PresidentMonson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to G. Spencer Monson and Gladys Condie. The second of six children, he grew up in a tight knit family. In fact, many of his mother's relatives lived on the same street and the extended families frequently went on trips together. Among other places Monson would often spend weekends with relatives on their farms in Granger (now part of West Valley City).
The neighborhood Monson grew up in in Salt Lake City had many Mexican residents, and on many visits to Mexico later as an LDS Church apostle he reflected that he had a special love for Mexicans because of this.
As a teenager, Monson worked for the printing business of which his father was the general manager.
The neighborhood Monson grew up in in Salt Lake City had many Mexican residents, and on many visits to Mexico later as an LDS Church apostle he reflected that he had a special love for Mexicans because of this.
As a teenager, Monson worked for the printing business of which his father was the general manager.
Monson attended West High School in Salt Lake City. In the fall of 1944, Monson began studies at the University of Utah. It was at this time that he met Frances Johnson, whose family came from the east side of Salt Lake City and were of a much different social class than the Monsons. However, when Monson met Franz Johnson, Frances's father, Johnson quickly came to feel close to Monson because Johnson had been baptized into the LDS Church in Sweden by Monson's great uncle, Elias Monson.
In the spring of 1945, at age 17, Monson joined the United States Naval Reserve and anticipated participating in World War II in the Pacific theater. He was sent to San Diego but was not moved overseas before the end of the war. His tour of duty lasted six months beyond the end of the war and after it was completed he returned to the University of Utah. Monson graduated cum laude in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in business management.
In the spring of 1945, at age 17, Monson joined the United States Naval Reserve and anticipated participating in World War II in the Pacific theater. He was sent to San Diego but was not moved overseas before the end of the war. His tour of duty lasted six months beyond the end of the war and after it was completed he returned to the University of Utah. Monson graduated cum laude in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in business management.
Monson taught for a time at the University of Utah, then began his career in publishing. His first job was with the Deseret News, and he became an advertising executive there and later with the Newspaper Agency Corporation. On October 7, 1948, he married Frances Beverly Johnson in the Salt Lake Temple. The couple has three children: Thomas Lee, Ann Frances, and Clark Spencer.
Monson later transferred to the Deseret News Press, one of the largest presses in the Western United States, beginning as sales manager and eventually becoming general manager. He continued his education and received his master of business administration degree from Brigham Young University in 1974.
While with Deseret News Press in the 1950s, Monson was the person from that press who worked to publish LeGrand Richards's A Marvelous Work And A Wonder. He also worked with the LDS Church's representative on publications, Gordon B. Hinckley.
Monson later transferred to the Deseret News Press, one of the largest presses in the Western United States, beginning as sales manager and eventually becoming general manager. He continued his education and received his master of business administration degree from Brigham Young University in 1974.
While with Deseret News Press in the 1950s, Monson was the person from that press who worked to publish LeGrand Richards's A Marvelous Work And A Wonder. He also worked with the LDS Church's representative on publications, Gordon B. Hinckley.
Monson became a bishop in the LDS Church at age 22, one of the youngest men ever called to that position.[citation needed] Monson had also served in several church positions prior to that: he had been a ward clerk, a ward superintendent of the YMMIA, and a counselor in a bishopric.
As a bishop in Salt Lake City, Monson presided over a ward of over 1000 people, including eighty-four widows. Even after leaving the church position, he visited those widows regularly. Often during the Christmas season, he would bring them gifts, including poultry, which he raised himself.Monson eventually spoke at the funerals of each of these women. There were also many immigrants in the ward who had recently moved from Germany and had very few material posessions, making the church welfare load of the ward high.
At age 27, Monson became a counselor to a stake president in Salt Lake City, and he became a mission president at age 32. As mission president, he presided over the Canadian Mission of the LDS Church from 1959 to 1962, supervising church missionaries who were not much younger than he was. The Canadian Mission consisted of Ontario and Quebec; it was under the leadership of Monson that missionary work began among the French-speaking population of Quebec.[citation needed]
Upon his return to Utah after his mission to Canada, Monson resumed his work with the Deseret News until he was called to be an apostle in 1963 at age 36; he was the youngest apostle in the church since Joseph Fielding Smith became an apostle in 1910 at age 33. Prior to being called as an apostle, Monson held a few positions on church committees, including the Priesthood Home Teaching Committee.
As a bishop in Salt Lake City, Monson presided over a ward of over 1000 people, including eighty-four widows. Even after leaving the church position, he visited those widows regularly. Often during the Christmas season, he would bring them gifts, including poultry, which he raised himself.Monson eventually spoke at the funerals of each of these women. There were also many immigrants in the ward who had recently moved from Germany and had very few material posessions, making the church welfare load of the ward high.
