Biography at a glance
- Born: August 21, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Died: January 2, 2018
- Family: Married Frances Beverly Johnson in 1948
- Church service: Apostle from 1963; counselor in the First Presidency from 1985; President of the Church from 2008
- Recurring themes: Personal service, missionary work, and care for people who might otherwise be overlooked
Learning to serve one person at a time
Monson grew up in Salt Lake City, served in the United States Naval Reserve, and studied marketing. In his early twenties he was called as a bishop over a large ward that included many people living in difficult circumstances. His visits to widows became a lasting part of the way he understood ministry. The Church’s history overview follows those formative years and the later pattern of personal service in his leadership.
International ministry and Church leadership
Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at age 36, Monson traveled widely as the Church grew beyond its western United States roots. His assignments included work with Saints in the German Democratic Republic during the Cold War and a major effort to improve the Church’s editions of scripture. He later served as a counselor to three Church presidents before becoming president himself in February 2008.
Presidency and legacy
During Monson’s presidency, temple building and missionary work continued to expand. In 2012 he announced a lower minimum age for full-time missionary service, a change that reshaped many young members’ plans. LDS Flow’s look at missionary numbers places the resulting surge in a longer trend. Monson died in 2018, leaving a record of talks and stories that repeatedly ask readers to notice and help the person in front of them.
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Quotes by Thomas S. Monson
80 quotes
“To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice.”
"School Thy Feelings, O My Brother"
— Thomas S. Monson
“Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also as a determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”
The Call for Courage
— Thomas S. Monson
“Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has been proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome.”
Priesthood Power, Conference April 2011
— Thomas S. Monson
“Perhaps the renowned author Charles Dickens best described our day when he spoke of a period over two centuries ago. His classic A Tale of Two Cities begins: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.’ “This is your world. The future is in your hands. The outcome is up to you. The way to exaltation is not a freeway featuring unlimited vision, unrestricted speeds, and untested skills. Rather, it is known by many forks and turnings, sharp curves, and controlled speeds. Your driving skill will be put to the test. Are you ready? You are driving. You haven’t passed this way before. Fortunately, the Master Highway Builder, even our Heavenly Father, has provided a road map showing the route to follow. He has placed markers along the way to guide you to your destination.”
"Decisions Determine Destiny"
— Thomas S. Monson
“Who can count the vast throngs of the lonely, the aged, the helpless- those who feel abandoned by the caravan of life as it moves relentlessly onward and then disappears beyond the sight of those who ponder, who wonder, and who sometimes question as they are left alone with their thoughts. Patience can be a helpful companion during such stressful times.”
Patience- A Heavenly Virtue, October 1995 General Conference
— Thomas S. Monson
“When God speaks and we obey, we will always be right.”
The Blessings of Obedience
— Thomas S. Monson
“We are responsible for the home we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth.”
— Thomas S. Monson
“We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.”
"An Attitude of Gratitude"
— Thomas S. Monson
“The Lord will shape the back to bear the burdens placed upon it.”
— Thomas S. Monson
“It is not enough to want to make the effort and to say we’ll make the effort. We must actually make the effort. It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals.”
A Royal Priesthood
— Thomas S. Monson
“I have read—and I believe—the testimonies of those who experienced the grief of Christ’s crucifixion and the joy of His Resurrection. I have read—and I believe—the testimonies of those in the New World who were visited by the same risen Lord. I believe the testimony of one who, in this dispensation, spoke with the Father and the Son in a grove now called sacred and who gave his life, sealing that testimony with his blood.”
“He Is Risen!”
— Thomas S. Monson
“Patriarchs are humble men. They are students of the scriptures. They stand before God as the means whereby the blessings of heaven can flow from that eternal source to the recipient on whose head rests the hands of the patriarch. He may not be a man of letters, a possessor of worldly wealth, or a holder of distinguished office. He, however, must be blessed with priesthood power and personal purity. To reach to heaven for divine guidance and inspiration, a patriarch is to be a man of love, a man of compassion, a man of judgment, a man of God.”
Your Patriarchal Blessing:A Liahona of Light
— Thomas S. Monson
“I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not.”
"Finding Joy in the Journey"
— Thomas S. Monson
“… Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage, as well as full fidelity after marriage. In dating, treat your date with respect, and expect your date to show that same respect for you.”
“That We May Touch Heaven,” Ensign, Nov. 1990, 45, 47.
— Thomas S. Monson
“Beyond our study of spiritual matters, secular learning is also essential. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. Statistics reveal that at some time, because of the illness or death of a husband or because of economic necessity, you may find yourself in the role of financial provider. Some of you already occupy that role. I urge you to pursue your education—if you are not already doing so or have not done so—that you might be prepared to provide if circumstances necessitate such. “Your talents will expand as you study and learn. You will be able to better assist your families in their learning, and you will have peace of mind in knowing that you have prepared yourself for the eventualities that you may encounter in life.”
“Three Goals to Guide You”
— Thomas S. Monson
“Dress in such a way as to bring out the best in yourself and those around you. Avoid extremes in clothing and appearance, including tattoos and piercings.”
— Thomas S. Monson
“He measures the abundant life by the capacity “to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility.”
To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson
— Thomas S. Monson
“A thought has gone through my mind as I’ve prepared for this [talk]. I’ve expressed it this way: Remember the past; learn from it. Contemplate the future; prepare for it. Live in the present; serve in it. Therein is the mighty strength of the Relief Society of this Church.”
The Mighty Strength of the Relief Society
— Thomas S. Monson
“A popular song includes the words, ‘There are angels among us.’ These angels are quite frequently the precious little ones God, our Father, has entrusted to our earthly care. To them may we teach prayer, inspire faith, live truth, and honor God. Then we shall have heavenly homes and forever families.”
— Thomas S. Monson
“Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure- all these and more- cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams.”
Believe, Obey , and Endure, Conference October 2013
— Thomas S. Monson
“Obedience is a hallmark of prophets; it has provided strength and knowledge to them throughout the ages. It is essential for us to realize that we, as well, are entitled to this source of strength and knowledge. It is readily available to each of us today as we obey God’s commandments.”
Obedience Brings Blessings
— Thomas S. Monson
“My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”
"The Power of the Book of Mormon," Conference April 2017
— Thomas S. Monson
“The knowledge which we seek, the answers for which we yearn, and the strength which we desire today to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world can be ours when we willingly obey the Lord’s commandments.”
Obedience Brings Blessings
— Thomas S. Monson
“A physician revealed to me the large number of children who are brought to the emergency rooms of local hospitals in your city and mine. In many cases guilty parents provide fanciful accounts of the child falling from his high chair or stumbling over a toy and striking his head. Altogether too frequently it is discovered that the parent was the abuser and the innocent child the victim. Shame on the perpetrators of such vile deeds. God will hold such strictly accountable for their actions.”
“A Little Child Shall Lead Them”
— Thomas S. Monson
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