Background
Stapley was born in Mesa, Arizona Territory.
business executive Church leader
Stapley was born in Mesa, Arizona Territory.
As a youth, he rejected a chance at playing Major League Baseball so he could serve an Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) mission in the southern United States and because he didn"t want to play on Sunday, the day Latter-day Saints observe as the Sabbath. After his mission, he was a United States. marine in the First World War. Stapley had been stake president for three years before receiving a call to the apostleship on October 5, 1950.
Stapley was notified of his new calling by church president George Albert Smith in the elevator bank of the Hotel Utah.
Dated January 23, 1964, and specifically stating he was not speaking for the church or in his position as an apostle, the letter urged Michigan Governor George West. Romney to back away from certain positions favoring civil rights, calling the bill that became the Civil Rights Acting of 1964 "vicious legislation." Romney is reported to have accelerated his engagement in the civil rights cause shortly after receiving the letter. Stapley"s views changed with time and, from his hospital bed, he sustained the First Presidency"s action on June 8, 1978, announcing that all worthy men would be permitted to receive the priesthood, regardless of race.
Stapley delivered his last conference address in October 1977. The following April conference he was too ill to attend.
Stapley died on August 19, 1978, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He suffered cardiac arrest at about noon while walking near his home. At the time of his death, Stapley was the third apostle in line to the presidency of the church. His vacancy in the was filled by James East. Faust.
Stapley was also sustained as a member of the on October 5, 1950, at the church"s October general conference, filling the vacancy caused by the death of George F. Richards.