Boyd K. Packer
1924–2015 (90 years)
Hometown: Brigham City, Utah
Biography
Boyd K. Packer was an apostle from 1970 until his death in 2015, serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1994 to 2015. A Utah native who served as a pilot in World War II, Packer devoted his career to church education, including as a seminary teacher and supervisor.
Packer is known for conservative doctrinal positions, particularly regarding sexuality. His 1976 talk “To Young Men Only” (nicknamed “The Little Factory” speech) addressed masturbation with mechanical metaphors that later seemed dated. His 1993 talk warning about three dangers to the church (feminists, homosexuals, and intellectuals) generated significant controversy.
He frequently clashed with church historians and intellectuals, opposing what he saw as faithful history being superseded by accurate history. His statement “Some things that are true are not very useful” reflected his concern about faith-challenging information.
Packer authored several books and was known for his extensive teaching using object lessons and visual aids. He emphasized the importance of the doctrine of the family and traditional gender roles.
Despite his conservative reputation, Packer was a beloved teacher to many. He served for 45 years as an apostle, shaping church policies and doctrine through multiple presidencies.
Served Under
Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:
Wives (1)
1 wives · Lifespan: 1924–2015
1 children from 1 wives · Lifespan: 1924–2015
| # | Name | Born | Died | Married | Her Age | His Age | Age Diff | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 14, 1927 | Mar 20, 2019 | Jul 28, 1947 | 19 | 22 | 3 | 10 |
Children (10)
With Donna Smith (10 children)
- Allan Forrest Packer (b. Jul 7, 1948)
- Kenneth Packer
- David Packer
- Laurel Packer
- Russell Packer
- Spencer Packer
- Gayle Packer
- Kathleen Packer
- Lawrence Packer
- Eldon Packer
Posts Related to Boyd K. Packer
Millions Shall Worship Brother Joseph Again But Don't Google Us
Mormon Leadership On Women
Is The Mormon Church True? Good? Useful?
Painted into a Corner: Prophets, Revelation, and the Mormon Church’s Integrity Crisis
!["David Whitmer maintained [that] the Prophet used an oval-shaped, chocolate-colored seer stone slightly larger than an egg. Thus, everything we have in the Book of Mormon, according to Mr. Whitmer, was translated by placing the chocolate-colored stone in a hat into which Joseph would bury his head so as to close out the light... Such an explanation is, in our judgment, simply fiction created for the purpose of demeaning Joseph Smith and to undermine the validity of the revelations he received" - Joseph Fielding McConkie (BYU Professor of Ancient Scripture) & Craig J. Ostler (BYU Professor, Church History and Doctrine), Revelations of the Restoration. Page 95-96, Deseret Book, 2000 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Joseph-Fielding-McConkie-Craig-J-Ostler-used-an-oval-shaped-chocolate-colored-seer-stone-slightly-larger-than-an-egg-to-translate-book-of-mormon-by-placing-it-in-a-hat.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
From 'the Seer Stone a Fiction to Undermine the Validity of Church' To 'Such Aids Are Consistent With Accounts in Scripture'
Facts vs Beliefs - No Limit At All On What Church Is Required To Teach Or Not Teach
Images Related to Boyd K. Packer
![“[Many] advocate: Go to any school, take any course, or go to no school at all, and we’ll all end up in the same place with the same heavenly diploma. That just isn’t reasonable, nor is it true. The position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth is fundamental. Perhaps it would be more convenient and palatable and popular if we were to avoid it; nevertheless, we are under a sacred obligation and a sacred trust to hold to it. It is not merely an admission; it is a positive declaration. It is so fundamental that we cannot yield on this point.” - Boyd K. Packer, LDS Apostle, General Conference, October 1971 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Boyd-K-Packer-only-true-church-upon-the-face-of-the-earth-is-fundamental-we-cannot-yield-on-this-point.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
!["Revelation in the Church is vertical. It generally confines itself to the administrative or geographic boundaries or limitations assigned to the one who is called... revelation comes from above, not from the side. However more experienced or older or however more spiritual someone to the side may appear to be, it is better to go up through proper channels." "[Bishops] should not yield the arrangement for funerals or missionary farewells to families. It is not the proper order of things for members or families to expect to decide who will speak and for how long. I have told my Brethren in that day when my funeral is held, if any of them who speak talk about me, I will raise up and correct them. The gospel is to be preached. I know of no meeting where the congregation is in a better state of readiness to receive revelation and inspiration from a speaker than they are at a funeral. This privilege is being taken away from us because we don't understand the order of things--the unwritten order of things--that relates to the administration of the Church and the reception of the Spirit." - The Unwritten Order of Things, Boyd K. Packer - BYU Devotional 1996 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Boyd-K-Packer-The-Unwritten-Order-of-Things-revelation-is-vertical-go-through-proper-channels.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
!["[Bishops] should not yield the arrangement for funerals or missionary farewells to families. It is not the proper order of things for members or families to expect to decide who will speak and for how long. I have told my Brethren in that day when my funeral is held, if any of them who speak talk about me, I will raise up and correct them. The gospel is to be preached. I know of no meeting where the congregation is in a better state of readiness to receive revelation and inspiration from a speaker than they are at a funeral. This privilege is being taken away from us because we don't understand the order of things--the unwritten order of things--that relates to the administration of the Church and the reception of the Spirit." - The Unwritten Order of Things, Boyd K. Packer - BYU Devotional 1996 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Boyd-K-Packer-The-Unwritten-Order-of-Things-not-yeild-arrangement-of-funeral-to-families-the-gospel-is-to-be-preached.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
