The Ninth Prophet

The President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Trustee-in-Trust of the Mormons --as the ''peculiar people" call their lead--is the living oracle of God to whom Lord reveals whatever is necessary for the conduct of the church." Last week in Salt Lake City, nearly 500 business and civic leaders, representing Judaism and a dozen Christian churches, gathered at a testimonial banquet honoring the ninth man in Mormon history to be in direct communication with God. He David Oman McKay, 89, a kindly ascetic who has presided over the most astonishing decade of growth that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints has ever seen.

There could be no questioning the sincerity of the praise for "David O" Joseph Rosenblatt, a Jew and president of the Eimco Corp. asked: "Does anyone know of any man who has lived with greater faith or purpose, and obedience to the exhortation of the Prophet Micah to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with God'?" A Catholic. President J. P. O'Keefe of Salt Lake City's Chamber of Commerce said: "All of us have been keenly aware of the advantages of living m Utah. And almost all these advantages can be attributed to the leadership of President McKay."

Smoking Permitted. In times past, few gentiles (as the Saints call all non-Mormons) would have had a good word to say about one of the prophets, for non-Mormons have often been treated harshly. McKay (rhymes with eye) has actively encouraged toleration for others. He has also relaxed a few of the stiff rules that govern the life of his followers New converts, for example, no longer have to give up smoking-although they are often assigned to jobs as Boy Scout leaders or Sunday school teachers, where the need to give good example constrains them to abandon the habit voluntarily

Nearly one-third of the world's 1,800,000 Latter-Day Saints have been baptized since McKay became president in 1951. Much of the growth stems directly from policy decisions he made shortly after taking office. He abandoned the church tradition of urging converts to settle in Utah (We were robbing ourselves of local leadership in the missions") and he authorized the construction abroad of new temples--previously limited to the U.S. and Canada--when membership growth warranted. He made the Mormons' aggressive missionary work more effective by suggesting that convert-makers ask for appointments instead of randomly ringing doorbells.

McKay's policies have paid off: since 1951. the number of stakes (dioceses) has risen from 180 to 350, and the annual harvest of converts has risen steadily rom 17,000 to more than 100,000 in 1962. Mormons now open one new chapa week, and are in the midst of a building program that includes a 30-to 40-floor skyscraper on Manhattan's 58th Street, a new 25-story office building m Salt Lake City. "David O " disclaims credit for any of it "The rea son we grow," he says, "is that there is church-wide acceptance of responsibility by individual members. I have called upon wealthy men to make sacrifices for the good of the church. No one has ever refused."

The Twelve Apostles. In all probability no one would, for McKay has unchallengeable authority over the life of the church. Born on a farm near Huntsville. Utah. McKay graduated from the University of Utah in 1897 and was appointed to the Council of Twelve Apostles, the church's ruling cabinet, at the age of 32, after serving as a missionary in Britain. He has worked almost exclusively for the church ever since. Seniority governs selection of a Mormon president, and McKay was ranking member of the apostles' council when George Albert Smith (TIME cover, July 21, 1947) died. A firm executive ("He can be stubborn, says another Mormon official) McKay will often ignore the advice of the council--but not before he has patiently listened to its recommendations.

Still quick of mind and step McKay is at his office at 5:30 in the morning abandons his appointment-filled schedule at 1:30 for a long lunch, a nap and an early evening with his family. Although he gave up riding two years ago. McKay still spends weekends on his Huntsville farm, supervising the care of a herd of five horses. McKay is a confirmed jet traveler, thinks nothing of scooting off tor a quick inspection of Mormon missions m Scotland or Wales.

President McKay may be modest about the growth of his church, but he is unashamedly delighted by the new concord between Mormons and people of other faiths. "There is genuine affection between members of the church and non-members," he says. "How did it come about? By getting to know and understand each other better. When you get to know a fellow, chances are you'll get to like him too."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.