David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism is an insightful and detailed account of the exemplary life and remarkable influence of the 1st 'modern' Mormon prophet, David Oman McKay. Significantly enhanced by access to the private journals, office records and prolific correspondences kept by President McKay's long-time secretary, Claire Middlemiss; this book is a more intimate and personalized account than has previously been published of the transformational years from the early 1900's when McKay was first called as one of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through his long tenure as President of the Church from 1951 to 1970.
The authors have organized the book chronologically, but by individual subject matter; choosing to recount chapter by chapter President McKay's remarkable influence from beginning to end on each of a number of fascinating segments of the Latter-day Saint story. These segments include Agency and Tolerance, Blacks and the Priesthood, Ecumenical Outreach, Radio and Television Broadcasting, Correlation and Church Administration, the Education System, the Building Program, the Missionary Program, Temple Building, Confrontation with Communism, Politics and the Church and the International Church. Each chapter returns back to the young apostle and proceeds through the years to President's McKay's modernizing legacy as Prophet, Seer and Revelator for the Church that he loved and that he faithfully witnessed to be the literal restoration of the pure and authorized gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth.
Controversial in some points because of its candor regarding differences in political and doctrinal opinion between the leading brethren of the church, the book still radiates a sense of faith and devotion notwithstanding the human frailties of even the best of men in the most sacred of positions. Just as the New Testament reflects the reality of individual conflicts between Peter, Paul, James and others; so Latter-day Saints should not be offended by the open recognition that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was and is made up of strong, intelligent, opinionated men who are vigorous in promoting their personal perspectives, but sincerely strive for divine inspiration and unity in their service to the Lord and to His Church. In that respect, this book should give members of the Church a sense of deep gratitude for the remarkable camaraderie and unity displayed by the intellectually, politically and professionally diverse leadership of the LDS Church over the past decade under the leadership of Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson.
A remarkable read, and an important resource for anyone seeking to understand the ongoing emergence of the LDS Church from relative obscurity into the increasing glare of worldwide religious, political, humanitarian and economic prominence.
