Funerals/Eulogies - Packer's Policies Were Not Followed

[_Tidejwe]

A while ago, my mom went off about how President Boyd K Packer announced that funerals are NOT supposed to talk about the person, or eulogize them, etc. In "The Unwritten Order of Things", Packer really goes off about this. He says that the Family members shouldn't be ALLOWED to choose who will speak, or for how long. He goes on to say that funerals should really only talk about the Atonement, resurrection, how WE have the truth etc and NOT talk about the person who died, or their life, etc. He even said that if someone tries to talk about him at HIS funeral that he'll raise up and correct them.

I personally think Packer is freaking nuts on this one. If funerals quit talking about the person, stopped being eulogies, or funny and good stories to remember the person, etc and only talked about church stuff, I would NEVER go to any, would you? I think Packer's nuts in this case. I was SOOOOO happy to see that they actually defied Packer's funeral policies and actually talked about President Hinckley. Funerals would SUCK and be nearly pointless to attend if you weren't allowed to talk about the deceased at all as Packer has told us to do.

I don't care if people only say GOOD things about me at MY funeral, in fact, I'd prefer something ala "Speaker of the Dead" if it were possible for someone like Ender to actually do it right. Regardless, I've made it very clear to people I know, that they are NOT to follow President Packer's policies for MY funeral even if it has to be held out of the church and by someone other than the Bishop, etc. If I die before my parents, my mother is certainly NOT allowed to be in charge of it since she apparently believes what Packer has said on the matter. I'd prefer funny stories about me, good memories, things I was known for, etc. Sure, church stuff and my beliefs, etc were a big part of my life, but they should be put in context with the rest of the funeral related to the deceased. When I go to funerals I go with the intention to remember the deceased and their life, etc. I assume others would come to mine similarly.

You know, for Joseph Smith's funeral, he had everyone dress in ALL white instead of any black. I would prefer that as well. Lots of people know this, but I don't know how easy it would be to pull off in our culture. Maybe if it was announced in the obituary or something.

What are your thoughts on Packer's funeral policies?

[_Inconceivable]

Intriguing topic.

I attended a TBM funeral several years ago where Steve Benson gave the eulogy. At the time I thought it was nuts for any SP or bishop to approve of Benson ever standing at a stake house podium. Surreal from a TBM's point of view.

Concerning this "mind and will and the Lord" policy that Packer has revealed, it's nuts too. I think Packer is holding on wayyy too tightly. Social architects do this when they feel they are loosing their grip on the great unwashed (well, in this case the washed blind sheep).

A funeral is what it is. Packer isn't invited to mine.

[_harmony]

What are your thoughts on Packer's funeral policies?

I noticed they didn't follow them, for Pres Hinckley's funeral.

[_bcspace]

In "The Unwritten Order of Things", Packer really goes off about this.

Are BYU devotionals doctrinal or official? I didn't think so........

[_Tidejwe]

In "The Unwritten Order of Things", Packer really goes off about this.

Are BYU devotionals doctrinal or official? I didn't think so........

Of course, by your standards (people who answer like you), there hasn't been anything "OFFICIAL" come out of the church since 1979 (some argue that wasn't an OFFICIAL revelation or anything either...just a policy correction)...and before that, not since Woodruff...some of you even argue that wasn't REALLY a revelation either...it was more of some kind of declaration of policy because the government forced our hand, and Woodruff made the smart choice based on what he knew/was shown. What's the point of a prophet and apostles who supposedly can get revelation but either never do, or at least the Lord hasn't given us anything "Official" since the 1800's? It sounds like we're back to being Catholic 2.0 so what's the point in a restoration if God doesn't ever talk "officially" anymore? Are you also going to claim that only the president can say something Official? So what is the point of apostles, if nothing they say or do is official? How do you decide when you follow the apostles? Why do you watch conference? ETC.

Anywho, that's not the point of this thread. Obviously YOU are smart and informed enough to know that you can't believe everything an apostle says. That's AWESOME...there are many others who don't understand that and try to force everyone else in the church to follow all these "UNOFFICIAL" policies...many in leadership positions, like Bishops, Stake Pres, etc. It can make a big difference in these cases.

[_moksha]

What are your thoughts on Packer's funeral policies?

Mormon families have to be firm and explicit in their instructions, so that their families have a chance to eulogize and mourn their deceased, rather than have the funeral turned into an evangelizing vehicle. I feel bad that no other Apostles has offered a rebuttal to Packer's policies. I suppose he outranks them.

[_Jason Bourne]

A while ago, my mom went off about how President Boyd K Packer announced that funerals are NOT supposed to talk about the person, or eulogize them, etc. In "The Unwritten Order of Things", Packer really goes off about this. He says that the Family members shouldn't be ALLOWED to choose who will speak, or for how long. He goes on to say that funerals should really only talk about the Atonement, resurrection, how WE have the truth etc and NOT talk about the person who died, or their life, etc. He even said that if someone tries to talk about him at HIS funeral that he'll raise up and correct them.

