Thomas S. Monson

Thomas S. Monson
16th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
February 3, 2008 (2008-02-03) – January 2, 2018 (2018-01-02)
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 (1995-03-12) – February 3, 2008 (2008-02-03)
Predecessor	Gordon B. Hinckley
Successor	Boyd K. Packer
End reason	Became President of the Church
First Counselor in the First Presidency
March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12) – January 27, 2008 (2008-01-27)
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 (1985-11-10) – March 3, 1995 (1995-03-03)
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 (1963-10-04) – November 10, 1985 (1985-11-10)
Called by	David O. McKay
End reason	Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency
LDS Church Apostle
October 10, 1963 (1963-10-10) – January 2, 2018 (2018-01-02)
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	(1927-08-21)August 21, 1927 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Died	January 2, 2018(2018-01-02) (aged 90) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Education	University of Utah (BS) Brigham Young University (MBA)
Spouse(s)	Frances Beverly Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 2013)​
Children	3
Awards	Silver Buffalo Bronze Wolf Honor Medal
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]