Poems Based on President Packer's talks

The Light of Christ

Christ spoke of a light which shineth.
To our eyes it enlighteth.
And, to our minds it quickeneth.

Yet this light is invisible.
To touch, it's intangible.
And it is indestructible.
Boyd K. Packer

The Spirit of Christ can be likened to sunlight.
It stands brilliant though evil tries the world unto blight.
Our guardian angel, as cause and effect fight.

With this light, we have been created equally.
Endowed to all man so we will act sensibly.
It gives insight to instruct us sufficiently.

Inside man the light can warn and guard and be our guide.
It enlightens us for the blessing of all mankind.
That each man may be accountable for his life.

Like a fan to a flame can burn much brighter.
This light dwells in all man and makes us better.
And can nourish with goodness to the comforter.

This Holy light can become ignited by the Holy Ghost.
And bring to memory things taught by a Heavenly host,
Where familiar gospel truths ring from afar tolls.

May those bells heighten our courage, so we can grow.
May we tell all man of the Light so they can know,
How to feast on the words of Christ where e'er we go.

- Boyd K. Packer

The Weak and Simple

No respecter of persons,
Our Lord has called the weak.
In a solemn procedure,
He calls those simply meek.
He qualifies those who serve.
Though they're untrained and unlearned.
That ev'ry man may speak
In the name of God the Son.
That faith might also increase
To break the mighty and strong ones.

In the service of the Lord,
It is not where but how.
One neither seeks nor declines.
Through our mouth, He endows.
The Lord's gospel is proclaimed,
Through the meek and not the famed.
That ev'ry man may speak
In the name of God the Son.
That faith might also increase
To break the mighty and strong ones.

As such was called young Joseph,
To organize God's church.
That we'd see it's through priesthood,
Not position, nor perch;
That we are governed and lead
By a living seen Godhead.
We do not pay clergy
We are taught with love instead.
As we're hungry for the truth
We are taught by living bread.

He commands unto the ends.
Our God has thus spoken,
With focus on the family-
Sealed love at home transcends.
We are taught from little ones-
Who from God have freshly come.
Our testimony is
All that we need to possess.
For we see Him work through us.
And of His hand, we confess.

-President Packer- Otherwise known as a frog
who has learned to jump very high

A Defense and A Refuge

After hiking as far as they could,
The apostles and the prophet stood
High above the valley- their new home.
With God’s blessings no longer to roam.

To a walking stick, they tied a cloth.
On a high peak they waved it aloft.
As an ensign to all from the storm.
A raised standard which was not the norm.

Here was Zion that the Savior chose.
Here they’d blossom as a unique rose.
Those pioneers survived circumstance,
With Christ’s image in their countenance.

The lord’s moral standard we must preach
To those seeking refuge we will teach.
The pioneers’ homes had been taken.
Through trials their faith was not shaken.

If we’re doing the best that we can,
We can light a path for fellow man.
As a candle placed upon a high peak
Our flame can burn bright for all who seek.

We have a refuge and a defense
In our homes and our inheritance.
We do not attack or turn flighty
But, in faith we’ll pray to Almighty.

-President Packer


Who Is Jesus Christ?

The Father asked
Whom shall I send?
Who'll follow my plan
To the very end?

One spoke freely
I, Thy First Son
Here am I, send me
And Thy will be done.

And in protest
With his own plan
A son took to test
Till one third was banned

Before us epochs
Behind us aeons
Creation in check
And a world soon spawned

A place for man
The earth was formed
By Jehovah's hand
Our God, to be for

In God's image
First man was made
As Jehovah pledged
God's glory displayed

Adam and Eve
In the Garden
Used their agency
And fell from Eden

The heav'n fallen
Came to tempt Eve
Adam determined
He too must believe

Left free to choose
There's repentance...
But wicked hands bruise
And there's consequence

Where's mankind's place?
In our God's plan?
Jesus would show grace
And save earth and man

The Bread of Life
The Messiah
The Alpha of Light
And the Omega

Would come to earth
Born of Mary
With humble birth
Sins load to carry

With all man's guilt
And sorrow too
Drops of blood were spilled.
Born for me and you.

Evil piled
Too, mortal pain
Us, He reconciled
He forsook hell's claim

He bore taunting
And took abuse
He suffered scourging
With pain too profuse

He the world's Light
With His legions
Layed down His own life
To take it again

The ransom paid
Soon the earth reeled.
In the tomb He lay.
The law was fulfilled

Twas He who died
For all our sins
He hated and tried
When would He ascend?

