"There should be no yelling in the home unless there is a fire."
My first memories of hearing of the Prophet David O McKay was hearing of how he came to Idaho Falls. My mother a young girl stood by the airport gates and watched as the beloved prophet stepped of the plane and looked "dashing" in his white suit and white hair.
David Oman McKay was born September 8, 1873 in Huntsville, UT (just east of Ogden). He was the first boy and had two older sisters. His parents were David and Jennette Evans McKay. (I think they had a total of 6 children) In 1880, both of his sisters died within days of each other. One of rheumatic fever and one of pneumonia. A year later his father was called to the British Isles on a mission for the church. While his father was hesitant to leave Jennette and their seven-year old son, Jennette insisted that he follow the call of the Lord and that David O would help her in their duties. David O was taught the gospel and learned to call upon the blessings in heaven for family and individual needs. Prayer was a staple in their Christ-centered home. David O McKay loved his mother and esteemed her the highest of compliments,
“I cannot think of a womanly virtue that my mother did not possess…To her children, and all others who knew her well she was beautiful and dignified, Though high-spirited she was even-tempered and self-possessed. Her dark brown eyes immediately expressed any rising emotion which, however, she always held under perfect control. … In tenderness, watchful care, loving patience, loyalty to home and to right, she seemed to me in boyhood, and she seems to me know after these years, to have been supreme.”
His father was also very important in his life and he loved him just as much. When David O was asked who was the greatest man that he had met, immediately he answered "My Father".
“As a boy, I sat and heard the testimony from one whom I treasured and honored as you know I treasured no other man in the world, and that assurance was instilled in my youthful soul.”
At 13 years old. David O McKay received his patriarchal blessing. Afterwards the patriarch rested his hands on David's shoulders and said, "My boy, you have something to do besides playing marbles." After David went to his mother quite determined that he wasn't going to quit playing marbles. His mother stopped what she was doing and explained what the patriarch had meant by his comment. No one knew exactly what was in store but he remained faithful and fulfilled the assignments the Lord had called him to do. He was called to serve as Sunday School president at age 15 and developed a love for Sunday School. He completed school after the 8th grade and went to the Weber Stake Academy (now Weber State) for 2 years. He returned home and taught elementary age kids. His family recieved an inheritance check of $2,500 and all was sent on the education of the 4 remaining children in the McKay family.
David met his wife, Emma Ray Riggs, while he and his siblings boarded her mother's home during school. One day while his mother came to visit, Emma's mother commented on how wonderful the boys were and how they would make fine husbands. Emma replied, "I like the dark one" which was David. They would court years later while David O served a mission. They would correspond through mail and their relationship would blossom over time.
After school was completed he was offered a job but instead accepted the call to serve a mission in Britain. While on his mission, in the area of Scotland, he was motivated by a stone on a building in a very discouraging time in his life. He read the words, "What-e'er thou art, act well thy part."
December 1900, David asked Emma, "Ray" as he called her, to marry him. They were the first one's to be married in the Salt Lake temple during the 20th century. They were united and sealed on January 2, 1901.
In 1902, he became the principle of Weber Stake Academy. He would be ever committed in education and sought to help men and women obtain one. He also served as the Weber Stake Sunday School president for 6 years before he became an apostle.
In 1906, McKay was ordained an apostle and General Sunday School President at age 32. He wrote the first manual used for Sunday School, Ancient Prophets. In 1920, along with Hugh J Cannon and Anthon H Lund, he toured all church missions. In one year he traveled 60,000 miles, more than twice the circumfrence of the earth. The arrived home Christmas Eve 1921. All three men reported to President Smith and were released from their call. During general conference, President Smith said this,
“I rejoice in the fact that Brother McKay is with us today. Brother McKay has circled the globe since he was last at a conference—has visited our missions in nearly every part of the world, and has returned, as every missionary does return who goes out to proclaim this gospel and comes in contact with the people of the world and with all the varieties of faiths of the world, with increased light, knowledge and testimony regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged."
This is President McKay's testimony during the same session,
“When we left home, … we looked forward with no little misgiving and anxiety to the trip ahead of us. … The keen sense of our responsibility, adequately to fulfil the desires of President Grant and his counselors and the Twelve, who had honored us with that call, made us seek the Lord as I had never sought him before in my life, and I wish to say this afternoon that the promise made by Moses to the children of Israel just before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised land, has been fulfilled in our experiences. As we sought the Lord with all our souls He came to our guidance and assistance.”
