This morning, LDS Apostle David B.
Haight won a race few can enter and only providence controls. He turned 97.
That makes him the oldest Mormon apostle or prophet since
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830.
He has outlived former LDS President David O. McKay and
Apostle LeGrand Richards, who tied at 96. In third place was President Joseph
Fielding Smith at 95, then came President Ezra Taft Benson at 94.
Haight is four years older than the current president,
Gordon B. Hinckley, a mere 93. (And still humming along, by the way).
And he has a considerable edge on all the other current
apostles, whose ages range from Joseph B. Wirthlin at 87 to youngster Jeffrey
R. Holland at 63.
Not many 97-year-olds still help steer a multibillion-dollar
organization, let alone go to work every day (in a suit and tie, no less), but
that is exactly what Haight has done since he became an apostle at 69.
Haight is nearly blind and quite hard of hearing, says his
daughter, Karen Haight Huntsman, but still has major responsibilities with the
LDS Church. Until recently, he oversaw its global missionary effort, which
places more than 60,000 volunteers in more than 100 countries, teaching them
the language and sending them out to knock on doors.
He has long been a member of the church's Public Affairs
Board, helping the church in its outreach to other faiths.
He draws on his nearly seven decades of living and working
outside Utah before full-time service to the church -- growing up in Oakley,
Idaho, working for Montgomery Ward in Chicago and Oakland, Calif., serving as
mayor of Palo Alto, Calif. -- and traveling extensively across the nation and
world.
"He has lived a balanced and full life, reaching out to
all segments of society," says son-in-law Jon Huntsman. "He has
written the ground rules for the church on graciousness and warmth and goodness
to all people."
Yet, the Huntsmans attest, Haight always had time for his
growing family.
For at least a few decades, the dutiful father has phoned
his daughter every day, saying, "Hello, Karen? Life is beautiful and the
gospel is true. Do all the good you can do today. Bye."
Haight's colleagues in the church hierarchy are planning to
commemorate his birthday at the LDS Church Office Building in the morning,
leaving the really big celebration for the extended Haight family -- three
children, 18 grandchildren and 75 great-grandchildren -- at their home later.
In just two days, Haight passes another milestone: 73 years
of marriage to Ruby Olson Haight. That is also the longest marriage in the
history of the LDS hierarchy.