At age 27, Monson became a counselor to a stake president in Salt Lake City, and he became a mission president at age 32. As mission president, he presided over the Canadian Mission of the LDS Church from 1959 to 1962, supervising church missionaries who were not much younger than he was. The Canadian Mission consisted of Ontario and Quebec; it was under the leadership of Monson that missionary work began among the French-speaking population of Quebec.[citation needed]
Upon his return to Utah after his mission to Canada, Monson resumed his work with the Deseret News until he was called to be an apostle in 1963 at age 36; he was the youngest apostle in the church since Joseph Fielding Smith became an apostle in 1910 at age 33. Prior to being called as an apostle, Monson held a few positions on church committees, including the Priesthood Home Teaching Committee.
As an apostle of the LDS Church, Monson has worked in many areas of the world and in many capacities. With his business background, he has helped to oversee many operations of the church including KSL and Bonneville International. He was chair of the Scripture Publication Committee in the 1970s that oversaw publication of the LDS Church edition of the King James Bible and revised editions of LDS Church scriptures containing footnotes and guides. He has also overseen the church's Printing Advisory Committee, the Missionary Executive Committee, and the General Welfare Committee.
Monson has also been instrumental in the growth of the LDS Church in Europe, where for a time he oversaw church operations in Eastern Europe. He assisted in gaining LDS Church access to its members in the Soviet bloc. In 1982, he organized the first stake in East Germany and was instrumental in obtaining permission for the church to build a temple in Freiberg, East Germany, in 1985.
Monson has also been instrumental in the growth of the LDS Church in Europe, where for a time he oversaw church operations in Eastern Europe. He assisted in gaining LDS Church access to its members in the Soviet bloc. In 1982, he organized the first stake in East Germany and was instrumental in obtaining permission for the church to build a temple in Freiberg, East Germany, in 1985.
Following the death of Church President Spencer W. Kimball in 1985, Monson was chosen as second counselor in the First Presidency to new church president Ezra Taft Benson. At age 58, he was the youngest member of a First Presidency since Rudger Clawson joined the First Presidency at age 44 in 1901. Serving as the second counselor to Benson and his successor Howard W. Hunter, Monson was named first counselor to church president Gordon B. Hinckley in 1995, simultaneously becoming President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by seniority. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency until Hinckley's death on January 27, 2008.
In 1986, Monson dedicated the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple. In 2000, he dedicated the Louisville Kentucky Temple, the Reno Nevada Temple, the Tampico México Temple, the Villahermosa México Temple, the Mérida México Temple and the Veracruz México Temple.[5] Monson also attended the dedication of many other church temples while a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and while in the First Presidency.
Thomas S. Monson became the 16th president of the LDS Church on 3 February 2008, succeeding Gordon B. Hinckley, who had died seven days earlier. Monson selected Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as his first and second counselors, respectively.
Monson has continued to be active in community and civic affairs. He is past president of the Printing Industry of Utah and a former board member of the Printing Industries of America. Since 1969, he has served on the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America. He served on the Utah State Board of Regents. In December 1981, U.S. President Ronald Reagan appointed Monson to the President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives. He remained with the initiative until it completed its work in December 1982.
University of Utah distinguished alumnus award in 1966.[9]
The Boy Scouts of America has awarded him the Silver Beaver (1971), and the Silver Buffalo (1978), which is the highest honor bestowed by the BSA.
In 1993 he received the Bronze Wolf, the highest honor bestowed by the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Thomas S. Monson became the 16th president of the LDS Church on 3 February 2008, succeeding Gordon B. Hinckley, who had died seven days earlier. Monson selected Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as his first and second counselors, respectively.
Monson has continued to be active in community and civic affairs. He is past president of the Printing Industry of Utah and a former board member of the Printing Industries of America. Since 1969, he has served on the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America. He served on the Utah State Board of Regents. In December 1981, U.S. President Ronald Reagan appointed Monson to the President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives. He remained with the initiative until it completed its work in December 1982.
University of Utah distinguished alumnus award in 1966.
The Boy Scouts of America has awarded him the Silver Beaver (1971), and the Silver Buffalo (1978), which is the highest honor bestowed by the BSA.
In 1993 he received the Bronze Wolf, the highest honor bestowed by the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Estamos gradecidos a nuestro Padre Celestial por bendecirnos con un hombre como el presidente Monson y esperamos aprender de el y tener la seguridad que el es el nuevo portador del mensaje del señor.
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