Artist’s Notes

While serving a mission for his Church in Scotland, David O. McKay (1873-1970) saw a stone above the entrance to an architect’s office with a curious relief carving and inscription. The stone had 9 geometric figures and the inscription “WHAT E’ER THOU ART, ACT WELL THY PART.”

The geometric figures were arranged in the format of a magic square—the number of sides on each shape added up in any direction will always equal 18. The symbolic nature of the geometric shapes as well as the inscription help to communicate a simple and profound message: we are all unique, with unique abilities and skills, and we each need to act out our part to the best of our abilities along with others to accomplish a greater good.

David O’ McKay saw the beauty in the message of this arrangement of symbols and used it as a guide for his life, always aiming to do his best in whatever role he was assigned. David O’ McKay became the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1951 and served in that capacity till his death in 1970. The original stone was purchased and moved from Scotland to Salt Lake City, Utah and now resides in the Museum of Church History in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sybolism and Geometry

This interpretation of this stone and message uses precision geometric drawings using a compass and ruler. Every line visible in the image is required in order to create the geometric construction of each of the 9 shapes. The precision adds to the message, indicating the need for us to become and act in our purest form and our most essential nature.