President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, observed his 63rd birthday Tuesday.
He was called to the First Presidency in November 1985, having previously served 22 years in the Council of the Twelve. He was called to be an apostle in 1963 at age 36.President Monson was graduated cum laude from the University of Utah in 1948, later received a master of business administration degree from Brigham Young University and served in the U.S. Navy.
The general authority is chairman of the board of the Deseret News Publishing Co. President Monson has received Scouting's highest honor, the Silver Buffalo Award, and was appointed by former President Reagan to serve on the President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives.
President Monson and his wife, Frances, the are parents of three children.