vote of the Saints at the semiannual general conference in the Tabernacle, Saturday morning, September 30, 1961, President Henry D. Moyle presented the name of Boyd K. Packer as Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. Elder Packer, at 37, is a young man whose lifespan has been intertwined with the youth of the Church and the solving of its problems. He has assisted in the supervision of the week-day religious classes of about 75,000 students who are enrolled in the church-operated seminaries and institutes of religion. His career in education includes experience as a seminary instructor, LDS coordinator of Indian affairs at the Intermountain School in Brigham City, Utah, and assistant to the vice administrator of the Unified Church School System. Less than two months before being called to assist the Council of the Twelve, Elder Packer had been named as a member of the administrative council of Brigham Young University and the Church School System. At the time of this call he was finishing up his own schoolwork leading toward a doctorate degree. During World War II Elder Packer was a bomber pilot in the Pacific theater of operations. He was born at Brigham City, September 10, 1924, a son of the late Ira W. and Emma Jensen Packer. He is a former member of the Brigham City city council, and served for six years as a high councilman in the North Box Elder Stake. He and his wife, the former Donna Smith, are the parents of eight children. Elder Packer was set apart as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve on October 6, 1961 by President Henry D. Moyle. There are currently twelve high priests who are called as Assistants to the Council of the Twelve. |
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Pictured above are front left to right, Russell, Kathleen,
GayleAnn, Spencer. Second row, Elder Packer and Sister Packer. Back, David, Allen, Kenneth, and Laurel. |
Tingey, Dale T. "Boyd K. Packer Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve." Relief Society Magazine. December 1961. pg. 808-810.
Elder Boyd K. Packer Appointed Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Dale T. Tingey General Supervisor of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion ONE lonely night during World War II, a young air force cadet, discouraged and homesick, poured out his soul to his Heavenly Father. In that humble and earnest supplication, he promised God that if he would help him to succeed in accomplishing life's real purpose and to resist temptation, he would dedicate himself to the Lord. On September 30, 1961, this same young man answered a call to the office of President McKay and was informed that he had been chosen as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. Boyd K. Packer was born September 10, 1924. He was the tenth of eleven children born to Ira W. and Emma Jensen Packer in Brigham City, Utah. Elder Packer counts himself fortunate indeed to have been reared in a home characterized by great love and devotion. The passing years have not altered this family unity. As a young man Elder Packer enlisted in the United States Air Force. At the cessation of the war, Elder Packer commenced his college training at Weber College. Both the Bachelor and Master Degrees were earned at Utah State University. His doctorate work in the field of educational administration is now nearing completion at Brigham Young University. It was while he was speaking at a sacrament meeting in Brigham City, that a lovely girl whispered, 'That is the type of person I would like to marry." Boyd K. Packer and Donna Smith were married in the Logan temple July 27, 1947. Today they rejoice in their family of eight choice spirits, five boys and three girls. The Packers live on a miniature farm in Lindon. Brother Packer who, himself, loves the out-of-doors, finds one of his greatest pleasures in following the trails on Timpanogos on his horse, with one of his sons riding at his side. Elder Packer's heartfelt desire is that his children live close to the Lord. The same love and close-knit relationship enjoyed by Brother and Sister Packer in their childhood homes, have carried over into their own home. Anyone who has met Sister Packer readily recognizes that Brother Packer receives much encouragement and inspiration from her. He has always taken an active part in community affairs. For four years he was a member of the City Council in Brigham City, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1947 from the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Elder Packer has a great desire to help the Indian people. He pioneered the Seminary program for Latter-day Saint Indian students at the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City. Intense interest in the Indian people has taken him to Indian reservations in all parts of the United States and in Canada. From the small beginning in 1949, the Indian program has grown to eighty-five Indian Seminaries with 3500 students involved. Two characteristics of Brother Packer which contribute to his exemplary life are his complete obedience to authority and his willingness to work. As supervisor of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, his attitude has been to follow the leadership of the brethren. His willingness to remain on a problem or project, regardless of the hours, is a characteristic recognized by all who work with him. He has been heard to say that hard work compensates for a lack of talent and many inadequacies. He lives by the motto, 'There is no excellence without hard labor." Recently, one of the Seminary teachers said, as if he were speaking for all, "We knew the Lord was preparing Boyd for a great task. We support him with all our hearts. Soon tens of thousands throughout the Church will say, The Lord has prepared him; we will sustain him with all our hearts.' " |
Boyart Studio
ELDER BOYD K. PACKER ELDER BOYD K. PACKER AND HIS FAMILY
Front row, left to right: Russell Packer; Kathleen Packer; Elder Boyd K. Packer; Gayle Ann Packer; Donna Smith Packer, wife of Elder Packer; Spencer Packer. Back row, left to right: David Packer; Allan Packer; Kenneth Packer; Laurel Packer. |
"Boyd K. Packer Assistant to the Council of the Twelve." Improvement Era. November 1967. pg. 51.
