President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He served as president of that Quorum from 1994 until his death in 2015 at age 90.
"There is in the Church a central core of power deeper than programs or meetings or associations. It does not change. It cannot erode. It is constant and certain. It never recedes or fades.
"While the Church is housed in chapels, it lives in the heart and soul of every Latter-day Saint.
"Everywhere in the world, humble members draw inspiration from the scriptures to guide them through life, not fully understanding that they have found that 'pearl of great price' (Matt. 13:46) about which the Lord spoke to His disciples.
"When Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph, collected hymns for the first hymnbook, she included 'Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah,' which is, in fact, a prayer:
"When the earth begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion's hill. (Hymns, no. 83.)
"Every soul who willingly affiliates with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and seeks to abide by its principles and ordinances is standing 'on Zion's hill.'
"Each can receive assurance which comes through inspiration and testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is just as He declared it to be, 'the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth' (D&C 1:30)."
- Boyd K. Packer, "On Zion's Hill," General Conference October 2005
Click here to read or listen to the full talk
I love to ponder what President Packer called a "central core of power" that is fundamental to the Church on earth. That power derives from heaven, through the Lord's prophets, His written word, and His spirit that will bless and guide us. As we discover how to draw upon that "core," we will find safety and peace:
There are times in each of our lives when we seem to feel our earth trembling, when we are almost overcome by "fearful thoughts," and when destruction seems to lie all around us. Those are the times when we can most acutely feel the precious safety of being "on Zion's hill" where we will find true protection.
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)
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