Are not for all members

      - Must maintain standardsElder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve focused his Sunday afternoon conference address on the topic of gaining knowledge, both secular and doctrinal, and cautioned members to not be deceived by those who would lead them astray.

      He noted Brigham Young University and Ricks College are among the few institutions left over from the "pioneering period" when the Church established schools where no public schools were available. Now BYU is full, and qualified students are turned away.

      He said leaders and members plead for the Brethren to duplicate the schools elsewhere. "But we cannot, neither should we attempt to provide secular education for all members of the Church worldwide," he said. "Our youth have no choice but to attend other schools."

      He said: "Those who cannot attend Church schools have been counseled by the First Presidency to gather where there is an institute of religion. The institutes will be greatly enhanced."

      Elder Packer said a "tuition of conduct and performance" is required of those privileged to attend a Church school. Applicants must have interviews with their bishops and, beginning this year, stake presidents, and must commit to standards of conduct consistent with faithful Church membership.

      Admitting those who qualify scholastically but have not kept Church standards would be unfair to students who are faithful but must be turned away because there is no room, he observed. If a student is found to be transgressing or in violation of standards pledged, continued enrollment at a Church school must be questioned.

      Elder Packer said because tithes pay salaries of faculty and staff there is a standard for them also. He praised the quality of the faculties and staffs at Church schools.

      "Our purpose is to produce students who have that rare and precious combination of a superb secular education, complemented by faith in the Lord, a knowledge of the doctrines He has revealed, and a testimony that they are true."

      He said students and teachers whose focus is secular and feel restrained at Church schools may find the kind of freedom they value at other schools.

      On the topic of gathering the saints, he cited D&C 42:11, and said: "There are some among us now who have not been regularly ordained by the heads of the Church who tell of impending political and economic chaos, the end of the world. . . . They are misleading members to gather to colonies or cults.

      "Those deceivers say that the Brethren do not know what is going on in the world or that the Brethren approve of their teaching but do not wish to speak of it over the pulpit. Neither is true. The Brethren, by virtue of traveling constantly everywhere on earth, certainly know what is going on, and by virtue of prophetic insight are able to read the signs of the times."