Posted by:
summer
(
)
Date: July 04, 2015 10:13AM
In his conference talk from October of 1988, Boyd Packer centered his remarks on the topic of funerals. He stated,
"Many attend funerals who do not come to church regularly. They come subdued in spirit and are teachable. How sad when an opportunity for conversion is lost because a funeral is less than it might have been."
On the roles of family members at funerals, he said,
"There now seems to be the expectation that members of the immediate family must speak at funerals. While that may not be out of order, it should not be regarded as required. Family members ordinarily give the family prayer and dedicate the grave. If family members do speak, and I repeat, it is not a requirement, they are under the same obligation to speak with reverence and to teach the principles of the gospel."
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/10/funerals-a-time-for-reverence?lang=engHere are Packer's thoughts as relayed in a devotional given at BYU on October 15th, 1996:
"When the family insists that several family members speak in a funeral, we hear about the deceased instead of about the Atonement, the Resurrection, and the comforting promises revealed in the scriptures. Now it's all right to have a family member speak at a funeral, but if they do, their remarks should be in keeping with the spirit of the meeting. 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."
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So I say, give Boyd Packer the funeral that he wants and deserves. Let no kind words be said about him by those who know and love him best. Teach, teach, teach. Because goodness knows, Mormons have not heard enough of church doctrine. And really, what is one more apostle anyway, are they not all peas out of the same pod? [/sarcasm.]