Thomas
S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, is celebrating his 82nd birthday on Friday, Aug. 21.
\"President
Monson will celebrate his birthday with family members and friends at
home after the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication sessions,\" according
to church spokesman Scott Trotter.
President
Monson was born on Aug. 21, 1927, in Salt Lake City to G. Spencer and
Gladys Condie Monson. He was sustained as president of the church on
April 5, 2008.He had been named as the 16th president of the church on
Feb. 4, 2008.
He was set apart as
first counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley on March 12, 1995. He
also was set apart as president of the Quorum of the Twelve on that
date.
He previously had been set
apart as second counselor to President Howard W. Hunter on June 5,
1994, and as second counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson on Nov. 10,
1985.
President Monson was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve on Oct. 4, 1963, and ordained an apostle on Oct. 10, 1963, at age 36.
Before
being called as a general authority, he was general manager of Deseret
Press.He began employment with the Deseret News in 1948 as an
advertising executive and was later chairman of the board of the
Deseret News for 19 years.
President
Monson also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, was ordained a
bishop at age 22 in Salt Lake City and was called as president of the
Canadian Mission in 1959.