Elder David B. Haight not only lived long, he also lived well. Just two days before his 96th birthday in 2002, he said during a Church News interview in his hometown of Oakley, Idaho, "The end result is what I have done with my time and talents to help other people and build the kingdom."
With that as a measure, his life was a resounding success.
He died Saturday, July 31, at 4:15 a.m., 33 days before what would have been his 98th birthday. Family members were with him as he died of causes incident to age.
Elder Haight followed in death by 10 days Elder Neal A. Maxwell, the apostle he immediately preceded in seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Haight was ordained an apostle on Jan. 8, 1976. Prior to that, he had served since April 6, 1970, as an Assistant to the Twelve.
During the Church News interview in 2002, Elder Haight talked of his age, aware of his longevity among General Authorities in this dispensation. At that time, the only apostles who lived longer were President David O. McKay (96 years, 4 months) and Elder LeGrand Richards (96 years, 11 months). On Sept. 2, 2003, Elder Haight became the first apostle to celebrate a 97th birthday.
But in the shadow of the Oakley, Idaho, home where he was born and raised, Elder Haight spoke most fondly of his beloved wife, Ruby, his family, his Church service, his friends and associates, and his many accomplishments, all under the assuring umbrella of a deep testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It was a testimony that he firmly bore to the end. He ended his brief remarks in last April's general conference testifying: "God our Heavenly Father loves us, as we should love Him. He selected His Son to come to earth and bring the gospel of Jesus Christ, for whom this Church is named and which we bear witness to."
David Bruce Haight was born Sept. 2, 1906, to Hector C. and Clara Tuttle Haight.
The son of a banker, Elder Haight knew the value of an education. He earned a teaching certificate through Albion State Normal School in Idaho as a way to earn money to attend Utah State University in Logan, Utah. However, he said, he earned most of the money to pay for college working for crews extending electrical service into rural Idaho.
In 1928, he graduated from Utah State with a business administration degree.
After graduation from Utah State, he went to work in Salt Lake City where he met Ruby Olson. They were engaged in the midst of the Great Depression. Sitting next to his wife on a garden swing during the interview in Oakley, Elder Haight said, "Ruby tells the story of her friends saying, 'Ruby, aren't you afraid to get married now?' What did you tell them?" he asked his wife. Sister Haight replied, "I said, 'I have faith in my husband!' "
They were married Sept. 4, 1930, in the Salt Lake Temple. Sister Haight's faith was rewarded with temporal and spiritual blessings, and a posterity including children David B. Jr., Robert P. and Karen H. Huntsman, 18 grandchildren and more than 70 great-grandchildren.
Despite the Depression, Elder Haight was very successful in business. He rose through the ranks of the Montgomery Ward chain, eventually to regional manager in Chicago supervising 165 stores.
In the Oakley interview, he said the key to success was "association with good people; learning to serve people and get along with them."
During World War II, he was commissioned as a commander in the Navy Supply Corps, earning a special citation from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
After more years with Montgomery Ward, his business life went a new direction in 1951 when he purchased his own retail business in Palo Alto, Calif. Along with his business there, he extended service to the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Merchants Association, the Boy Scouts of America, the Red Cross, the Rotary Club and others.
His leadership skills were put to use as he served 12 years as president of the Palo Alto Stake, and as mayor of Palo Alto.
He resigned in his second term as mayor to accept a call as president of the Scottish Mission in 1963. For many years after that calling, Elder and Sister Haight regularly attended the combined Scotland Edinburgh Mission reunions. As a General Authority, he spoke at each reunion to the hundreds of returned missionaries in attendance of his affection for all things Scottish, bore testimony of the gospel and fervently exhorted the congregation to remain faithful.
After his mission, he became an assistant to the president of BYU until he was sustained in his call as a General Authority on April 6, 1970.
Then, on Jan. 8, 1976, Elder Haight was called to meet with President Spencer W. Kimball in the Salt Lake Temple. In that meeting, Elder Haight was called to the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Hugh B. Brown had passed away a month earlier. According to an article in the Jan. 10, 1976, Church News, Elder Haight met with President Kimball in a room of the temple.
The article quoted Elder Haight: "I knew I was in the presence of greatness and had no question that he was a prophet. I was surprised and humbled. I have never coveted a Church position, but I had made up my mind a long time ago that I would accept the calls that came from the Lord. When I thought of all the great men in the Church, I wondered why I had been chosen, but at the same time I did not question the prophet."
In his October 1989 general conference address, Elder Haight spoke of going through a severe illness and serious operation during the previous year. He said the affliction came on quickly and with such pain that he soon lost consciousness. He was in that state for several days and during that time, he said, the pain ceased and he was in a "calm, peaceful setting."
"I heard no voices but was conscious of being in a holy presence and atmosphere. During the hours and days that followed, there was impressed again and again upon my mind the eternal mission and exalted position of the Son of Man. I witness to you that He is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, Savior to all, Redeemer of all mankind, Bestower of infinite love, mercy, and forgiveness, the Light and Life of the world. I knew this truth before — I had never doubted nor wondered. But now I knew, because of the impressions of the Spirit upon my heart and soul, these divine truths in a most unusual way."
After his recovery he spent his talents and time for another 15 years, as he had before, helping others and building the kingdom.
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
