“Special Witness: Getting to Know President Boyd K. Packer,” Friend, Feb. 2005, 19
Special Witness:
Getting to Know President Boyd K. Packer
Adapted from “Elder Boyd K. Packer: Disciple of the Master Teacher,” Ensign, June 1986, 8–13.
Photograph by John Luke; sculpture of birds by President Boyd K. Packer; Bill and Ed, by Kenneth Wm. Packer
To learn more about President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, match the lettered pictures with the clues below.
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The fifth son and tenth child in his family, President Packer was born here.
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About his childhood, he says, “I thought we were poor. I later learned that that was not true.” Though his family had little of this, they were rich in faith, testimony, and love of family.
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He shows his love for nature by painting and carving animals, especially these flying creatures.
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He was unable to serve a full-time mission because World War II broke out. Instead, he served his country by operating one of these.
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He and Donna Edith Smith were married here on July 27, 1947.
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These strong animals, sculpted by his son, symbolize the faith of his pioneer ancestors and his own family’s cooperating and taking upon themselves the Savior’s “yoke” (see Matt. 11:29–30).
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He and his wife, Donna, have 10 children. They owned these so the children could learn to work.
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He taught seminary classes using these items.
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One of his grown sons says that early in the morning he sees this inside his parents’ house and knows his father is already awake. President Packer enjoys writing and studying.
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He has called this “the single most powerful influence in [his] life.”