President Packer - The Test

This statement late in Pres. Packer's address struck me.

"The senior leaders of the Church will virtually always be seasoned by decades of preparation."

I had just been reviewing the ages and succession of the Quorum of 12 Apostles with the passing Monday of Elder Wirthlin. The average age when called for most of the current 12 was 60 years old. Most served as Assistants to the 12, 1st Quorum of the 70 and Presidents of the 70 prior to their call. Or they served as the president of one of the church universities. They had noteworthy business and church service before that. They have been tried and tested.

Pres. Packer's talk intimates of coming tests for the saints and for the nation. These will be difficult times and times that cause us worry, discouragement, and fear. But the foundation is in place for our delivery (the blessings of the atonement, available on conditions of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel) and our hope (the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, The Scriptures of the Latter Day Saints, and those we sustain as living prophets seers and revelators). Each of these has been tested and proven in times past and are established to be our anchor in the storm.