BOYD K. PACKER Assistant to the Council of the Twelve The tenth of eleven children of Ira W. and Emma Jensen Packer, Elder Boyd K. Packer was born September 10, 1924, into a home that was richly endowed with everything except ready money. He was well schooled in the family circle in the principles that had made for his people an everyday religion of the restored gospel, and had made their arid homesites blossom as the rose. During his senior year in high school. Pearl Harbor embroiled the nation in war. Following his graduation, he worked for the contractors building the Bushnell General Hospital at Brigham City, Utah. He enlisted in the air cadet program of the air force and was graduated as a pilot by the time he was twenty. As a lonely cadet, he recalls, he poured out his soul in prayer, promising that if he could succeed in accomplishing life's real purpose and resist temptation, he would dedicate himself to the Lord. After additional training he was stationed in Hawaii, then in the Philippines. In October 1945 he was sent to Japan, where in his leisure time he had the opportunity of aiding other servicemen teaching the gospel to the Japanese people. After being released from the service, he continued his education at Weber College and Utah State University, receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees in education. He married Donna Edith Smith, and they have nine children. President George Albert Smith spoke in the Box Elder Tabernacle in 1948, encouraging the citizens of the community to support the use of the Bushnell Hospital facilities for an Indian school and promising that those in attendance would be blessed if they would do all they could to aid and encourage the project. Elder Packer took this as a personal challenge, as did others. When the first group of Indian students arrived in 1949, Elder Packer, then a member of the seminary faculty, and J. Edwin Baird were appointed to develop a Church program for those students. From this small beginning, the Indian seminary program has grown and developed and is now used throughout the Church. Elder Packer was sustained as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve at the October 1961 general conference. At that time he was supervisor of seminaries and institutes of religion and was working on his doctorate in education, which he received from the Brigham Young University in June 1962. Since August 1965 he has been presiding over the New England Mission. The promise Elder Packer made when a young cadet to dedicate himself to the Lord has been met by his significant contribution to the education of youth in the Church. |
Todd, Jay M. "Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve." Improvement Era. May 1970. pg. 4-7.
Boyd K. Packer Of the Council of the Twelve By Jay M. Todd Assistant Managing Editor The name of Elder Boyd K. Packer is not new to members of the Church. He has been a General Authority for nine years and is now only 45 years of age. Saints in many parts of the globe have heard his counsel, given in easy and candid delivery that is both quiet and compelling, and likely punctuated by his keen sense of humor. After visiting him, one remembers an irrepressible smile and pleasant demeanor. As a man among men, he has known for more years than his age belies what it means to have wisdom and to be sought after for its expression. But it is as one newly sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator—as are all members of the Council of the Twelve—that Elder Boyd Packer begins to fill a singular niche, one unique and peculiar to himself. The outlines of his life can quickly be noted: a Brigham City, Utah, youth; World War II bomber pilot in the Pacific theatre; marriage to Donna Smith in the Logan Temple; college degree in education; Church Indian Affairs coordinator at the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City; while in his 20's simultaneously serving six years as a high councilor and four years as a member of a city council, and being awarded a civic distinguished service award; assistant administrator of Church seminaries and institutes (named while still in his 20's); and his call in 1961 (after having just turned 37) as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. But the man, his mission, and what he stands for cannot be so quickly profiled. These things are found in his own words (italicized) and in the words of those who know him best: "A number of years ago I chose several basic objectives in life—things that I wanted to be and do. First, I wanted to be a good father. This was not to be limited by occupational choice or setting. I felt that being a good father would be a permanent anchor for my orientation, and that livelihood, hobbies, even social opportunities had to be weighed against whether or not they related to that ideal. I soon learned that the perfect plan for fatherhood was the gospel. When I want to know how to be a good father, I go to church, consult the scriptures, and listen to the authorities. This has been my storehouse of knowledge. Home is the center of the gospel—and of my life. Of all the places in the world—and I've seen some interesting and enticing ones—I'd rather be home than anywhere else." Elder Packer and his wife ("who I've been willing to modestly admit is perfect") are parents of ten children—seven boys and three girls. Their small farm, secluded in southern Salt Lake Valley, is indeed a retreat and haven. "Home to him," says a friend, "is where he has horses, cows, chickens, ducks, birds, and dogs. It's a place where he and his wife have created a special environment to constantly stimulate their children, provide them with chores, duties; a place where he and Donna can foster opportunities for teaching about life and God." "I think in some ways it is easier to raise a large family. It depends upon what you want to accomplish. If you want to provide material benefits, obviously the fewer children you have, the more you can provide for each one. But if you are trying to teach unselfishness, responsibility, cooperation, regard for one another—these things can happen in