President Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrates his 90th birthday on Monday, August 21. President Monson’s life is hallmarked by his love of service to the LDS Church, community and his fellow man. This timeline highlights noteworthy events in his life.
- August 21, 1927 – Thomas S. Monson is born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson.
- 1948 – After serving in the Navy during World War II, Monson graduates cum laude from the University of Utah with a degree in business management. He later received his MBA from BYU and has since received several honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from BYU in 1981.
- 1948 – Monson starts working at the Deseret News. He eventually becomes an executive in the advertising division and later the sales manager and general manager of the Deseret News Press.
- October 7, 1948 – President Monson marries Frances Beverly Johnson in the Salt Lake Temple; they have three children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
- 1949 – At age 22, President Monson is called as bishop of the Sixth-Seventh Ward in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- 1959-1962 – After serving in the Temple View Stake presidency, Monson and his wife Frances move their family to Canada to serve as mission presidents of the Canadian Mission (Toronto).
- October 10, 1963 – At age 36, Monson is ordained as an Apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve.
- 1969 – President Monson begins his service as a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America.
- December 1981-1982 – President Ronald Reagan appoints President Monson to serve on the President’s Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives.
President Thomas S. Monson shakes hands with his councilors President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 in his Salt Lake City apartment. Monson will celebrate his 90th birthday on August 21, 2017. (Mormon Newsroom) - November 10, 1985 – President Monson is called to serve President Ezra Taft Benson as Second Counselor in the First Presidency. He later served as Second Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter in 1994, and then First Counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1995.
- 1993 – the Boy Scouts of America present President Monson with international Scouting’s highest award, the Bronze Wolf.
- February 3, 2008 – President Monson begins his service as the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- October 2012 – President Monson announces the age of missionary service will change from 19 to 18 for elders and 21 to 19 for sisters.
- 2013 – President Monson leads the apostles in opening social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
- May 17, 2013 – President Monson’s wife, Frances, passes away.
- May 23, 2017 – The church announces President Monson no longer regularly attends meetings at church offices due to health limitations from his age.
