"The noblest aim in life is to strive to make other lives better and happier," so spoke President David O. McKay. Not only did he speak it, but he lived it. At the end of his 96 years, millions of people throughout the world were better and happier. On September 8, 1873, into the home of David McKay, an immigrant from Scotland, and Jennette Evans McKay, of Welsh ancestry, was born David Oman McKay. Young David's exuberance for living developed rapidly--evidently a little too rapidly for his aunt, who once remarked to his mother, "Jennette, if you will just take care of this boy, I'll gladly cook for the threshers." David's home was Huntsville, Utah. He was the third of ten children. When his father was called away to serve a mission for two years, young David learned to assume heavy responsibility.

His spiritual side developed rapidly also. He was in his teens when a visiting patriarch pronounced a blessing upon his head that promised, "The eye of the Lord is upon Thee. The Lord has a work for Thee to do, in which Thou shalt see much of the world, assist in gathering scattered Israel, and also labor in the ministry. It shall be Thy lot to sit in counsel with Thy brethren, and preside among the people, and exhort the Saints to faithfulness." One day, he had an intense desire to receive a manifestation of the truth of the restored gospel. He recalled in later years, "Though I prayed fervently and sincerely, and with as much faith as a young man could muster, no spiritual manifestation came. I remember saying to myself, if I am true to myself, I must say I am just the same old boy that I was before I prayed. The Lord did not see fit to give me an answer on that occasion. But in 1899, after I had been appointed President of the Scottish Conference, the spiritual manifestation for which I had prayed as a boy in my teens came as a natural sequence to the performance of duty." One of the duties young David accepted and excelled in was that of getting an education. He also found time to enjoy life, participating in dramatics, debate, and the glee club and playing the piano with the Huntsville Town Orchestra. At the University of Utah, he was popular enough to be elected president of his class, studious enough to become valedictorian, rugged enough to play right guard on the university's first official football team, and fortunate enough to win the heart of a girl who became his sweetheart forever.

Another duty, and a thrilling one for David, was serving a mission for the Church in his ancestral home of Scotland. Here his leadership potential was evident to his presiding officers, one of whom prophesied of him, "Brother David, God is mindful of you. If you will keep the faith, you will sit in the leading councils of the Church." This prophecy, and the circumstances that surrounded it, were to David the manifestation that he had prayed for as a youth. During a period of discouragement on his mission, he noticed on the wall of a house the engraved words, "What-e'er thou art, act well thy part." Accepting this as a personal message, he threw himself into the work of the Lord with renewed courage and determination.

After his mission, one of the most pleasant of all duties awaited him--marriage and the establishing of his family. His life-long courtship with the girl he met at college, Emma Ray Riggs, has become a romantic legend in the Church.

On innumerable occasions throughout their life, he wrote her poems that he called "heart petals." David O. McKay's unwavering desire to make other lives better and happier, his devotion to duty, led him to many positions. Faculty member at Weber Academy, principal of that institution before he was 30, General President of the Deseret Sunday School Union, Church Commissioner of Education, and president of the European Mission were some of his notable assignments. He also served as a member of the Council of the Twelve from 1906, having been ordained an Apostle at the age of 32 by President Joseph F. Smith. An outstanding event of this period of his life was a tour of the missions of the Church during 1920-21, a tour which took him over 65,000 miles around the globe via ship, train, automobile, rickshaw, and camel.

His letters home reveal much about the man. His response to the beauties of the world made him eloquent. He wrote, "The quiet movement of the boat and the low, playful splash of the water told me as soon as I awoke that we were in a harbor. The sun was sufficiently near the horizon to tinge the floating clouds with crimson and pink.

The islands in the near distance seemed still to be sleeping under their mantle of green, while around some of them, lapped by the gentle waves of a rippling sea, nestled white sand beaches that looked like a long stretch of pongee silk." Another time he wrote, "I'm really homesick this morning. I've thought almost continuously about the folks at home--the kiddies playing on the lawn, Mama and Lou Jean on the summer porch, and Llewelyn on his way to the dry hollow farm. I imagined him coming home happy because he had caught four fish. June is the most delightful month of the year in Ogden Valley." Elder McKay's spiritual side was well-expressed on this historic journey. In New Zealand, a remarkable incident occurred in response to his desire for the people to understand him without an interpreter, just as it was on the day of Pentecost. The elder assigned to interpret for him relates the event: "It was the spirit of God which gave him utterance. After a few moments, I looked around the audience and noted the impact of that discourse upon the people. What I saw convinced me that the people knew and understood clearly what was being said by another Apostle of the Lord, for I have perceived old men and women with heads bowed and tears running down their faces. And that was more eloquent to me than anything else that they understood." Continued service to the Church brought him to the position of Counselor to two Church Presidents--Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith. And then in 1951, at the age of 78, when most of his contemporaries were long since retired, David O. McKay became prophet, seer, and revelator to the Church, succeeding President George Albert Smith.

