Since the days of his boyhood, Elder David B. Haight has lived his life "as an expression of fidelity toward eternal truths."
These words of President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, summed up tributes that he and five others gave at a banquet May 23 at Utah State University in honor of Elder Haight of the Council of the Twelve. The apostle was being honored as one of USU's most distinguished alumni.At the banquet, USU Pres. Stanford Cazier presented Elder Haight with a Utah State University Presidential Citation, only the fourth one ever presented by the university. Pres. Cazier also announced that the alumni house on the campus would be named the David B. Haight Alumni Center.
The tributes were filled with warmth, love and humor for Elder Haight, 82, who recently recovered from a serious illness requiring two abdominal surgeries on Jan. 16. About 300 civic, business and Church leaders attended the candlelight banquet.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Council of the Twelve offered the invocation at the banquet, and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, gave the benediction.
Also in attendance were Elders L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scott of the Council of the Twelve, Elders Hugh W. Pinnock and James M. Paramore of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elders J. Thomas Fyans, William R. Bradford, W. Eugene Hansen and Richard P. Lindsay of the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy; and Presiding Bishop Robert D. Hales.
Tributes to Elder Haight were divided into four categories - his childhood years, delivered by his boyhood friend, George Romney; his family years, presented by his children, Karen H. Huntsman, Robert P. and D. Bruce Haight; his business and civic years, given by Jon M. Huntsman, his son-in-law; and his Church years, delivered by President Hinckley. Congratulatory telegrams to Elder Haight were received from President George Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle.
In responding to the honor, Elder Haight thanked, "All of you who are so near and dear to us."
"I will always be indebted particularly to our Lord and Savior," he said. "I can assure you that prayers are answered. Prayers do not go unheeded. These things are real. I am a witness of it."
In a brief response, Sister Haight commented, "This would be a dreary world without family and friends."
In his remarks, President Hinckley also noted Elder Haight's recent "remarkable, miraculous healing from a most serious illness. He is with us tonight, a miracle to look upon. I am not surprised. I know of his faith, I know of the power of God in his life.
"I know of his love for Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, of whom David Haight has born witness by both word and deed." President Hinckley observed that "love of God is of the very essence of David B. Haight's heritage. David's life has been an expression of the same great qualities seen in the lives of his forebears.
President Hinckley then quoted a missionary who served under Elder Haight's leadership in the Scottish Mission, who said: "He taught us great principles by being the principle; what he wanted us to be, he was."
Elder Haight has served in many capacities in the Church and "these many and varied calls bespeak of the recognition by Church leaders of his absolute worthiness and unusual administrative abilities and his undeviating allegiance. He has put the things of God first in his life."
When Elder Haight was in Tahiti a few years ago, said President Hinckley, he shared the insight that, "Man's greatest achievement is when he comes to know God, to accept Him and His divine truths, and to conduct his life in accordance with this knowledge." Elder Haight's life reflects that "he has lived as he has spoken."
"David, dear friend," concluded President Hinckley, "may God continue to bless you with the great spiritual power you radiate wherever you have gone, and among all with whom you have traveled."
Romney described his childhood "chum" as a boy who walked the muddy canals of Idaho in bare feet, struggled to learn the violin, occasionally tossed dirt clods at passing horses but one who "has been a great success as a husband, as a head of a family, spiritually, economically and politically." Romney said the key to his friend's success was "his being prepared and in doing every job well."
Elder Haight's children expressed love to their parents. His daughter, Karen Huntsman, said, "A father's words are not heard by the world, but are heard by posterity. Dad and Mom, in your twilight years, will you know that your advice and love . . . will be heard throughout your posterity. You have taught us well."
Salt Lake businessman and philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman described his father-in-law as a hard worker, honest and having a sense of humor. "He stays the course, he's patriotic, he reaches out, and he is an innovator. About him, there is an absence of pretense; he is humble."
Earlier in the day, Pres. Cazier announced the creation at USU of the Huntsman Environmental Research Center, which will be funded by Huntsman Chemical Co. under Jon M. Huntsman.
Elder Haight attended Utah State from 1925 to 1928. Before his call as a General Authority, he had a notable career in business and civic areas, serving two terms as mayor of Palo Alto, Calif. He was a business executive, and owned a hardware company when he was called as a mission president. He received the Distinguished Alumni award from USU in 1978 and serves on the USU President's Advisory Board.
The apostle has been a member of the Council of the Twelve since Jan. 8, 1976.
