In Minecraft how do you get HD resource packs to work?

I have several HD resource packs but every time I try to play with one or the other my minecraft stop working and stops responding. Do I need to download an additional program like before they changed it to resource packs?

Downlaod this and it should run http://www.sharfiles.com/download/1/3705000/MinecraftRP

Before 1.7.2, I would've told you to download Optifine, but right now it is still in development. If you have a PC with a good graphics card you don't even need that mod.