David O. McKay | |
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9th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
April 9, 1951 | – January 18, 1970|
Predecessor | George Albert Smith |
Successor | Joseph Fielding Smith |
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
August 8, 1950 | – April 9, 1951|
Predecessor | George F. Richards |
Successor | Joseph Fielding Smith |
End reason | Became President of the Church |
Second Counselor in the First Presidency | |
May 21, 1945 | – April 4, 1951|
Called by | George Albert Smith |
Successor | J. Reuben Clark |
End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency on the death of George Albert Smith |
Second Counselor in the First Presidency | |
October 11, 1934 | – May 14, 1945|
Called by | Heber J. Grant |
Predecessor | J. Reuben Clark |
End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency on the death of Heber J. Grant |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
April 9, 1906 | – October 11, 1934|
Called by | Joseph F. Smith |
Predecessor | Orson F. Whitney |
Successor | Anthony W. Ivins |
End reason | Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency |
LDS Church Apostle | |
April 9, 1906 | – January 18, 1970|
Called by | Joseph F. Smith |
Reason | Resignation of Matthias F. Cowley and John W. Taylor from the Quorum of the Twelve; death of Marriner W. Merrill |
Reorganization at end of term |
Boyd K. Packer ordained |
Personal details | |
Born |
David Oman McKay September 8, 1873 Huntsville, Utah Territory, United States |
Died | January 18, 1970 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
(aged 96)
Resting place |
Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
Spouse(s) | Emma Ray Riggs |
Children | 7 |
Parents | David McKay Jennette E. Evans |
Signature | |
David Oman McKay (September 8, 1873 – January 18, 1970) was an American religious leader and educator who served as the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1951 until his death in 1970. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church history, except Eldred G. Smith (though Smith was not active as a general authority for many years).
The third child of David McKay and Jennette Eveline Evans McKay, David was born on his father’s farm in Huntsville, Utah Territory, about 10 miles (16 km) east of Ogden. McKay's mother was a Welsh immigrant from Merthyr Tydfil, and his father was a Scottish immigrant from Caithness. In 1880, after McKay’s two older sisters died, his father was called on an LDS mission to his native Scotland, where he proselytized for two years. In his father's absence, McKay had additional family responsibilities and helped his mother.
McKay's grandmother bequeathed $5,000 to McKay's mother upon her death and directed that "every cent ... be used for the education of the children." This money allowed McKay, his brother Thomas McKay, and their two sisters to attend the University of Utah. McKay graduated in 1897 as valedictorian and class president.
Immediately afterward, he was called on a mission to Great Britain. Like his father, he presided over the Scottish district of the church. Early in his mission, he was impressed by a motto he saw inscribed on a building in Stirling, "What E'er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part". This message became a source of inspiration throughout his life.