Thomas S. Monson was called as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 3, 2008, upon the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Monson was the 16th president of the Church. He was the senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, having served the longest of any current apostle. He had served as first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church to President Hinckley. He passed away at his home on January 2, 2018, at the age of 90. Press coverage at the time of his passing extolled him as a man of one-on-one service.
Thomas Spencer Monson was born on 21 August 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the second of six children born to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson. The Monsons were of hardy Northern European ancestry. They were hardworking, humble, loving parents. The family went without many of the luxuries of life, especially during the Great Depression. Yet Thomas Monson was tenderhearted and sensitive to those around him who were even less fortunate. His compassion was manifested one Christmas, when he couldn’t bear watching his friend’s family endure a Christmas dinner of cereal and water. He gave the family his two prize rabbits, saying while holding back tears, “It isn’t turkey, but they will make you a good Christmas dinner.”1
Monson would be sensitive to the plight of the poor for the rest of his life. His renowned compassion, and his responsiveness to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, have made him a special servant to the sick and needy all of his years. When Monson became the bishop of the ward in which he had been raised, he served a congregation of 1,060 members, including 85 widows and the “largest welfare load in the state.”2 Monson continued to be personally involved in the lives of these widows over many years and long after he was released from his calling as bishop, until every one of them had passed away.
To read more about him: MormonWiki
