Succession to the presidency of the Church is a remarkable process, said President Boyd K. Packer during the funeral for President Gordon B. Hinckley on Feb. 2.

"Always the senior apostle becomes the president, and the next senior becomes the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Outlined in the revelations are the truths and instructions by which the Brethren administer the Church. Whatever the crisis or whatever the opportunity, the directions and guidance can be found in the verses of scripture."

Continuing, President Packer, who served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve during the administration of President Hinckley, said there is no aspiring for position, nor is there avoiding the Lord's will.

"Gordon B. Hinckley did not seek the many calls and assignments that came to him, but he did not shy away, either."

President Packer recalled meeting Gordon B. Hinckley for the first time during the October 1961 general conference. At that time, Elder Hinckley was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, and Elder Packer was called as an Assistant to the Twelve.

He quoted President Hinckley's first words from the pulpit in April 1958 after being called as an Assistant to the Twelve: "I know that I have not come that road alone, and I feel very grateful that many men and women — the great and good men who are here today, and the ... wonderful people, many whose names I do not remember — have helped me."

In describing President Hinckley's ability to communicate, President Packer related a meeting he arranged between Dr. Abdurrahman Wahid, an Islamic cleric and President Hinckley. Accompanying Dr. Wahid was Dr. Alwi Shihab, a professor of Islamic studies at Harvard University. After learning that Dr. Wahid had been asked to run for president of Indonesia, President Hinckley responded: "If you decide to run and you are elected, I will come and visit you in Jakarta."

President Packer continued: "He was elected, and we did go to Jakarta where President Hinckley was the guest of honor at a dinner given at the Presidential Palace. The first message of condolence I received on the death of President Hinckley was from Alwi Shihab. Yesterday there arrived a very large floral tribute from Wahid, former president of Indonesia.

"I have regarded this power of communication and charm in President Hinckley as brotherly love and humility. It was always apparent whether he was with the laborers on a dusty road or a banquet in a presidential palace."