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Transcript

When I was growing up, as I studied the scriptures, I wondered how it would have been to live in the days of Peter, James, and John. When I joined the Church and when I was called and seated at the feet of the apostles and the prophet, I knew the Lord had answered my prayer. So the only thing left for me to do was listen to their words. In doing that, I am listening to the Lord. There's nothing greater in this world of torment to bring peace and joy to one. To be a special witness of the name of Christ means that you have that witness and that authority that's unfailing and will be with you everywhere in the world. And there's a question on how to run the Church. And there are things only the First Presidency could do, then that's delegated to the Twelve, eventually to the Seventy in that delegation, and the distribution of the Church across the world. We were privileged to be sitting at conference when President Monson was sustained. And we felt as we sat there, the mantle of the call of prophet fall on President Monson. We just felt that great spirit as he stood and spoke. And we knew for sure that he was a prophet of God. And it's just an honor to be around him and feel his spirit. And then to see the prophets and apostles, I think it's great to hear what they say. But each time we come to these meetings, I feel privileged to see how they act and interact with each other. There's so many little things you notice about how they can counsel together, how they respect each other, how they support each other. These are the things that tell me that these are prophets of God and they teach us how we should act in our families, in our councils, in church. It would be manifestly impossible to stamp the Church out because of the priesthood. And the Melchizedek Priesthood, higher priesthood, the offices of the Aaronic Priesthood, deacon, teacher, priest. Melchizedek Priesthood, elder, seventy, high priest, prophet, First Presidency. And the stake president has to have keys, keys of the presidency of the stake. If a member of the Twelve was there, he could easily give them. What would happen if it was a Seventy? Well, Seventy is by delegation, they can do anything the Twelve tell them to do, and they can confer keys, which would be an extension of the keys of the Twelve. Most of the stake presidents are converts. And it's beautiful to see what the Lord has done in such a short time. I know that President Monson is the Lord's anointed and that he speaks what the Lord would speak. And his words to me are the Lord's words. And I know that the Twelve are prophets and apostles and revelators. And I sustain them as such. The matter of being special witnesses to the name of Christ, everything we do, we do in His name. Every prayer that's offered at the table, a four-year-old concludes the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. And every sister teaching a Sunday School or Primary class, and their teaching in that name, and that is His name. And as the scriptures say, "by this name ye shall be called at the last day, even the name of Christ." So the name is the key word. We have some challenges in working with the members of the Church in our area. But I'm grateful because we have revelation and we have prophets that help us, guide us, and direct us that will solve those problems. I know without a shadow of a doubt that President Monson is a prophet of God. His two counselors, the Quorom of the Twelve, have been called by God to lead the Church and this last test. And I have a firm testimony; this is the Church. Joseph Smith saw what he saw, and said what he said. He saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We get all over the world. I'm getting a little past the age where I can travel much, but I've been everywhere. And somebody asked a while ago where I'd been, and I thought, "Why don't you ask me where I haven't been?" It'd be a little easier to sort that out because we get all around the world. And the Seventies are there. In the Europe area where I have a priesthood assignment, we find members that have had the privilege of being raised in LDS families. So they might be members of the third, or fourth, or even fifth generation. And on the other side, in various places there are members that are fairly new in the Church. Now it is a joy to see how they change their lives because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God speaks through prophets in our days. I know of the safety that we have in our families as we implement those words that are given to us by God in these days. I rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ that has the power to turn to light everything that is dark. Everything that is unhappy can be made joyful, and we can be prepared to return to our Heavenly Father. To know that is very special and dear to me. I'm grateful for our living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. His entire life has been rescuing people. I'm following him. And all other, the First Presidency and the Twelve, they focus on family. And I'm so grateful and have a strong testimony that they are men of God, inspired to help not only the Church, but the world to return to our Heavenly Father. And it is a great blessing for me. President, thank you very much for your time today. May I just say with a full heart and on behalf of the Seventy throughout the world, how much we love you and appreciate you. Thank you very much. Thank you and I'll pass that gratitude onto Him to whom it belongs.

President Packer Talks about Seventy (Part 3)

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President Packer and members of the Seventy speak about keys of the priesthood and delegation (part 3).
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