On the third day
He was risen
Mankind was now saved
To live without end

I kneel to find
Words of gratitude
Agency is mine
This I choose to do

The Moving of the Water

A moving of the water
Caused by an angel that dipped
Healed the first one to enter
As unseen hands to head slipped

A gathering of the infirm
Await the water's stir
Whose turn to wash and be healed?
Before the waters stilled
----------------------
Impaired in body or mind
This sprinkling of mankind
Cannot care for themselves
And depend on someone else

Those who are in the family
Feel the blame guiltily
That it's a result of sin
But, this is false doctrine

As Jesus passed a blind man
He taught of handicaps
He said of nature's sovereign
God's manifest in them

Don't ridicule or discard
What nature disregards
The infirm are innocent
And, not all ignorant

If we laugh at their expense
Let there be recompense
Those who mimick a palsy
May they fall where all see

Oh, that we were afflicted
With blindness inflicted
And not see imperfection
Then we'd know perfection

We should become like angels
Who move and water swells
By one act that we perform
We heal what's in deform

Our spirits locked in the flesh
Not always well they mesh
We'll serve without apathy
With love, not sympathy

Lest we die prematurely
We'll need some aid, surely
Let our works make an account
For when our needs too mount

When we resurrect one day
Some we'll look a new way
Like the pool of Bethesda
One blink and it is done

For now might we just glimpse
The infirm's small attempts
For they've a spirit's guiding
Though often it's hiding

As everyone must progress-
A step by step process
May we help those handicapped
To be spiritually tapped

Each spirit's intelligent
What's now is earthly sent
When the sleeping dust's restored
We'll rejoice with the Lord

There will be fullness of joy
Flesh no longer destroyed
The day of healing will come
With no more blind, deaf or dumb


Washed Clean

Our conduct is based on values
And more so the gospel improves us
As we learn doctrines and their use
We see the Atonement of Jesus

The doctrines can change behavior
Quicker than behavioral study
With the first we can become pure
With the latter we're long seen muddy

It is truly exhilarating
To ask and become spiritually cleansed
We're consoled. It's liberating
When we're not harrowed up by our sins

Just as we're obedient to laws
There are laws for ordinances too
The gospel can wash us of flaws
With values to help us become new

Boyd K. Packer
"Washed Clean"
Ensign May 1997, 9

Alma 36:17-19
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.


In Ancient Times, Came a Balm- The Balm of Gilead

In ancient times came a balm
For healing and for calm
From out of Gilead it came
And was asked for by name

In our day of disorders
Many are cured or ordered
And much can be prevented
If what's inside is tended

As for good health there are rules
Rest and exercise are useful tools
For maintained quality of lifestyles
And for preventing growing stress piles

But, this does not seem to be enough
Our minds can make life real tough
And how stuck thoughts will manifest
Into ill health all of us can attest

My message is an appeal
To those who feel at ill
My message is a kind plea
To those who know not peace

There is a spirit in man
Which can become ill and sad
And as we are prone to sin
Obedience is the best medicine

If you suffer from worry
Or cannot control fury
All these negative thoughts
Clutter up like junk lots

Put up a "no dumping" sign
And to God's laws realign
What's inside can be healed
As our bad thoughts are stilled

And the cure's found in prayer
May we oft be found there
To find soothing and healing
And be spiritually feeling

If we've a troubling heartache
Or are burdened by a mistake
Prayer's as though a transfusion
To ease and end confusion

And those "oughts" that were in control
Seem petty as we're freed from their toll
And the beam lifts from our eyes
So we see beautiful skies

There is strength as we gain understanding
That the Lord's inside us for our standing
And as the Prince of Peace, He knows our pain
And would that we pray and take on His name

The more we've His Spirit and the Comforter
We are more eased of disease and disorder
Forgive, forget and leave it alone
And, be grateful that our Lord did atone

There is a healing balm
That has to be applied
Our Lord can heal and calm
And, through prayer it is supplied

Boyd K. Packer
The Balm of Gilead
New Era, Aug 1979 36

Jer. 8: 22
Is there no balm in Gilead;
is there no physician there?
why then is not the health
of the daughter of my people recovered?