Mormon president David O. McKay had global reach

David O. McKay, the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had a full life — 96 years long — that was chronicled extensively in the Deseret News.

As an apostle in 1930, then-Elder McKay's strong educational talents were highlighted.

"He received his early education in the Huntsville schools, and when 20 years of age became principal of a school," the Deseret News reported on April 5, 1930. "He attended the (University of Utah) and graduated as president of his class in 1897."

In August 1897, he was ordained a seventy and served a mission in his father's homeland of Scotland.

"He returned in 1899 and became instructor in the Weber Stake Academy. Later, he became principal and held that position until 1908," the 1930 Deseret News stated.

As academy principal, he led students on a 1922 hike to the summit of Mount Ogden to establish a flagpole there in what became an annual trek up the mountain.

President McKay was called as an apostle in 1906 at age 32, and in 1919, he was appointed as the first commissioner of church education.

He recommended the closing of most of the church's academies in that position, and in their place came seminaries next to high schools, which offered voluntary, religious education on a released-time basis.

President McKay was also "one of the most popular speakers in the church," according to a Deseret News article in 1930. He also possessed an unquenchable appetite for learning.

He had served on the Red Cross board in Weber County and had presided over the European Mission.

President McKay served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to both President Heber J. Grant and President George Albert Smith. In 1950, he became president of the Quorum of the Twelve.

He was called as LDS Church president in 1951 at age 77 and served 19 years until his death on Jan. 18, 1970.

President McKay created the first non-English speaking stakes of the church outside the United States. He also spurred a renewed interest in both family life and education among church members.

One of President McKay's mottoes, "no success in life can compensate for failure in the home," is still paramount in the church today.

Church membership grew almost 2.5 times during his administration.