McConkie, Mormon Aide, Dies

Bruce R. McConkie, a member of the Mormon Church’s highest advisory body, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, died Friday at his home here. He was 69.

McConkie made his last public appearance at the church’s 155th annual general conference on April 6 in Salt Lake City’s Temple Square. In his final address, McConkie, who suffered from cancer, emphasized the Easter theme.

“The most important doctrine I can declare, and the most powerful testimony I can bear is of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “The atonement is the most transcendent event that ever has or ever will occur from creation’s dawn through all the ages of a never-ending eternity.”

McConkie had served on the Twelve, the Mormon Church’s highest advisory body, since Oct. 12, 1972, when he was called by the late church president, Harold B. Lee. Earlier, McConkie had served 26 years as a member of the First Council of the Seventy, another governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has 5.6 million members.

Earned Law Degree

McConkie previously earned a law degree from the University of Utah, served as assistant Salt Lake County attorney and then Salt Lake City prosecutor.

During World War II, he served in the Army as a security and intelligence officer.

He served briefly as a member of the editorial staff of the church-owned newspaper in Salt Lake City, the Deseret News, but was called in 1946 to join the Seventy.

He had undergone surgery for cancer of the colon on Jan. 20, 1984, but returned to church duties shortly afterward while undergoing chemotherapy.

Funeral arrangements were pending.