Concerns for Thomas S. Monson’s health arise during conference
SALT LAKE CITY — Concerns about the health of President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arose Sunday, Oct. 4, as he gave a talk at the beginning of the morning session of the church’s general conference.
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Toward the end of his remarks, his speech slowed and he repeated words. It seemed he was having a difficult time standing, and was leaning on the pulpit to support himself.
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However, during the congregational hymn halfway through the two-hour morning session, he appeared to be standing and doing OK.
Many of the speakers who followed Monson expressed gratitude for the church prophet, including the three newly named apostles and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency as he was conducting the session.
Shannon Resare, who was raised in Ogden and watched conference at her parents’ home, said she was assured following Monson’s address by the testimonies of the new apostles.
“I think everything will be OK,” she said. “I’m not too worried about it at all.”
She said she is sure people are concerned following the recent deaths of President Boyd K. Packer and Elders L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scott that perhaps another leader would be lost, perhaps Monson.
After the session, Alex White, a 20-year-old from Lewiston, Idaho who is leaving on a two-year mission next week, said he was not concerned for the church, but for Monson himself.
“He is a man of God, but old-man age,” he said.
Elora Grant, a recent Brigham Young University graduate from Medford, Oregon, said even though Monson struggled, she still felt the spirit of his message.
“It’s not a secret that his health is in decline, but he’s still an instrument,” she said. “He was still on point.”
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of his appreciation for having older men lead the church.
“Interestingly, the mortal limitations of these men actually affirm the divine source of the revelations that come to and through them,” he said. “I have witnessed repeatedly my brethren striving diligently to fulfill and magnify their responsibilities while struggling with serious physical problems.”
This isn’t the first time in the past year Monson’s health seems to be deteriorating, as the number of times he usually speaks was cut in half last general conference, and he didn’t attend a meeting with President Barack Obama when he visited Utah in April. The church released a statement in May, addressing the concerns.
“President Monson is 87. It’s natural that he and others in church leadership are feeling the effects of advancing age,” church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in the May statement.
Watch and stay up to date on conference at our LDS General Conference page.
