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Thomas Spencer Monson was called to be the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 3, 2008, upon the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He had previously served as First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church to President Hinckley. President Monson was called into service for the Church at a young age—he was called as a bishop at twenty-two, as a counselor in a stake presidency at twenty-seven, a mission president at thirty-one, and an apostle at thirty-six.
Born on 21 August 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson; Thomas S. Monson grew up without many of the luxuries of life, especially during the Great Depression. Yet, Thomas Monson was tender-hearted and sensitive to those around him who were even less fortunate.
Monson joined the U.S. Navy during WWII when he was seventeen. However, the war was soon over and he was able to enroll in classes at the University of Utah, where he graduated with honors and a business degree in 1948. On October 7, 1948, he married Frances Beverly Johnson. They eventually had three children, two sons and a daughter.
