Alumnus Packer supports giversity and heritage
Utah State University stands strong because it had its roots deeply planted in the soil from the very beginning. This is something that mustn’t change.
Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said his years at USU helped him gain a firm foundation for the future and should do the same for others who attend school there.
“Utah State is a great school and I hope it stays on course,” he said.
Packer said diversity is something everyone looks for these days, but in order to maintain diversity there must be some places that are different.
“If Utah State loses its heritage and becomes like every other school, there is no diversity. There is no choice,” he said. “I’m in favor of diversity where we can be diverse and maintain that.”
He said USU has a unique history and pattern which he hopes can be held onto.
According to information provided by his office, Packer was born in 1924 in Brigham City. He attended Weber (now Weber State) College to get his associate’s degree because it was so close to home. He then came to USU and worked on his bachelor’s degree, which he received in 1949. He later received his master’s degree at USU as well as a doctorate of education from BYU.
He also knew he would eventually go into teaching, but he didn’t really solidify this decision until he spent time in the Air Force, he said.
“I was sitting out on a bluff on the island of Yoshima, in the moonlight all alone, trying to decide what to do, and I thought, ‘Well I want to be a teacher,'” he said.
Packer said one main reason he decided to be a teacher was because he knew teachers were always learning and it would be a life of learning.
One influence in choosing USU was, after returning from his military service, the university would give credits for proficiencies learned in the service.
After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, Packer said he taught seminary for The Church of Jesus Christ for nine years.
He said he thinks life for students now is much different than it was when he attended the university.
“I think it is harder for you because the temper of society is much different. There are more things tugging at you,” he said.
He suggested students who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ should go to institute to have a good balance.
Even though he lived during World War II, Packer said he doesn’t envy the students today.
“There are so many problems today in society and they find their way onto all campuses,” he said.
Along with school, work and his position in the church, Packer also spends his time relaxing as an artist.
Many of the pieces of art he has done include wood carvings of birds and nature, but he also paints and works with copper.
“I can’t do much of that now though, because of causes incident to age,” he said.
Usually he works on one piece of art in his spare time for about a year.
“That hand work is a way for me to relax because I can think while I am doing it. So my wife would say that represents a sermon, and every once in awhile when I get a little hard to live with she would say, ‘You need to start a carving,'” Packer said.
He always followed the advice.
Along with always following the admonition of his wife, Packer said his family played the biggest part during his life.
When he was going in to defend his dissertation for his doctorate, he said one of his sons told him he hoped he didn’t pass. Packer asked him why and his boy said, “Because then I’d have to call you Mister Elder Daddy Doctor Packer.”
Packer said most of the time life was overwhelming.
“That’s when you have to have a wife who is perfect,” he said. “That’s advice for you.”
Packer said there were a couple of classes he wished he would have taken while he was at USU.
“I wished I would have taken a little Latin,” he said. “It would have helped me learn Spanish, which I have learned a little of along the way, and it is the base for a lot of languages.”
Because of his position, Packer has traveled the world and become familiar with many countries of the world.
“We have seen the world and know the world. I know London better than I know New York,” he said. “It’s easier to pick out countries where we haven’t been.”
Of all the places he would like to go where he hasn’t spent much time, Packer said, with a slight chuckle, it would be home.