David O. McKay

David O. McKay

1873–1970 (96 years)

Hometown: Huntsville, Utah

Biography

David O. McKay was the ninth President of the LDS Church, serving from 1951 to 1970—a transformative nearly 20-year presidency. Born in Huntsville, Utah, McKay was a graduate of the University of Utah and a schoolteacher before his call to the apostleship in 1906 at age 32. He served as general superintendent of the Sunday School and conducted the first worldwide tour of church missions.

McKay’s presidency marked the church’s emergence as a modern, international organization. He coined the phrase “Every member a missionary” and oversaw explosive growth, with church membership tripling during his tenure. He was the first church president to travel extensively internationally while in office, projecting a distinguished, grandfatherly image that appealed to post-war Americans.

His administration built the first temples outside North America (in Switzerland, New Zealand, and England) and dramatically expanded the missionary program. McKay emphasized individual spirituality over strict obedience, famously teaching “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”

However, McKay maintained the priesthood and temple ban on Black members, reportedly wavering on the issue but ultimately not changing it. Documents released later revealed he was more progressive on this issue than some other apostles but chose not to make changes. He lived to age 96, becoming increasingly frail in his final years while serving until death.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith 1838–1918 (80 years) Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant 1856–1945 (88 years) George Albert Smith George Albert Smith 1870–1951 (81 years)

Apostles Who Served During This Presidency

Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith Stephen L. Richards Stephen L. Richards Richard R. Lyman Richard R. Lyman John A. Widtsoe John A. Widtsoe Joseph F. Merrill Joseph F. Merrill J. Reuben Clark J. Reuben Clark Albert E. Bowen Albert E. Bowen Harold B. Lee Harold B. Lee Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Mark E. Petersen Mark E. Petersen Matthew Cowley Matthew Cowley Henry D. Moyle Henry D. Moyle Delbert L. Stapley Delbert L. Stapley Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney

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Wives (1)

#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Emma Ray Riggs Jan 2, 1901 232747

Children (7)

With Emma Ray Riggs (7 children)

  1. David Lawrence McKay (b. Sep 30, 1901)
  2. Llewelyn Riggs McKay (b. Jun 5, 1904)
  3. Louise Jeanette McKay (b. Oct 13, 1906)
  4. Royle Riggs McKay (b. Jan 1, 1909)
  5. Emma Rae McKay (b. Jan 1, 1913)
  6. Edward Riggs McKay (b. Oct 5, 1915)
  7. Robert Riggs McKay (b. Jan 1, 1920)

Related Posts (12)

