A testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes in a delicate and refined spiritual communication, described in the scriptures as light and a burning in the bosom. It is best described as a feeling, said Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve in his Saturday afternoon address.

He explained that the Nephite prophet Enos said the voice of the Lord came into his mind. "While this spiritual communication comes into the mind," Elder Packer said, "it comes more as a feeling, an impression, than simply as a thought."He added, "The witness is not communicated through the intellect alone, however bright the intellect may be."

Elder Packer said the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently issued a statement alerting members of the Church to the dangers of participating in symposia that concentrate on doctrine and ordinances and measure them by the intellect alone.

"If doctrines and behavior are measured by the intellect alone, the essential spiritual ingredient is missing and we will be misled. Personal testimony is confirmed to us initially and is reaffirmed and enlarged thereafter through a harmonious combining of both the intellect and the Spirit."

He said there is safety in learning doctrine in gatherings sponsored by proper authority. "Some members, even some who have made covenants in the temple, are associating with groups of one kind or another which have an element of secrecy about them and which pretend to have some higher source of inspiration concerning the fulfillment of prophecies than do ward or stake leaders or the General Authorities of the Church. Know this: There are counterfeit revelations which, we are warned, `shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.' " (JS-Matt. 1:22.)

"When we meet to learn the doctrines of the gospel, it should be in a spirit of reverence," said Elder Packer.

"Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings." He said the world's trend to more noise, excitement and contention, and to less restraint, dignity and formality is neither coincidental, innocent nor harmless. "Irreverence suits the purpose of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit," Elder Packer noted.

He said that "sacrament and other meetings need renewed attention to assure they are truly worship services in which members may be spiritually nourished and have their testimonies replenished, and in which investigators may feel that inspiration essential to spiritual conversion."

He further said that music, dress and conduct in the meetinghouse on the Sabbath should be appropriate for worship.

Elder Packer also counseled that reverential words should be used in prayers. "Familiar terms such as you and yours are replacing thee and thine," he said. "Teach the children and gently inform new members that we use the reverential terms when addressing our Heavenly Father in prayer."

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(Additional information)

Saturday afternoon speakers

Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve\ Elder James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve\ Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve\ Elder Julio E. Davila of the Second Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Graham W. Doxey of the Second Quorum of the Seventy\ Elder Cree-L Kofford of the Second Quorum of the Seventy\ Elder Joseph C. Muren of the Second Quorum of the Seventy

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- One of the highlights of the Saturday afternoon session was the 350-voice Missionary Training Center Mixed Choir. The choir, under direction of Doug Brenchley and accompanied by Richard Elliott at the Tabernacle organ, opened the conference with a tender rendition of "I Need Thee Every Hour." Moments later, the young elders and sisters sang a stirring performance of "Called to Serve." As they sang, many General Authorities turned in their seats to catch a glimpse of the enthusiastic singers. Mid-way through the session, the choir and congregation sang "Redeemer of Israel." The choir's closing number was "A Marvelous Work."

President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the session. President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, led the sustaining of General Authorities and general auxiliary leaders, and announced the honorable release of four members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. (Please see page 4.)

Elder Joe J. Christensen and Elder Merlin R. Lybbert of the Seventy offered the invocation and benediction, respectively.