President Thomas S. Monson
was set apart as first counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley on March 12, 1995. He was also set apart as president of the Twelve on that date. He was previously set apart as second counselor to President Howard W. Hunter on June 5, 1994, and as second counselor to President Ezra Taft Bensen Nov. 10, 1985. He was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Oct. 4, 1963, and ordained an apostle 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 chairman of the Deseret News board for 19 years. Born Aug. 21 1927, in Salt Lake cCity, to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson, he graduated cum laude from the University of Utah in business management, and received an MBA degree from BYU. In April 1981, Brigham Young University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

He served in the Navy during World War II. He was ordained a bishop of a Salt Lake City ward at age 22. President Monson served in the presidency of the Temple View Stake in Salt Lake City and was called as president of Canadian Mission in 1959. He and his wife, Frances Beverly Johnson Monson, are the parents of three children and have six grandchildren.