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“Even a barn looks better painted.” - David O. McKay, Apostle, Prophet, and LDS/Mormon Church President | wasmormon.org "Mormons have not always seen their president as a prophet. Before 1955, every mention of the church's leader in Deseret News articles referred to him as "President." The honorific "Prophet" was reserved only for Joseph Smith, the church's founder, and prophets from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Yet during David O. McKays popular presidency from 1951 to 1970, church publications began occasionally referring to him as "Prophet." By the late 1960s, "President" had become interchangeable, if not synonymous, with "Prophet," thanks to routine references to the latter in church publications and at General Conferences." - D. Michael Quinn, Historian on Mormonism - The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power | wasmromon.org "It seems to us that it ought to be possible to work this situation out without causing any feelings on the part of anybody. If the white sisters feel that they may not sit with them or near them, we feel very sure that if the colored sisters were discreetly approached, they would be happy to sit at one side in the rear or somewhere where they would not wound the sensibilities of the complaining sisters. We will rely upon your tact and discretion to work this out so as not to hurt the feelings on the part of anyone." - Letter to President Ezra T. Benson, Washington D.C. Stake President, From the First Presidency Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay, Dated 23 June 1942 | wasmormon.org "For your information please be advised that the drinking of a beverage made from the coffee bean, from which the caffeine and deleterious drugs have been removed, is not a violation of the Word of Wisdom, and the drinking of Sanka is not a justifiable reason for denying a temple recommend to one who is otherwise worthy. We shall be pleased to have you convey this information to the presidency of the elders quorum." - David O McKay deems decaf coffee not to be against the Word of Wisdom or bar members from the temple | wasmormon.org Decaf Coffee deemed OK by David O McKay First Presidency in 1965 "the drinking of a beverage made from the coffee bean, from which the caffeine and deleterious drugs have been removed, is not a violation of the Word of Wisdom" "In view of confusion that has arisen, it was decided at a meeting of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve to restate the position of the Church with regard to the Negro both in society and in the Church." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969 regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro | wasmormon.org "We recognize that those who do not accept the principle of modern revelation may oppose our point of view. We repeat that such would not wish for membership in the Church, and therefore the question of priesthood should hold no interest for them. Without prejudice they should grant us the privilege afforded under the Constitution to exercise our chosen form of religion just as we must grant all others a similar privilege. They must recognize that the question of bestowing or withholding priesthood in the Church is a matter of religion and not a matter of Constitutional right." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "We are eager to share with men of all races the blessings of the Gospel. We have no racially-segregated congregations. Were we the leaders of an enterprise created by ourselves and operated only according to our own earthly wisdom, it would be a simple thing to act according to popular will. But we believe that this work is directed by God and that the conferring of the priesthood must await His revelation." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "In revelations received by the first prophet of the Church in this dispensation, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the Lord made it clear that it is “not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.” These words were spoken prior to the Civil War." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969 as published in the Improvement Era, February 1970 | wasmormon.org "From the beginning of this dispensation, Joseph Smith and all succeeding presidents of the Church have taught that Negroes, while spirit children of a common Father, and the progeny of our earthly parents Adam and Eve, were not yet to receive the priesthood, for reasons which we believe are known to God, but which He has not made fully known to man." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "The seeming discrimination by the Church toward the Negro is not something which originated with man; but goes back into the beginning with God... Revelation assures us that this plan antedates man’s mortal existence, extending back to man’s pre-existent state." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "The position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affecting those of the Negro race who choose to join the Church falls wholly within the category of religion. It has no bearing upon matters of civil rights. In no case or degree does it deny to the Negro his full privileges as a citizen of the nation. This position has no relevancy whatever to those who do not wish to join the Church. Those individuals, we suppose, do not believe in the divine origin and nature of the church, nor that we have the priesthood of God. Therefore, if they feel we have no priesthood, they should have no concern with any aspect of our theology on priesthood so long as that theology does not deny any man his Constitutional privileges." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org "First, may we say that we know something of the sufferings of those who are discriminated against in a denial of their civil rights and Constitutional privileges. Our early history as a church is a tragic story of persecution and oppression." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969, regarding the position of the church with regard to the Negro. | wasmormon.org Statement of the LDS First Presidency David O McKay, Hugh B Brown, and N Eldon Tanner, December 15, 1969 as published in the Improvement Era, February 1970. | wasmormon.org "The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency George Albert Smith, J Reuben Clark & David O McKay, August 17, 1949 | wasmormon.org "The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time." - Statement of the LDS First Presidency George Albert Smith, J Reuben Clark & David O McKay, August 17, 1949 | wasmormon.org "By the late 1940s and 1950s, racial integration was becoming more common in American life. Church President David O. McKay emphasized that the restriction extended only to men of black African descent... Given the long history of withholding the priesthood from men of black African descent, Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter the policy, and they made ongoing efforts to understand what should be done. After praying for guidance, President McKay did not feel impressed to lift the ban." - President McKay with his counselors, President Stephen L Richards (left) and President J Reuben Clark Jr. (right) | wasmormon.org "The social side of the Restored Gospel is only an incident of it; it is not the end thereof. The basic element of your ideas and concepts seems to be that all God's children stand in equal positions before Him in all things. Your knowledge of the Gospel will indicate to you that this is contrary to the very fundamentals of God's dealings." - First Presidency of George Albert Smith to Dr Lowry Nelson, 1947 | wasmormon.org