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Mine Errand From The Lord: Selections From The Sermons And Writings of Boyd K. Packer
Over the course of his more than five decades as a General Authority for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Packer has powerfully and thoughtfully addressed many major doctrinal, moral, and social issues. Now his teachings on 25 key topics have been compiled in this encyclopedic guide to better understanding the principles and practices of the Gospel. With hundreds of quotations, his most memorable stories, and dozens of photographs chronicling President Packer's service, this amazing reference tool is the most definitive book of our time on gospel questions and is a must-have for your personal library.
672 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
16 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Boyd K. Packer
48 books44 followersPresident Boyd K. Packer, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was set apart to this position on February 3, 2008. Previously, he was Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles beginning June 5, 1994. Prior to becoming Acting President, he served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, having been ordained an Apostle on April 9, 1970. He earlier served for almost nine years as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
An educator by profession, his career includes service as supervisor of seminaries and institutes of religion for the Church and as a member of the Administrative Council of Brigham Young University.
An educator by profession, his career includes service as supervisor of seminaries and institutes of religion for the Church and as a member of the Administrative Council of Brigham Young University.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 4, 2013
This is a sweet and wonderful book! I enjoyed reading President Packer's words - compiled from his various talks and writings. His words are clear, important, timely, and prophetic. I liked the way this book and its topics were organized. The topics flowed in a way that built upon each other and helped me find inspiration and guidance on important gospel topics - from the Plan of Happiness to the first principles and ordinances of the gospel to revelation, scriptures, family relationships, learning, welfare, freedom, the last days, priesthood, leadership, temple work, etc.
Following are a few quotes that I particularly liked (my choices probably say more about me and what I need to be learning and studying right now than about the MANY other wonderful quotes that I could have included here):
"No one of us can survive in the world of today, much less in what it soon will become, without personal inspiration (p. 121)."
"We spend so much time in airports and in other noisy places. But I do not go there. I might be standing there physically, but I am not there spiritually, because I am thinking things and doing things in my mind. If you will learn to do that, then the Spirit will teach you (p. 132)."
"...The Lord does not speak in either English or German and...He can speak pure intelligence into our minds without passage of time....'What are you worried about? There is another language, the language of the Spirit. Those brethren will know that language. You know that language. There will be no problem.'....I witness that there is that universal language, the language of the Spirit (p. 139)."
"I do not like to receive honors. Compliments always bother me, because the great work of moving the gospel forward has in the past, does now, and will in the future depend upon ordinary members....We do not press, nor do we really want our children to set great prominence and visibility in the world or even in the Church as their goal in life. That has so very little to do with the worth of the soul. They will fulfill our dreams if they live the gospel and raise their children in faith. Like John, '[We] have no greater joy than to hear that [our] children walk in truth (p. 291).'"
"Procedures, programs, the administrative policies, even some patterns of organization are subject to change. The First Presidency are quite free, indeed quite obliged, to alter them from time to time. But the principles, the doctrines, never change. If we overemphasize programs and procedures that can change, and will change, and must change, and do not understand the fundamental principles of the gospel, which never change, we can be misled (p. 310)."
"Because the Church is growing so fast, there is a temptation to try to solve problems by changing boundaries, altering programs, reorganizing the leadership, or providing more comfortable buildings. What we really need is a retrenchment such as we have read about in Church history. What we really need is a revival of the basic gospel principles in the lives of all the Latter-day Saints. The true essence of priesthood administration is not in procedure--it is in principle, in doctrine (p. 311)!"
"Teach your students to see with the eyes they possessed before they had a mortal body; teach them to hear with ears they possessed before they were born; teach them to push back the curtains of mortality and see into the eternities (p. 313)."
"...You are to teach the scriptures....If your students are acquainted with the revelations, there is no question--personal or social or political or occupational--that need go unanswered. Therein is contained the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Therein we find principles of truth that will resolved every confusion and every problem and every dilemma that will face the human family or any individual in it (p. 324)."
"In the Church we are not neutral. We are one-sided. There is a war going on, and we are engaged in it. It is the war between good and evil, and we are belligerents defending the good. We are therefore obliged to give to give preference to and protect all that is represented in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have made covenants to do it (p. 357)."
"Never fail to give that which you have to someone who is in need (p. 366)."
"It has been prophesied that the Constitution of the United States will hang by a thread and that the elders of Israel will step forth to save it. In my mind that does not require a few heroes in public office steering some saving legislation through the halls of Congress, neither some brilliant military leaders rallying our defense against an invading army. In my mind, it could well be brought about by the rank and file of men and women of faith who revere the Constitution and believe that the strength of democracy rests in the ordinary family and in each member of it.