On April 9, 1951 President David O McKay was ordained to be the 9th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During his administration, the church grew, temples were built, he traveled the globe (one tour featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), the video used in the temples were made so that it was made way for translations in various languages. He made way for the Church Coorelation plans of the Church programs and having more effectiveness. He met with many US Presidents and one even invited him to come to DC and give advice on certain issues. That president was, Lyndon B Johnson.
After serving as the Lord’s prophet for almost 20 years, President David O. McKay passed away on 18 January 1970 in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Emma Ray, and five of his children at his bedside. In a tribute to him, President Harold B. Lee stated that he had “left the world richer and heaven more glorious by the rich treasures he has brought to each.”51 Of David O. McKay’s legacy, his successor, President Joseph Fielding Smith, declared: “He was a man of great spiritual strength, a natural-born leader of men, and a man beloved by his people and honored by the world. For all time to come men shall rise up and call his name blessed.” lds.org
David met his wife, Emma Ray Riggs, while he and his siblings boarded her mother's home during school. One day while his mother came to visit, Emma's mother commented on how wonderful the boys were and how they would make fine husbands. Emma replied, "I like the dark one" which was David. They would court years later while David O served a mission. They would correspond through mail and their relationship would blossom over time.
After school was completed he was offered a job but instead accepted the call to serve a mission in Britain. While on his mission, in the area of Scotland, he was motivated by a stone on a building in a very discouraging time in his life. He read the words, "What-e'er thou art, act well thy part."
December 1900, David asked Emma, "Ray" as he called her, to marry him. They were the first one's to be married in the Salt Lake temple during the 20th century. They were united and sealed on January 2, 1901.
In 1902, he became the principle of Weber Stake Academy. He would be ever committed in education and sought to help men and women obtain one. He also served as the Weber Stake Sunday School president for 6 years before he became an apostle.
In 1906, McKay was ordained an apostle and General Sunday School President at age 32. He wrote the first manual used for Sunday School, Ancient Prophets. In 1920, along with Hugh J Cannon and Anthon H Lund, he toured all church missions. In one year he traveled 60,000 miles, more than twice the circumfrence of the earth. The arrived home Christmas Eve 1921. All three men reported to President Smith and were released from their call. During general conference, President Smith said this,
“I rejoice in the fact that Brother McKay is with us today. Brother McKay has circled the globe since he was last at a conference—has visited our missions in nearly every part of the world, and has returned, as every missionary does return who goes out to proclaim this gospel and comes in contact with the people of the world and with all the varieties of faiths of the world, with increased light, knowledge and testimony regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged."
This is President McKay's testimony during the same session,
“When we left home, … we looked forward with no little misgiving and anxiety to the trip ahead of us. … The keen sense of our responsibility, adequately to fulfil the desires of President Grant and his counselors and the Twelve, who had honored us with that call, made us seek the Lord as I had never sought him before in my life, and I wish to say this afternoon that the promise made by Moses to the children of Israel just before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised land, has been fulfilled in our experiences. As we sought the Lord with all our souls He came to our guidance and assistance.”
On April 9, 1951 President David O McKay was ordained to be the 9th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During his administration, the church grew, temples were built, he traveled the globe (one tour featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), the video used in the temples were made so that it was made way for translations in various languages. He made way for the Church Coorelation plans of the Church programs and having more effectiveness. He met with many US Presidents and one even invited him to come to DC and give advice on certain issues. That president was, Lyndon B Johnson.
After serving as the Lord’s prophet for almost 20 years, President David O. McKay passed away on 18 January 1970 in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Emma Ray, and five of his children at his bedside. In a tribute to him, President Harold B. Lee stated that he had “left the world richer and heaven more glorious by the rich treasures he has brought to each.”51 Of David O. McKay’s legacy, his successor, President Joseph Fielding Smith, declared: “He was a man of great spiritual strength, a natural-born leader of men, and a man beloved by his people and honored by the world. For all time to come men shall rise up and call his name blessed.” lds.org
