In honor of Elder Boyd K. Packer, here are some things that he said that have touched me:
As an Apostle, I listen now to the same inspiration, coming from the same source, in the same way, that I listened to as a boy. The signal is much clearer now. We do not have the words (even the scriptures do not have words) which perfectly describe the Spirit. The scriptures usually use the word voice, which does not exactly fit. These delicate, refined spiritual communications are not seen with our eyes nor heard with our ears...It is a voice that one feels more than one hears.
Just think of giving Him that one thing that He would never wrest from you...Obedience--that which God will never take by force--he will accept when freely given. And He will then return to you freedom that you can hardly dream of--the freedom to feel and to know, the freedom to do, and the freedom to be, at least a thousandfold more than we offer Him. Strangely enough, the key to freedom is obedience.
If you feel that you must answer every criticism and challenge that comes your way, a single critic or one heckler can occupy your full time. I have learned that there is one place to search for approval and that is up--to be approved of our Lord and of our Heavenly Father.
There is a position of truth--strong, powerful, steady. Somebody has to stand, face the storm, declare the truth, let the winds blow, and be serene, composed, and steady in the doing of it.
It had become critically important to establish this intention between me and the Lord so that I knew that He knew which way I had committed my agency. I went before Him and said, 'I'm not neutral, and you can do with me what you want. If you need my vote, it's there. I don't care what you do with me and you don't have to take anything from me because I give it to you--everything, all I own, all I am.' And that makes the difference.
From the book A Watchman on the Tower by Lucille C. Tate
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