Gladys Condie Monson

Gladys Condie Monson was the mother of Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She was born on October 1, 1902, in Salt Lake City, of Scottish heritage. She suffered from childhood asthma possibly brought on by city pollution, so her father bought property in the Vivian Park area in Provo Canyon where he built a cabin for his family to use during the summer months.

Gladys attended Salt Lake City schools and excelled in music. She attended LDS Business College and with her two-year degree, she obtained employment as a stenographer for Equitable Life Insurance.

She particularly loved to dance and met her future husband, George Spencer Monson, at a ward dance. They were married on December 14, 1922. They became the parents of six children. Thomas was their second child and first son. She was warm, friendly and compassionate, caring more for others—including the transients that often came to her back door from the nearby train station—than for having a spotless house.

She served in the Church as Relief Society pianist and ward organist. She taught piano to many people in her community. She and her husband belonged to bridge and dancing groups. She had a great sense of humor and people loved to be around her.

While Thomas served as president of the Canadian mission, Gladys and Spence moved into his home. They then rented a duplex in the Canyon Rim area of Salt Lake City. Her lifelong asthma led finally to lung cancer for her. She passed away in her sleep on September 13, 1973.

Source

Leonard Arrington, Susan Arrington Madsen, and Emily Madsen Jones, Mothers of the Prophets, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2009).