A new round of travel started, touring the missions and dedicating temple sites. During his administration, which lasted for nearly 20 years, the Church saw an unparalleled period of growth. Missionaries now traveled at jet speed, spreading the gospel in almost every country of the free world, and Church membership more than doubled. Plans for new temples were drawn. Ground was broken. Temples rose and were dedicated in Switzerland, in the United States, in New Zealand, and in England. On every continent, chapels were constructed in great numbers and dedicated. Church schools and universities were expanded, and provided outstanding educational facilities to students from all over the world. Administrative changes were instituted, such as calling three additional Counselors in the First Presidency and ordaining members of the First Council of Seventy to the office of high priest. President McKay's expression, "every member a missionary," which became a model throughout the Church, described his devotion to missionary work at all levels.

The physical growth of the Church was not the only concern of President McKay. His leadership was a spiritual one. A warmth and a love radiated from him in every address, whether he was gently warning, inspiring, quoting scripture, Shakespeare, or his favorite, Robert Burns.

His sense of humor was well known, too, and survived into his latest years. President Hugh B. Brown recalls one typical episode: "I remember one day in the general conference of the Church and the Tabernacle, when he had called on some younger men to speak. And they spoke very well--fluently and sincerely and honestly. And I turned to him and whispered and said, You know, President McKay, I think the Church will go on after you and I have gone. He says, Gone where?

He says, I'm not going any place. Where are you going?" His emphasis on harmony in the home remained constant throughout his ministry: "No other success can compensate for failure in the home. The poorest shack in which love prevails over a united family is of far greater value to God and future humanity than any other riches.

In such a home, God can work miracles--and will work miracles. Pure hearts and a pure home are always in whispering distance of heaven." Indeed, his own home life set the pattern of love and constancy. On his 90th birthday, he dedicated another of his "heart petal" poems to Emma Ray: You say that I'm 90? There must be a mistake, For throughout my body, there's no pain or ache.

It's true, I respond less keenly to sound And forget where I put things as I strew them around.

There's no time at all since Tommy and I took Nettie Belle and Annie, our fortunes to try at the U. When seeking apartments where we could stay, I met for the first time a maiden called Ray. You say that I'm 90? Well, she's still by my side, As precious and sweet as when, as my bride,

In the springtime of life, with hearts all aglow, we faced life together, come weal or come woe.

Family cares came heavy--but not a complaint. 44 children now call her Saint.

Companion, counselor, advisor, alway. My wife for eternity, my old Emma Ray.

You insist that I'm 90? Well, my limbs say you're right, As I hobble along, a pitiable sight.

But I shall always feel young, with a gospel that's true, With loved ones around me and friends like you.

David Oman McKay. Service as a General Authority that spanned six decades--an unsurpassed record. Lives made better and happier. For the thousands that have shaken his hand or embraced him, for the millions that have only heard his voice or read his words, their lives are indeed better and happier. His testimony of the gospel has warmed the hearts and strengthened the faith of all who have heard it--for they know it is a prophet who speaks.

"I bear you my testimony that the head of this Church is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know the reality of His existence, of His willingness to guide and direct the servants who serve Him. I know He restored, with His Father, with the Prophet Joseph Smith, the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness." "If you'd obtain the highest success and the most contentment of mind out of life, practice in your daily contacts the ideals of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not hesitate to make that statement without modification. I know the results will be what I indicate. They will make you handsomer, young man; more beautiful, young woman; because your thoughts modify your features.

They will make you more dutiful sons and daughters, more clever students, more faithful lovers, more desirable companions, more loyal friends, more healthful members of society, more worthy fathers and mothers of future families--make you sons and daughters of God more successfully fulfilling the measure of your creation on earth." [MUSIC - "I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR"]