| Thomas S. Monson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 16th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| February 3, 2008 – January 2, 2018 | |
| Predecessor | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Successor | Russell M. Nelson |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with Boyd K. Packer as Acting President) | |
| March 12, 1995 – February 3, 2008 | |
| Predecessor | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Successor | Boyd K. Packer |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| First Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| March 12, 1995 – January 27, 2008 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Predecessor | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Successor | Henry B. Eyring |
| End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency upon the death of Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Second Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| November 10, 1985 – March 3, 1995 | |
| Called by | Ezra Taft Benson |
| Predecessor | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Successor | James E. Faust |
| End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency upon the death of Howard W. Hunter |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 4, 1963 – November 10, 1985 | |
| Called by | David O. McKay |
| End reason | Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 10, 1963 – January 2, 2018 | |
| Called by | David O. McKay |
| Reason | Death of Henry D. Moyle; N. Eldon Tanner added to First Presidency |
| Reorganization at end of term | Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares were ordained following deaths of Monson and Robert D. Hales |
| Military career | |
| 1945–1946 | |
| Service/branch |  U.S. Navy |
| Rank |  Ensign |
| Unit | U.S. Naval Reserve |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 21, 1927 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | January 2, 2018 (aged 90) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Spouse(s) |
Frances Beverly Johnson
(m. 1948; died 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | |
| Website | thomassmonson.org |
| Signature | |
 | |
Thomas Spencer Monson (August 21, 1927 – January 2, 2018) was an American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As president, he was considered by adherents of the religion to be a prophet, seer, and revelator. Monson's early career was as a manager at the Deseret News, a Utah newspaper owned by the LDS Church. He spent most of his life engaged in various church leadership positions and public service.
Monson was ordained an LDS apostle at age 36, served in the First Presidency under three church presidents, and was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from March 12, 1995, until he became President of the Church on February 3, 2008.[1] He succeeded Gordon B. Hinckley as church president.[2][3]
Monson received four honorary doctorate degrees, as well as the Boy Scouts of America's Silver Buffalo and the World Organization of the Scout Movement's Bronze Wolf—the highest awards in each organization. He was a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, the organization's governing body.[4]
Monson was chairman of the Boards of Trustees/Education of the Church Educational System, and Ronald Reagan appointed him to the U.S. President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives. He married Frances Beverly Johnson in the Salt Lake Temple in 1948, and together they raised their three children. Frances died on May 17, 2013.[5][6]
- ^ "President Thomas S. Monson". LDS Newsroom. LDS Church. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
pressreleasewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ As the church's president, he is recognized as the most senior apostle.
- ^ "Boy Scouts of America Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2012.
- ^ "Frances B. Monson, Wife of President Thomas S. Monson, Passes Away". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. May 17, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Mims, Bob (May 17, 2013). "Frances Monson, wife of Mormon church leader, dies". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2013.