Today I taught my usual Sunday School class, which is Presidents of the Church. Today's topic was President David O. McKay - Worldwide Ambassador of God. We talked about how he was prepared by the Lord to be a Prophet of the Lord. We talked about how it started when he first got his Patriarchal Blessing when the Patriarch told David that he had something else to do than to play marbles. He then was told that it would be his lot to site on a council with his brethren and preside among the people and exhort the Saints to faithfulness. From there it when to how much he loved to learn and how he met his future wife.

Then it goes to my favorite part of story and the title of this post. When David O. McKay was a missionary in Scotland he was having a day that every missionary has. He was a little discouraged and homesick. While he and his companion were walking he saw a broken down dwelling with a stone over the doorway with a carving on it. David told his companion that he was going to see what it was. While he was walking up the gravel walkway the carving came into view. On the stone was the following motto: "Whate'er Thou Are Art, Act Well Thy Part." Which for President McKay went on to mean, that what ever you are you should act that part. Meaning that if you are a missionary, member of the church, etc. you should act like a missionary and a member of the church.

This is something that is very important to me because it is such true concept to just be true to who you are and what you represent. All his life David O. McKay used this and other concepts and qualities that were learned in his life while he was in the service of the Lord. On top of his service and "acting well his part," he logged over one million miles in his travels representing the church. When David O. McKay died the news spread across the world. From there condolences and letter to his family poured in from all over the world.

I know that all the prophets of the church are meant to be examples and their examples should be followed, but I feel that if every young man followed the example of David O. McKay, there would be better missionaries and better priesthood holders in the church. I know that I am going to try to follow his example and apply the motto that he found that one day on his mission... "Whate'er Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part."

To view more about this lesson please go to: lds.org and click the "Prepare Lesson" link. Then click the "Sunday School" link. Then click "The Presidents of Church" link. Then click the "Lesson 29" link.