I personally think Packer is freaking nuts on this one. If funerals quit talking about the person, stopped being eulogies, or funny and good stories to remember the person, etc and only talked about church stuff, I would NEVER go to any, would you? I think Packer's nuts in this case. I was SOOOOO happy to see that they actually defied Packer's funeral policies and actually talked about President Hinckley. Funerals would SUCK and be nearly pointless to attend if you weren't allowed to talk about the deceased at all as Packer has told us to do.

I don't care if people only say GOOD things about me at MY funeral, in fact, I'd prefer something ala "Speaker of the Dead" if it were possible for someone like Ender to actually do it right. Regardless, I've made it very clear to people I know, that they are NOT to follow President Packer's policies for MY funeral even if it has to be held out of the church and by someone other than the Bishop, etc. If I die before my parents, my mother is certainly NOT allowed to be in charge of it since she apparently believes what Packer has said on the matter. I'd prefer funny stories about me, good memories, things I was known for, etc. Sure, church stuff and my beliefs, etc were a big part of my life, but they should be put in context with the rest of the funeral related to the deceased. When I go to funerals I go with the intention to remember the deceased and their life, etc. I assume others would come to mine similarly.

You know, for Joseph Smith's funeral, he had everyone dress in ALL white instead of any black. I would prefer that as well. Lots of people know this, but I don't know how easy it would be to pull off in our culture. Maybe if it was announced in the obituary or something.

What are your thoughts on Packer's funeral policies?

Hey another Ender fan!! Cool!

I pretty much agree with you. And really these are mostly elder Packer's opinions. However the hand book does incorporate them to a certain extent. Basically it says the bishop plans the funeral and considers the wishes of the family as he works with them to plan nthe service. He is to make sure the service is dignified and simple and included music and sermons centered on the gospel. Vidoe recordings and slides are not to be used. Interesting that they had a brief slide show for Pres Hinckley while the Choir sang the closing hymn.

Also the manual says it is appropriate for participants to pay tribute to the deceased. But such tributes says the manual, are not to dominate the service. "Funerals provide an important opportunity for speakers and misc to testify of the plan of salvation."

[_Inconceivable]

What are your thoughts on Packer's funeral policies?

Mormon families have to be firm and explicit in their instructions, so that their families have a chance to eulogize and mourn their deceased, rather than have the funeral turned into an evangelizing vehicle. I feel bad that no other Apostles has offered a rebuttal to Packer's policies. I suppose he outranks them.

That's my take on it, Mok.

It may not be an "official policy" but whatever it was, it came from the mouth of a "legal administrator". So whether it was revealed from God or the small mind of Packer makes no difference. He spoke it within the official capacity of his position and tenure and it will remain unchallenged until he dies.

The further I get from Mormonism the healthier my mind works.

So far as an evangelizing vehicle goes, what's the point of a funeral if the deceased isn't euligized? Quite absurd, don't you think??

[_the road to hana]

Video recordings and slides are not to be used. Interesting that they had a brief slide show for Pres Hinckley while the Choir sang the closing hymn.

I think there were several reasons for this, in the case of the GBH funeral.

First of all, the proceedings were broadcast, not only on local television, but on BYU-TV on satellite and by direct broadcast into meetinghouses worldwide.

The local and BYU-TV coverage particularly provided a missionary opportunity to non-members, and possibly more importantly, they needed to fill the broadcast time with documentary coverage of Hinckley's life.

Also, it's important to remember that Hinckley was leader of the church, not a rank and file member, and that with an entire church membership grieving, different procedures needed to be followed. For those members, it was a missionary opportunity even for them, to strengthen the membership, have them understand something about Hinckley's life and work they might not have otherwise, and move forward.

I also think it was used in part for crowd control. They'd asked the rest of the people in attendance at the funeral at the Conference Center to remain seated while the family and GA's and their spouses left to join the funeral cortege. While they were showing some of that funeral cortege in the lower left hand corner of the screen on broadcast, the mini-documentary was holding the crowd still in the Conference Center.

Those who attended live might not realize just how long the broadcast coverage went. I've talked to LDS family members even who went to their local ward meetinghouses or stake centers to watch the funeral on satellite broadcast, and didn't realize that the coverage extended to and through the graveside service and beyond.

[_bcspace]

Are BYU devotionals doctrinal or official? I didn't think so........

Of course, by your standards (people who answer like you), there hasn't been anything "OFFICIAL" come out of the church since 1979

Incorrect. The Church itself has published standards for doctrine as expressed here....

http://www.newsroom.LDS.org/ldsnewsroom ... n-doctrine

...such has been the case for many decades now.