a well-ordered family only if there are sufficient persons there in the first place. We've learned that extra material benefits per child are offset when children learn thrift, to make do, to make and build something. I felt that way when growing up, and I thought my children deserved that kind of environment." The tenth child of 11 children born to Ira W. and Emma Jensen Packer (he was born September 10, 1924), Elder Packer knows whereof he speaks when he discusses large families: "It's a little hard to explain my coming to a position like this, except out of a family such as I came from. I used to think we were poor—but we weren't; we just didn't have any money. But we were rich in number, in a father and mother who were interested in and set their whole lives on raising a good family. It's true when I say that all I know in life that is important to talk about is what I've learned from my family—parents, brothers, and sisters —and my own family, where I get an even greater schooling." "His mother," says an acquaintance, "used to let him pile up the 13 chairs from around the big kitchen table so he could make a kind of jungle bar and weave his way through. It was one of his chief joys as a child. A lot of mothers wouldn't allow that—it's too much bother, and anyway, that's not what chairs are for— or is it?" "I'll tell you something about that Packer family," says an associate. "I've not seen a family quite so united. It's a family environment that has tempered him, set his goals, qualified him. You have to understand all this to understand him, to know that nothing in the world is more important to him than his family. In his home they have some very unusual family activities and practices that reflect his strong personal philosophy about family life, the privacy and sacredness of which he guards closely." "The second goal that I had was that I wanted to be good. Most people would be ashamed, to say that. I'm not. I just wanted to be good—good for something. Mostly I wanted to be a good son, to both my earthly father and. my Heavenly Father. I have never thought that I deserved to have good children unless I could be one myself. I've had an idea that we contribute to the glory of our Father in heaven when we add in our own person one more worthy individual. I've felt that I wasn't worthy to get what I wasn't willing to give." "Everything in his life," comments a friend, "revolves around his goals. In the use of these goals he has the ability to see relationships, the rare gift of perception to see things in perspective. In this sense, I think that the Lord has called a seer to the apostleship." Even his personal interests indicate the nature of his soul: "You don't really get to know him until you've walked through a forest with him," says his longtime intimate, President A. Theodore Tuttle of the First Council of the Seventy. "Boyd loves nature, loves the mountains, animals, and especially birds. He's a great bird watcher. When he hears or sees a bird, he can identify it. He knows birds, their names and habits, and loves to paint and sculpt them. And he's very good at it. He could have been a fine naturalist— maybe even a good painter of nature. On the wall of one of the homes he lived in, he painted every kind of bird that was common to that area. It was beautiful, and the birds were beautifully painted. He has a great reverence for life—trees, plants, animals, and especially birds." "One thing you can say about him," notes another acquaintance, "is that he beautifies things. He spruces things up—paints, scrubs, hammers, plants, plows—by himself and with his family. He makes everything about him seem pleasant and beautiful in a special, creative way." "When he was a seminary administrator," says a friend, "one of the older teachers, an astute observer of men, once commented, That man has one of the keenest minds I have ever known. By that I mean he can make sense out of something and put things in their true order.' " Another associate notes, "I've never seen him do or say anything without a philosophy behind it. I once asked him, 'Where does all your wisdom come from?' " The question might make him uneasy, but not the answer, a secret that Elder Packer deeply believes all members of the Church need to discover for themselves: "It seems to me that there is a great power in the Church—in all of us—that is untapped because we are always setting about to do things in our way, when the Lord's way would accomplish much greater returns. And then, when we don't know what to do or think, or what would be the Lord's way or will, we don't ask. Why don't we talk to our Father? In specifics? About real problems? As often as toe would with our earthly father if he were nearby?" "He is a man given to prayer, a lot of it," says a co-worker. "He prays about things. He's learned to listen to the Lord." "Sometimes when we don't know what to do," observes another co-worker, "he will say, 'Let's get away from here, go to another room.' And then we kneel down and just talk to the Lord about the matter. It's been a revelation to learn about prayer, that it works in all aspects of life." The supervision of individuals involves administrative and leadership abilities. In this, Elder Packer has long stood out: "He's a natural leader, having the personal bearing, joined with a fixed, resolute purpose that exudes confidence," says an associate. "He treats a man as he ought to be treated," says a subordinate. "When he delegates authority, he gives it. You soon learn that when you speak, you're speaking for him also. This makes you want to be your best, be more creative, more responsible, to be everything you yourself want to be." It was during his years as a seminary administrator that an incident of lasting personal meaning occurred. Both he and Elder Tuttle were assistant administrators over seminaries and institutes of religion. The challenge of leadership pressed heavily on the two young men, both conscious of their lack of long administrative and collegiate teaching experience. They set aside a day in which they reviewed, examined, discussed, and prayed about