"The saving strength rests in ordinary fathers and mothers who do not neglect the spiritual development of their children. It rests in fathers and mothers who will send their sons and daughters to the four corners of the earth to teach that if we will follow His word, 'then [we will be his] disciples indeed; and [we] shall know the truth, and the truth shall make [us] free (p. 381).'"
"....It isn't easy to minister to one so starved. It was not a matter of just putting food before her. The food had to be carefully administered, for delicate balances could be upset, and her life was at stake. Doctors were extremely careful, for their very treatment might prove fatal....So it is with those around us who are spiritually undernourished, or starved. We refer to them as lost sheep. We are called to minister to them. They are of all descriptions. Some have deficiencies of one kind or another that merely rob them of spiritual vigor. Others have so seriously starved themselves of spiritual things that we scarce can hope to save them....The home teacher...is the priesthood representative charged with the responsibility to see that every member of the Church is properly nourished spiritually and does not suffer physical want...(p. 439)"
"I know of no work in the Church more conducive to spiritual refinement and communication than temple and genealogical work. In this work our hearts and our minds are turned to those beyond the veil. Such a work helps us to sharpen our spiritual sensitivities (p. 508)."
"The standards of the world are constantly adjusted to what is. Our standards are fixed on what ought to be (p. 539)."
"You ought to be glad you are here. Quit wishing you were somewhere else. Quit wishing you were somebody else. When you compare yourself with others you can be led astray. Compare yourself with what you used to be and you will progress (p. 539)."
"....Every time we write a date, every time we read a calendar, it somehow honors Him because time is measured from His birth. Every time you write the date you can be reminded of that (p. 554)."
Following are a few quotes that I particularly liked (my choices probably say more about me and what I need to be learning and studying right now than about the MANY other wonderful quotes that I could have included here):
"No one of us can survive in the world of today, much less in what it soon will become, without personal inspiration (p. 121)."
"We spend so much time in airports and in other noisy places. But I do not go there. I might be standing there physically, but I am not there spiritually, because I am thinking things and doing things in my mind. If you will learn to do that, then the Spirit will teach you (p. 132)."
"...The Lord does not speak in either English or German and...He can speak pure intelligence into our minds without passage of time....'What are you worried about? There is another language, the language of the Spirit. Those brethren will know that language. You know that language. There will be no problem.'....I witness that there is that universal language, the language of the Spirit (p. 139)."
"I do not like to receive honors. Compliments always bother me, because the great work of moving the gospel forward has in the past, does now, and will in the future depend upon ordinary members....We do not press, nor do we really want our children to set great prominence and visibility in the world or even in the Church as their goal in life. That has so very little to do with the worth of the soul. They will fulfill our dreams if they live the gospel and raise their children in faith. Like John, '[We] have no greater joy than to hear that [our] children walk in truth (p. 291).'"
"Procedures, programs, the administrative policies, even some patterns of organization are subject to change. The First Presidency are quite free, indeed quite obliged, to alter them from time to time. But the principles, the doctrines, never change. If we overemphasize programs and procedures that can change, and will change, and must change, and do not understand the fundamental principles of the gospel, which never change, we can be misled (p. 310)."
"Because the Church is growing so fast, there is a temptation to try to solve problems by changing boundaries, altering programs, reorganizing the leadership, or providing more comfortable buildings. What we really need is a retrenchment such as we have read about in Church history. What we really need is a revival of the basic gospel principles in the lives of all the Latter-day Saints. The true essence of priesthood administration is not in procedure--it is in principle, in doctrine (p. 311)!"
"Teach your students to see with the eyes they possessed before they had a mortal body; teach them to hear with ears they possessed before they were born; teach them to push back the curtains of mortality and see into the eternities (p. 313)."
"...You are to teach the scriptures....If your students are acquainted with the revelations, there is no question--personal or social or political or occupational--that need go unanswered. Therein is contained the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Therein we find principles of truth that will resolved every confusion and every problem and every dilemma that will face the human family or any individual in it (p. 324)."
"In the Church we are not neutral. We are one-sided. There is a war going on, and we are engaged in it. It is the war between good and evil, and we are belligerents defending the good. We are therefore obliged to give to give preference to and protect all that is represented in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have made covenants to do it (p. 357)."
"Never fail to give that which you have to someone who is in need (p. 366)."
"It has been prophesied that the Constitution of the United States will hang by a thread and that the elders of Israel will step forth to save it. In my mind that does not require a few heroes in public office steering some saving legislation through the halls of Congress, neither some brilliant military leaders rallying our defense against an invading army. In my mind, it could well be brought about by the rank and file of men and women of faith who revere the Constitution and believe that the strength of democracy rests in the ordinary family and in each member of it.
