Elder Boyd K. Packer on reverence and revelation

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.

"Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings. Such words as quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter abound in the scriptures...

"The world grows increasingly noisy. Clothing and grooming and conduct are looser and sloppier and more disheveled. Raucous music, with obscene lyrics blasted through amplifiers while lights flash psychedelic colors, characterizes the drug culture. Variations of these things are gaining wide acceptance and influence over our youth....

"This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless.

"The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer.

"Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit....

"No one of us can survive in the world of today, much less in what it soon will become, without personal inspiration. The spirit of reverence can and should be evident in every organization in the Church and in the lives of every member....

"While we may not see an immediate, miraculous transformation, as surely as the Lord lives, a quiet one will take place. The spiritual power in the lives of each member and in the Church will increase. The Lord will pour out his Spirit upon us more abundantly. We will be less troubled, less confused. We will find revealed answers to personal and family problems."

- Boyd K. Packer, "Reverence Invites Revelation," General Conference October 1991
Click here to read the full talk

It's been almost 30 years since then Elder Boyd K. Packer shared this talk with the wonderful title, "Reverence Invites Revelation." He observed then, "The world grows increasingly noisy." That has certainly been confirmed in the three decades since. There are constant distractions and diversions all around us. And so to seek the inspiration that "comes more easily in peaceful settings" is increasingly difficult. In order to "survive in the world of today," we need to actively seek personal inspiration in settings of reverence. Those settings don't appear naturally; we have to seek them out and create them for ourselves.

Again, the promises are real and wonderful:

• Spiritual power will increase
• The Lord's Spirit will be poured out more abundantly
• We will be less troubled and confused
• We will find answers to personal and family problems

I always love to note apostolic witnesses and promises. It is wise to follow the conditions and claim the blessings!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
April 6, 2015