I was up early re-reading talks from the most recent General Conference. This morning, it was President Boyd K. Packers talk entitled “These Things I Know.”
One thing I have noticed over the years is that (In my opinion) as President Packer has gotten older, he now seems more like a sweet, gentle, grandfatherly type. He shares poems and stories, and I think he tells more jokes.
But don’t think for a minute that he has softened on his testimony or willingness to stand for truth. He still speaks with the same power of testimony and vision that he always has. The adversary and those that support him have never cared much for President Packer, and they shout it from the rooftops. As I have mentioned before, if the adversary has a game room, he probably has a well-used dart board with President Packers picture on it.
In his last address, President Packer told a story about some birds in his backyard that reminded me of a picture I put up last year.
Here is the story, and the message:
The back windows of our home overlook a small flower garden and the woods which border a small stream. One wall of the house borders on the garden and is thickly covered with English ivy. Most years this ivy has been the nesting place for house finches. The nests in the vines are safe from foxes and raccoons and cats that are about.
One day there was a great commotion in the ivy. Desperate cries of distress came as 8 or 10 finches from the surrounding woods came to join in this cry of alarm. I soon saw the source of the commotion. A snake had slid partway down out of the ivy and hung in front of the window just long enough for me to pull it out. The middle part of the snake’s body had two bulges—clear evidence convicting it of taking two fledglings from the nest. Not in the 50 years we had lived in our home had we seen anything like that. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience—or so we thought.
A few days later there was another commotion, this time in the vines covering our dog run. We heard the same cries of alarm, the gathering of the neighborhood finches. We knew what the predator was. A grandson climbed onto the run and pulled out another snake that was still holding on tightly to the mother bird it had caught in the nest and killed.
I said to myself, “What is going on? Is the Garden of Eden being invaded again?”
There came into my mind the warnings spoken by the prophets. We will not always be safe from the adversary’s influence, even within our own homes. We need to protect our nestlings.
We live in a very dangerous world that threatens those things that are most spiritual. The family, the fundamental organization in time and eternity, is under attack from forces seen and unseen. The adversary is about. His objective is to cause injury. If he can weaken and destroy the family, he will have succeeded.
I think we need to be reminded constantly that our families are under attack, even within our own homes. I think we can get complacent and let our guard down because we are not “out in the world.” But that is so dangerous in our time. We can’t get complacent – “even within our own homes.”
And here is the picture that I put up last year.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but maybe not when they are President Packer’s words.
In seminary this morning we watched a few clips of Pres. Packer from a talk in 1989. My class enjoyed seeing a younger, healthier Pres. Packer. He said this… ““Everything that I have learned from the revelations and from life convinces me that there is time and to spare for you to carefully prepare for a long life.
“One day you will cope with teenage children of your own. That will serve you right. Later, you will spoil your grandchildren, and they in turn spoil theirs. If an earlier end should happen to come to one, that is more reason to do things right” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 72; or Ensign, May 1989, 59).
Anyways it was fun to hear him get a joke in and he got a lot of laughs from the congregation. I love your print! They’ve changed the scripture mastery scriptures so I went to see if that is going to be one of the ones next year and I was quickly reminded that 2Nephi 28 is the lesson where the kids see a video based on Pres. Packers talk about spiritual crocodiles… now it seems it could be updated with this talk. Cool stuff! The gospel is fun!
I am new to your site and I just want to say Thank You! You have made me laugh today. And I needed it very much!
What touched me was that sweet English Robin, my favorite little bird, very fun to watch and hear! Just a remembrance to the fact we all have Little English Robins to protect in our own homes and wards!
This was such a great talk and I love the photos! President Packer could have put those up on the big screen when he was talking, they fit so perfectly! That little bird looks so safe in the first picture but I love that when you show the full picture, it presents an entirely different (scary) perspective. The bird has no clue what is behind him. Snakes are quiet, but deadly. Satan is exactly the same way and creeps into our homes and families through the media and a hundred other sources, often without us realizing it.
Those photos present such a chilling reminder that not only does satan walk about as a roaring lion, but he also quietly slithers around like a snake, often undetected.
(1 Peter 5:8 Be asober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour).
We were discussing President Packer this morning at scripture study and I was able to show my little boys the photos. They were very impressed and it added to what we had been discussing. Thank you!
Loved this talk! I downloaded it this morning to listen to while I walked. So powerful! Love President Packer and love the picture that you posted.
I love Elder Packer. I love his plain speech. I had a religion prof at BYU who suggested that Elder Packer writes a talk, then goes back and crosses out any word over three syllables to make it more understandable. (He wasn’t reporting that practice, just observing that Elder Packer has always been very clear in his speech.)
There are so many object lessons that are in my head because Elder Packer put them there. I have not always appreciated him as much as I do now. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s older or I am. Maybe I’m getting wise enough to seek his wisdom. 🙂
Thought it was written nearly two decades ago, I still recommend his biography, Watchman on the Tower. What an apt description of this great man.
Love Pres. Packer, my ears always perk up a little more when he speaks. Love the graphic picture, and although snakes make my skin crawl, it is a perfect analogy to what families are facing today. Parents must be constantly vigilant.
Good thoughts. A a parent you are always thinking (at least I am, “Have I done enough? Have I taught them enough? Did I mention this.” I use to ask myself those questions a lot. I think this talk speaks to that fear. I try to remember now that the advisary is always there and that you have to teach them how to think and listen to the Holy Ghost. That is the biggest lesson that I want my kids to know, how to listen and to stay worthy enough for the Holy Ghost’s companionship
Yes!
My wife and I read that talk Sunday night. I was also reminded of how we must be on guard in our own homes. A careful reading of his talk will show the Lord’s position on families. (PS. It hasn’t changed one bit).