Oscar W. McConkie
Encyclopedia
Oscar Walter McConkie was a Utah State Senator and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was the father of Bruce R. McConkie
, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church. A second son Oscar W. McConkie, Jr.
was also a member of the Utah State Senate.
. At the time, his father was sought by government officials for recognizing his three wives as such, so not long after his birth Oscar moved to Mexico
. His father died in Pacheco, Galeana, Chihuahua
in December 1890.
After his father's death the family moved to Mona, Utah
where McConkie was raised. The McConkies moved to Moab when Oscar was ten years old. After graduating from Moab High School McConkie attended the University of Utah
. In 1913 he married Margaret Vivian Redd in the Salt Lake Temple
. In 1914 McConkie began his studies at the University of Michigan
, which lead to his son Bruce being born in Ann Arbor.
After two years at law school McConkie was having eye troubles and so returned to Utah. He worked as editor of the San Juan Record based out of Monticello, Utah
, where he also practiced law until 1922. In 1925 McConkie returned to Ann Arbor to finish his law studies at the University of Michigan, after which he moved to Salt Lake City in the fall of 1926.
McConkie served as a judge in San Juan County
, Utah from 1919 to 1922, and Utah's Third District Court Judge from 1928 to 1940. He also served as Salt Lake City commissioner.
In 1940 McConkie unsuccessfully sought to be the Democratic
candidate for Governor of Utah.
Throughout his life, McConkie served in callings and leadership positions in the LDS Church. From 1920 to 1923 he was bishop of the Monticello
Ward,, before becoming a counselor to San Juan Stake president Wayne H. Redd, his wife's uncle, from 1923 to 1925. McConkie also served in the stake presidency of the Ensign Stake (in Salt Lake City) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He also served as a member of the LDS Church's Sunday School
General Board. From 1946 to 1950 McConkie was president
of the California Mission, which then included most of California and a large part of Arizona
.
.
Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death...
, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church. A second son Oscar W. McConkie, Jr.
Oscar W. McConkie, Jr.
Oscar Walter McConkie, Jr. is an American politician and attorney in Utah and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was the president of the Utah State Senate from 1965 to 1966, and is currently chairman of the law firm of Kirton and McConkie...
was also a member of the Utah State Senate.
Biography
McConkie was born in Buena Vista, Utah, a small town close to Moab, UtahMoab, Utah
Moab is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, in the western United States. The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks...
. At the time, his father was sought by government officials for recognizing his three wives as such, so not long after his birth Oscar moved to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. His father died in Pacheco, Galeana, Chihuahua
Galeana, Chihuahua
Galeana is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Hermenegildo Galeana. The municipality covers an area of 1,529 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 3,774....
in December 1890.
After his father's death the family moved to Mona, Utah
Mona, Utah
Mona is a city in Juab County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 850 at the 2000 census. At the time this was sufficient under Utah state law for Mona to become a city, which it did at the end of 2000...
where McConkie was raised. The McConkies moved to Moab when Oscar was ten years old. After graduating from Moab High School McConkie attended the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. In 1913 he married Margaret Vivian Redd in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
. In 1914 McConkie began his studies at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, which lead to his son Bruce being born in Ann Arbor.
After two years at law school McConkie was having eye troubles and so returned to Utah. He worked as editor of the San Juan Record based out of Monticello, Utah
Monticello, Utah
Monticello is a city located in San Juan County, Utah, and is the county seat. It is the second most populous city in San Juan County, with a population of 1,958 at the 2000 census. The Monticello area was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, where he also practiced law until 1922. In 1925 McConkie returned to Ann Arbor to finish his law studies at the University of Michigan, after which he moved to Salt Lake City in the fall of 1926.
McConkie served as a judge in San Juan County
San Juan County, Utah
As of the current census of 2010, there were 14,746 people and 4,505 households. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% Native American, 45.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
, Utah from 1919 to 1922, and Utah's Third District Court Judge from 1928 to 1940. He also served as Salt Lake City commissioner.
In 1940 McConkie unsuccessfully sought to be the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Governor of Utah.
Throughout his life, McConkie served in callings and leadership positions in the LDS Church. From 1920 to 1923 he was bishop of the Monticello
Monticello, Utah
Monticello is a city located in San Juan County, Utah, and is the county seat. It is the second most populous city in San Juan County, with a population of 1,958 at the 2000 census. The Monticello area was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
Ward,, before becoming a counselor to San Juan Stake president Wayne H. Redd, his wife's uncle, from 1923 to 1925. McConkie also served in the stake presidency of the Ensign Stake (in Salt Lake City) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He also served as a member of the LDS Church's Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
General Board. From 1946 to 1950 McConkie was president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the California Mission, which then included most of California and a large part of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Publications
McConkie's writings should not be confused with those by his son, Oscar W. McConkie, Jr.Oscar W. McConkie, Jr.
Oscar Walter McConkie, Jr. is an American politician and attorney in Utah and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was the president of the Utah State Senate from 1965 to 1966, and is currently chairman of the law firm of Kirton and McConkie...
Sources
- McConkie, Joseph FieldingJoseph Fielding McConkieJoseph Fielding McConkie is an emeritus professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He is the son of LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie and Amelia Smith McConkie. He has authored and co-authored over 25 books, speaks regularly at LDS gatherings, and is married to Brenda Kempton McConkie...
. The Bruce R. McConkie Story. (Salt Lake City: Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
, 2003) p. 32-55.
Further reading
Held in the Americana Collection of the BYU Harold B. Lee LibraryHarold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library , located in Provo, Utah, is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as...
.