President Thomas S. Monson represented the Church at a ceremony to officially open the Ogden Valley Branch Library and Community Center in Huntsville. The auditorium of the new facility, about 55 miles north of Salt Lake City, is named for President David O. McKay, a native of Huntsville who served nearly 19 years as the Church's ninth president.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation contributed funds for the library's auditorium. Funds donated by the Church Foundation do not come from tithing resources, but from tax-paying businesses the Church owns.

President Monson, now first counselor in the First Presidency, was called by President McKay to the Quorum of the Twelve in 1963. His appointment to the Twelve, President Monson said, was the last made by President McKay. He said one of his early assignments was to represent President McKay at an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Episcopal Church in Utah. He said he was honored to represent President McKay then, and to have been invited to speak at the opening of the library, a major room of which is named in President McKay's honor.

He commented on seeing a sign that states Huntsville (1990 census: population 561) is President McKay's birthplace. "I can't help but pay tribute to David O. McKay," President Monson said. "He was a great giant in the land, a wonderful representative of this community."

He spoke of having been in President McKay's office on one occasion and noticing a painting, and asked if it might be a rendition of the prophet's childhood home in Huntsville. "He sat back in his chair, gave a familiar David O. McKay chuckle and said, `Let me tell you about that picture. A sweet woman came in to see me one autumn day and presented to me that beautiful painting, framed and ready to be placed on the wall. She said, "President McKay, I have spent the entire summer painting this picture of your ancestral home." ' He said he thanked her profusely and accepted the gift. `Do you know, Brother Monson,' he continued, `that sweet woman painted the wrong house. She painted the house next door!'

"Think of the genius that this man; President McKay wouldn't hurt the woman's feelings for the world. Then he said, `The more I think about it, the more I realize that she had painted the right house, because when, as a young boy, I would lie on the bed, which was on the front porch of my ancestral home, the view I had through that screened porch was of the very house she painted. She did paint the right house for me.' "

President Monson then quoted well-known author James A. Michener, who said: " `A nation becomes what its young people read in their youth. Its ideals are fashioned then. Its goals are strongly determined. And the foundations are established for future action.' "

To the delight of many in the audience, particularly young children, President Monson spoke of the first two books he checked out of a library when he was a boy. The first book, he said, was Chanko, the Homing Pigeon. The second was Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with the Circus.

"To show you how the truth you take into your minds as a child through reading stays with you: I still have some pigeons, and I went to the circus recently," President Monson said.

"You have a diverse background in this valley," he added. "That's how it should be. This is a public institution. I'm happy this library is for all people, every religion, every ethnic background, every nationality. This is a house of learning. We should always remember that."

President Monson spoke of the cooperation required to construct a new library in a town such as Huntsville. "Someone said, `When we work together we eliminate the weakness of one standing alone and substitute therefor the strength of individuals serving and working together.' That's the spirit of this library."

After citing the adage, "A little learning is a dangerous thing," President Monson said, "I hope we drink deeply at the well of learning."

He concluded by quoting a poem by Emilie Poulsson: "Books are keys to wisdom's treasure; Books are gates to lands of pleasure; Books are paths that upward lead; Books are friends. Come, let us read."

President Monson thanked all those who had been involved in planning and building the library, and all who donated to make a dream of learning become a reality.

Others participating on the program were Marlene Barnett of the Weber County Board of Trustees; county commissioners Bruce H. Anderson, Spencer F. Stokes and Joe H. Ritchie; and Lynnda M. Wangsgard, county library director. Alan Nye of the Weber County Library Development Board acknowledged contributions by Robert L. and Patricia Wangasgard, and the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation. Levi Peterson, an author and member of the library's board of trustees, introduced President Monson as the keynote speaker. A musical interlude was presented by Narlene and Kevin Mathie.

President Monson's wife, Frances, accompanied him to Huntsville. After the program, they stopped briefly at President McKay's ancestral home.