"The saving strength rests in ordinary fathers and mothers who do not neglect the spiritual development of their children. It rests in fathers and mothers who will send their sons and daughters to the four corners of the earth to teach that if we will follow His word, 'then [we will be his] disciples indeed; and [we] shall know the truth, and the truth shall make [us] free (p. 381).'"
"....It isn't easy to minister to one so starved. It was not a matter of just putting food before her. The food had to be carefully administered, for delicate balances could be upset, and her life was at stake. Doctors were extremely careful, for their very treatment might prove fatal....So it is with those around us who are spiritually undernourished, or starved. We refer to them as lost sheep. We are called to minister to them. They are of all descriptions. Some have deficiencies of one kind or another that merely rob them of spiritual vigor. Others have so seriously starved themselves of spiritual things that we scarce can hope to save them....The home teacher...is the priesthood representative charged with the responsibility to see that every member of the Church is properly nourished spiritually and does not suffer physical want...(p. 439)"
"I know of no work in the Church more conducive to spiritual refinement and communication than temple and genealogical work. In this work our hearts and our minds are turned to those beyond the veil. Such a work helps us to sharpen our spiritual sensitivities (p. 508)."
"The standards of the world are constantly adjusted to what is. Our standards are fixed on what ought to be (p. 539)."
"You ought to be glad you are here. Quit wishing you were somewhere else. Quit wishing you were somebody else. When you compare yourself with others you can be led astray. Compare yourself with what you used to be and you will progress (p. 539)."
"....Every time we write a date, every time we read a calendar, it somehow honors Him because time is measured from His birth. Every time you write the date you can be reminded of that (p. 554)."
March 9, 2009
This is an excellent collection of teachings from Elder Boyd K. Packer. Too often, such collections are organized in an encyclopedic fashion making them useful as a resource for quotes but practically unreadable. This collection, however, is organized topically and, as a result, is immensely readable.
My only complaint is that too often the same quote is found in multiple place. The introduction warns that this would be the case but it a little better editing could have reduced this greatly.
My only complaint is that too often the same quote is found in multiple place. The introduction warns that this would be the case but it a little better editing could have reduced this greatly.
May 9, 2010
This was a rough one to read cover to cover. It is so well put together that I think it is best used as a reference book. I know I will be doing that for talks and such in the future.
August 28, 2017
Pure doctrine. Great man.
May 2, 2019
Wise.
I think I would have preferred the talks in full. But the quotes were still good. And I really just skimmed some sections and then really dove into others, like education.
I think I would have preferred the talks in full. But the quotes were still good. And I really just skimmed some sections and then really dove into others, like education.
August 1, 2012
I loved it, although it was hard to read from start to finish. It would be better to read like a reference book. Read a section about a topic you are studying, etc. Though I do not read like this. There are some powerful words by Boyd K. Packer. There were several paragraphs while reading I thought, "I bet he said that years ago, it probably does not apply to "now" (I am old enough to remember the old days) But once I checked the reference, it was said in the "now" days. That small trivia was very interesting to me. Had my children read specific sections. I just passed an opportunity to have this book in my home. I am sorry now. GREAT READ!!!!
Want to read
July 10, 2012I have had this book for a year or so, but just now am reading it and I am mad at myself for not reading it sooner. I have learned so much and gained alot of insight. He speaks on so many topics and it is organized really nicely. You can skip around to what you are looking for at the time. I do really recommend this book.
January 10, 2009
I would describe this as the "Mormon Doctring" of the 21st Century. President Packer is so insightful. He presents his testimony and beliefs on literally hundereds of key gospel topics. You know when you read, learn, and quote from him, you are not going out on a limb.
May 10, 2010
Hmmm, looks like this is one I read and forgot to mark it. President Packer is wonderful, his quotes and teachings are amazing. My only qualm was I wasn't crazy about the format. 5 stars for content though :-)
February 12, 2011
This book was actually a lot better than I was expecting. Because it was excerpts from previous talks and articles, I could pick it up and put it down whenever I wanted to. I have a lot more respect for Elder Packer now.
August 7, 2012
I was intimidated by the looks of this book. It is long and huge, oh and did I say long? I borrowed it from a friend and loved it so much that I just bought my own copy. It has tons that I am sharing with my kids. He says things in such a way that I really understand and grow as I read it.
January 21, 2010
his words are timely and timeless, I am inspired by his insight and revelation.
January 29, 2010
Powerful and deep. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2010
A must in any library!
November 5, 2010
An excellent collection of statements from President Packer on various subjects.
July 21, 2012
my go to for every talk!
December 27, 2013
An excellent read sweet comments from President Boyd K. Packer
February 17, 2013
I learned so much about Pres. Packer. Excellent book, so many wonderful experiences and stories.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews