Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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SALT LAKE CITY — For 20-plus years, the LDS Church president has presided, been present and spoken publicly in at least one of the church's biannual general conference sessions.
That may not be the case this fall, given that President Thomas S. Monson, president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is dealing with incidents related to age. After giving two very brief addresses in the previous April 2017 conference and then being hospitalized briefly afterward, he may not speak at the October 2017 general conference and may not attend.
For newer or younger members of the Mormon faith, a general conference without the church president's attendance or participation may be something new. Older, more tenured Latter-day Saints will remember frequent times when general conference occurred without the church president speaking — or perhaps even present for any session.
Since 1994, the three most recent church presidents — President Monson, President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Howard W. Hunter — all had attended at least one session of general conference and given one talk during each conference during their tenures of presiding.
A mainstay at general conferences since being named a church apostle more than 50 years ago, President Monson may not be able to attend. A May 23, 2017, church statement said “because of limitations incident to his age, President Monson is no longer attending meetings at the church office on a regular basis.”
Similar health challenges faced other presidents of the church, including President David O. McKay in the late 1960s, President Spencer W. Kimball in the 1980s, and President Ezra Taft Benson in the late 1980s and ealy 1990s.
The ability and availability of aging LDS Church leaders has been addressed before with messages assuring members of the church’s sustained leadership, despite deteriorating health or diminishing capabilities of an aged president-prophet.
A look at LDS conference when the church president didn't speak
I do not see President Monson being here too much longer.
That may not be the case this fall, given that President Thomas S. Monson, president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is dealing with incidents related to age. After giving two very brief addresses in the previous April 2017 conference and then being hospitalized briefly afterward, he may not speak at the October 2017 general conference and may not attend.
For newer or younger members of the Mormon faith, a general conference without the church president's attendance or participation may be something new. Older, more tenured Latter-day Saints will remember frequent times when general conference occurred without the church president speaking — or perhaps even present for any session.
Since 1994, the three most recent church presidents — President Monson, President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Howard W. Hunter — all had attended at least one session of general conference and given one talk during each conference during their tenures of presiding.
A mainstay at general conferences since being named a church apostle more than 50 years ago, President Monson may not be able to attend. A May 23, 2017, church statement said “because of limitations incident to his age, President Monson is no longer attending meetings at the church office on a regular basis.”
Similar health challenges faced other presidents of the church, including President David O. McKay in the late 1960s, President Spencer W. Kimball in the 1980s, and President Ezra Taft Benson in the late 1980s and ealy 1990s.
The ability and availability of aging LDS Church leaders has been addressed before with messages assuring members of the church’s sustained leadership, despite deteriorating health or diminishing capabilities of an aged president-prophet.
A look at LDS conference when the church president didn't speak
I do not see President Monson being here too much longer.
