LDS Apostle David B. Haight, known for his good-natured optimism about

aging and outreach to people of all faiths, died at 4:15 this morning of

causes incident to age.

At 97, Haight was the oldest Mormon leader since The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830. His death comes 10 days

after the passing of fellow apostle Neal A. Maxwell.

Haight's service to the LDS Church "has been long and dedicated," said the

church's governing First Presidency in a press release. "He has stirred the

hearts of people across the earth with his declaration of faith and his

testimony of the living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has borne that

witness on many continents and has been influential in the Church he loved. "

Haight spent seven decades living and working outside of Utah before being

named to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, one of the church's highest

leadership bodies, in January 1976.

He was born on Sept. 2, 1906 in Oakley, Idaho, son of Hector C. and Clara

Tuttle Haight. His father died when he was 9 years of age, leaving him to be

reared primarily by his mother and older brothers and sisters. He attended

elementary and high schools in Oakley and then went to college at Utah State

University in Logan. He married Ruby Olsen of Salt Lake City on Sept. 4,

1930 in the Salt Lake Temple. The couple had three children.

Haight became a well-respected business executive, working at ZCMI

department store in Salt Lake City, then becoming district and regional

manager in California and Chicago for Montgomery Ward and finally president

of a retail organization in Palo Alto, Calif.

While living in Palo Alto, Haight was president of the Palo Alto Chamber

of Commerce and Downtown Merchants Association, a director of the Stanford

Area Boy Scout Council and a member of the board of directors of the Red

Cross and annual fund chairman. He was also a member of the Rotary Club,

director of the Stanford-Palo Alto Hospital and the Channing House

Retirement Center. He became the city's mayor in 1959 and served until 1963.

He resigned as mayor in order to accept an appointment as president of

the Scottish Mission for the LDS Church.

After joining the ranks of LDS leadership, Haight served as a member of

the Church Board of Education. He was a member of the boards of trustees of

Brigham Young University, BYU-Hawaii, BYU-Idaho and LDS Business College.

In the last few years, Haight was nearly blind and somewhat hard of

hearing. Because of his vision problems, his speeches at the church's

semi-annual General Conferences were spontaneous and without notes - for

some a refreshing break from the carefully prepared remarks of the other

authorities.

On most days Haight continued to go to work and help oversee the church's

missionary and other programs.

"He has lived a balanced and full life, reaching out to all segments of

society," son-in-law Jon Huntsman told The Salt Lake Tribune last year. "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 phoned his daughter, Karen

Huntsman, every day, saying, "Hello, Karen? Life is beautiful and the gospel

is true. Do all the good you can do today. Bye."

Haight is survived by his wife, children, 18 grandchildren and more than

75 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be Thursday at noon in the LDS

Tabernacle on Temple Square.