their responsibilities in directing beloved co-workers. "At the end of the day, after all that thinking, talking, and praying, we came up with three little words that we felt were the answer to our problems and assignments. Those words were simply, 'Follow the brethren.'" It is fitting that they who set about to teach such a course are now in the position to be followed. As for his own assignments, Elder Packer carries a responsible load. At the time he was called to the Council of the Twelve, he was serving as supervisor of the Franco-Belgian, Netherlands, French, French East, and South African missions. He was also managing director of the great priesthood home teaching program, as well as of the family home evening program, and was managing director of the Church's Military Relations Committee. He is a member of the Church Board of Education and serves on the board of trustees of Brigham Young University. Only two years ago he returned from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he had presided over the New England States Mission for three years. He has also been blessed with the gift of teaching, in which activity he always seems to be functioning. "I don't know of a better teacher," says an academic acquaintance. "Certainly, the youth of the Church have a great friend in him. He understands them and knows how to make a principle real in their lives. 1 remember when he was a seminary teacher. He wanted to teach the concept of loving your neighbor, so he told his students, “To do this, you first have to make a friend. In order to do that, I want you to walk to school with a person you normally haven't walked with—just to communicate and to learn how to get acquainted, so you can love people better.” When he speaks to students—even college students struggling to get their degrees and to ferret out truth— Dr. Packer knows whereof he speaks. He has acquired the credentials of the academic world—B.S. and M.S. from Utah State University and Ph.D. from Brigham Young University. On education he has definite opinions: "The academic world can be a pretty dangerous world because it is made up of the philosophies of men. And a lot of people—some of our people—go through and take a leave of church activities in their schooling; they end up as academic giants but spiritual and moral pygmies. That imbalance can be tragic. They can articulate and gain high positions and yet have home and family lives that are such disappointments that all their learning and little faith bring them nothing but sorrow. But we should remember that people don't get in serious trouble in one step. I don't think anyone steps off a precipice into the depths of immorality and apostasy. They slide down the slippery sides of the chasm. When they hit bottom, it's interesting that usually they want to take one step out. There's not one step out any more than there was one step in. It's a long, hard climb. Mostly they have to crawl to get out—on their knees. The best way out is to get into the organized activity pattern of the Church, to stay in it and resist the temptation to be drawn out of it. When people get out of this pattern, penalties come. They find themselves unhappy—and no one wants to be unhappy." Such are the thoughts of Elder Boyd K. Packer and of those who know him well. This is in part a profile of the man recently called to fill the vacancy in the Council of the Twelve. Aptly says a General Authority associate: "The Church will realize soon enough that the Lord was right in the calling—that the Lord doesn't make mistakes." |
Front row: Elder Packer, Sister Donna Packer, Eldort, Spencer, Lawrence; back row: Laurel, Russell, David, Man, Gayle and Kathleen. Kenneth (above) is on a mission.
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"Boyd K. Packer Called to the Council of the Twelve." Relief Society Magazine. June 1970. pg. 404-405.
Elder Boyd K. Packer Called to the Council of the Twelve Elder Boyd K. Packer was sustained a member of the Council of the Twelve at the Solemn Assembly of the 140th Annual General Conference of the Church, April 6, 1970. Elder Packer fills the vacancy created by the accession of President Joseph Fielding Smith to the Presidency. Elder Packer was called to be an Assistant to the Twelve in 1961, and since that time has traveled widely throughout the Church teaching its truths and supervising missionary work. At the time of his call he was supervisor of the Franco-Belgian, Netherlands, French, French East, and South African missions. He is managing director of the Priesthood Home Teaching and Family Home Evening programs, and also of the Church's Military Relations Committee. Elder Packer is an educator. He studied at Weber State College and received his B.S. and Master's degrees from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. from Brigham Young University. He has served for many years as a member of the administrative council of Brigham Young University and the Church Unified School System. He presently serves as a member of the Church Board of Education and the Board of Trustees at Brigham Young University. For three years Elder and Sister Packer and their family were in New England where Elder Packer served as President of the New England Mission. Elder Packer was born September 10, 1924, the tenth of eleven children of Ira W. and Emma Jensen Packer. He was born and reared in Brigham City, Utah. On July 27, 1947, he was married to Donna Smith in the Logan Temple. They are the parents of ten children. Elder Packer has long been a favorite of the youth of the Church. His inspiring addresses have acted as a beacon to aid many in their quest for the right way. He radiates spiritual strength and humility. Sister Packer has been a devoted helpmeet to Elder Packer, and their home is one of love and respect among family members. |
The Packer family, beginning with Elder Packer, Sister Donna Packer, Eldon, Spencer, and Lawrence. Standing: Laurel, Russell, Allan, David, Gayle, and Kathleen. The insert picture is of Kenneth who is serving in the Australian West Mission.
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