David O. McKay

As President of the Church

At 77 years, McKay would be president of the Church for 19 years until his death. In this period, the number of members and stakes in the church nearly tripled, from 1.1 million to 2.8 million, and 184 to 500 respectively (as of 2004, there are about 12 million members and 2650 stakes).

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McKay was outspoken in his opposition to communism, which he saw as philosophically opposed to faith given its atheist underpinnings. Furthermore, communist nations forbid proselytizing of LDS Church.

Related Topics:
Communism - Atheist

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Under McKay's administration, the Church's stance on blacks holding the priesthood was softened. Beginning in the mid-1950s, members of suspected African decent no longer needed prove their lineage was not African. Instead the church allowed dark-skinned members to hold the priesthood unless it was provable they were African. This policy made proselytizing and priesthood ordination much easier in South America and other racially mixed areas like South Africa. Blacks of verifiable African descent (including most in the US) were not allowed to hold the priesthood until after McKay's death in 1970, under Spencer W. Kimball.

Related Topics:
Blacks holding the priesthood - 1950s - African - Priesthood - South America - South Africa - 1970 - Spencer W. Kimball

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Under the auspices of the First Presidency, the LDS Church spearheaded "Priesthood Correlation Program" in 1961. By the 1970s priesthood quorums directed women-led organizations like the Relief Society at all levels. Such organization became known as auxiliaries. Mormon feminists like Sonia Johnson found the emphasis on Priesthood Correlation to be sexist, a means to put the entire church under Patriarchy. Nonetheless, priesthood correlation continues to be a feature of the LDS Church.

Related Topics:
Priesthood Correlation Program - 1961 - 1970s - Relief Society - Feminists - Sonia Johnson - Patriarchy

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David O. McKay kept a steady pace of travel until he entered his 90s. His deteriorating health even required the then-unprecedented measure of appointing an additional councilor to the first presidency because the leaders were too infirm to preside. On January 18, 1970 he died at age 96. As of 2004, this is the longest any president of the LDS church has lived.

Related Topics:
January 18 - 1970 - President of the LDS church

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