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President Thomas S. Monson, center, joins President Henry B. Eyring, left, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, at the start of the afternoon session of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 185th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 3, 2015. Concerns were raised about President Monson's health following his talk on the second day of General Conference.

BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner

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In this April 1, 2017, file photo, Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, walks with his daughter, Ann Dibb, right, as he leaves the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. Mormon officials said Monson is no longer coming to meetings at church offices regularly because of limitations related to his age. Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in a statement that Monson communicates with fellow leaders on matters as needed. (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News via AP, File)

Scott G Winterton/Deseret News

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In this photo from Saturday, April 1, 2017, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Thomas S. Monson looks on during the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. The then 89-year-old president of the Mormon church had been hospitalized in Salt Lake City a spokesman for the church said. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press, AP

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In this photo from Oct. 1, 2016, President Thomas S. Monson, center, and his Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints First Presidency, attend the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/George Frey)

George Frey/Associated Press, FR10102 AP

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This weekend’s absence of President Thomas S. Monson from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 187th Semiannual General Conference may well be his first without attending at least one conference session in 54 years.

Monson was called as a member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1963 and to their knowledge, older, local church members can’t remember him ever missing a General Conference.

The church president celebrated his 90th birthday in August.

South Ogden resident Dan Litchford said hearing that Monson won’t be at General Conference does not raise any concern for him.

“He is 90 years old,” Litchford said. “He’s got the normal challenges that old age has. He has had sugar diabetes for years. I think it’s the combination of those two that are making him as weak as he is.”

RELATED: LDS President Thomas S. Monson will not attend General Conference

Drawing comfort from the way the church hierarchy is set up, Litchford said he knows the organization is in good hands. Next in line to become president of the church is 93-year-old President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Monson will remain as president of the church until his death.

“It’s always hard to follow a very, very popular prophet,” Bob Hunter, retiring president of United Way of Northern Utah and a former LDS bishop, said. “I don’t think there is anyone that didn’t love President (Gordon B.) Hinckley. But president Monson has carved out his own and has made a place in people’s hearts. We certainly hope he will return to good health.”

Church member and Weber State University Social Science Professor Gene Sessions said the issue of an older church president not being able to attend meetings is inherent, describing the church as a gerontocracy — ruled by the aged. 

“This situation is kind of inevitable ever since they decided that the senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve will lead the church,” Sessions said.

When the church’s first president, Joseph Smith, was martyred and church leaders decided to turn over leadership to the president of the Quorum of the Twelve, Brigham Young was 45-years-old, Sessions said. Sessions guessed leaders probably didn’t envision the situation elderly leaders create today.

“We’ve had this situation a number of times,” said Sessions, who has been documenting Mormon history for 45 years. “There were other presidents who became incapacitated toward the end of their lives. They were not really able to function in public.”

Members have voiced concerns about Monson’s health since the Oct. 4, 2015 session of conference, when Monson’s voice and posture significantly faded during a talk. Since that time, Monson has limited his General Conference talks to a few minutes minutes. 

RELATED: Concerns for Thomas S. Monson’s health arise during conference

Litchford said he believes Monson will always be remembered for temple construction, lowering the age of missionaries from 19 to 18 for men and from 21 to 19 for women and for the slogan “To the Rescue.”

While “To the Rescue” became the title of Monson’s biography, the phrase became known originally in his General Conference priesthood session talk in 2001.

In the talk, Monson referred to a painting that showed men rowing out in stormy seas on a rescue raft while the wife and children of a imperiled man waited on the shore.

“Amidst the storms of life, danger lurks, and men, like boats, find themselves stranded and facing destruction,” Monson said in the talk.

“Brethren, our task is not insurmountable… We are on the Lord’s errand and therefore we are entitled to the Lord’s help. But we must try.”

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Rick Bowmer

Monson announced in October 2012 to lower the age of missionaries in the field.

Since that time, the numbers of full-time missionaries serving has grown substantially — from 58,500 at that time to 70,946 reported at the last General Conference.

Since Monson took over as president of the church in April 2008, 27 church temples were dedicated, about 17 percent of the faith’s 157 temples. Twelve more temples he has announced now are under construction, according to church records.

Marriott-Slaterville resident Cindy Brunson said Monson is for her the light in a dark world.

“I know if he is not there in person he’ll be there in our hearts and we will feel his spirit,” she said of General Conference. “Love and prayers to our prophet.”

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You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at jfrancis@standard.net or 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook at facebook.com/SEJaNaeFrancis.