President Thomas S. Monson offers a thumbs up to church members in attendance at General Conference October 2016. President Monson has led the LDS church since 2008 (Ari Davis).
Deseret News reported Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will not attend General Conference this weekend.
President Monson is 90 years old. On May 23 the church released a statement that said President Monson would no longer attend meetings at church offices on a regular basis because of limitations due to his age.
Members of the LDS Church may have noticed limitations on President Monson as early as April 2016. During General Conference in April 2016, Oct. 2016 and April 2017, President Monson spoke for only five minutes or less, compared to around 15 minutes in Oct. 2015.
Members may also remember when, during the Oct. 2015 General Conference Sunday morning session, President Monson's speech began to slow at one point and he appeared to be struggling to stand, leaning on the pulpit to support his weight.
President Monson's condition is unknown. Both he and Elder Robert D. Hales will miss this General Conference weekend.