Historical Summary

This book is not a history, but rather a compilation of gospel principles as taught by President David O. McKay. However, in order to put his teachings in a historical framework, the following chronology is provided. This summary omits some important events in his personal life, such as the births of his children and grandchildren.

1873, September 8:	Born in Huntsville, Utah, to David McKay and Jennette Evans McKay.
1881:	David McKay leaves on a mission to the British Isles. David O. and his mother assume responsibility for the farm and family (7; numbers in parentheses show David O. McKay’s age).
1887:	Receives patriarchal blessing from John Smith (13).
1889:	Sustained as secretary of the Huntsville Ward Sunday School (15).
1893–94:	Serves as a teacher and principal at the Huntsville grade school; sustained as a Sunday School teacher in the Huntsville Ward (19–20).
1894–97:	Attends the University of Utah and graduates as valedictorian (20–23).
1897–99:	Fulfills a two-year mission to Great Britain. In addition to his proselyting duties, serves as a leader of all the missionaries in Scotland (23–25).
1899–1900:	Teaches at Weber Stake Academy in Ogden, Utah (25–26).
1900:	Appointed to Weber Stake Sunday School Board (27).
1901, January 2:	Marries Emma Ray Riggs in the Salt Lake Temple (27).
1902:	Appointed as principal of the Weber Stake Academy (28).
1906:	Ordained an Apostle by President Joseph F. Smith (32).
1914–18:	World War I is fought (40–44).
1918:	Appointed general superintendent of the Deseret Sunday School Union. Publishes Ancient Apostles (45).
1919–21:	Serves as Church commissioner of education (45–47).
1920, December:	On an assignment from the First Presidency, leaves on a one-year tour with Elder Hugh J. Cannon to visit Church missions around the world (47).
1922–24:	Serves as president of the European Mission (49–51).
1934:	Sustained and set apart as second counselor to President Heber J. Grant (61).
1939–45:	World War II is fought (65–71).
1945:	Sustained and set apart as second counselor to President George Albert Smith (71).
1950:	Sustained and set apart as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (77).
1951, April 9:	Sustained and set apart as the ninth President of the Church, with Stephen L Richards as first counselor and J. Reuben Clark Jr. as second counselor. At this time, the Church had approximately one million members (77).
1952, June:	Leaves on nine-week tour of Europe, during which time he visits Church members in nine countries (78).
1953:	Receives the Boy Scouts’ highest honor, the Silver Buffalo (79).
1954:	Begins 32,000-mile mission tour; first Church President to visit Central American and South American missions; first General Authority to visit the South African mission (80).
1955, August:	Visits Europe with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (81).
1955, September:	Dedicates the Bern Switzerland Temple (82).
1956, March:	Dedicates the Los Angeles California Temple (82).
1956, October:	Dedicates the Relief Society Building (83).
1958, April:	Dedicates the Hamilton New Zealand Temple (84).
1958, September:	Dedicates the London England Temple (85).
1964, November:	Dedicates the Oakland California Temple (91).
1970, January 18:	At age 96, dies in Salt Lake City, Utah. By the end of his administration, Church membership had reached approximately three million.