The Accra Ghana Temple is the 117th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
90-585: The building of the Accra Ghana Temple was announced on February 16, 1998. Years before the temple was announced, LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley had promised members in the area they would someday have a temple close by. When the temple was announced Hinckley also told those in attendance that the church had been trying to find a place to build a temple in Ghana for five years. The temple in Accra
180-660: A B.A. in 1932. Hinckley became a missionary for the LDS Church, an unusual occurrence for Depression-era Latter-day Saints. He served in the London -based British Mission from 1933 to 1935. He later wrote the words for LDS hymn no. 135, "My Redeemer Lives". Hinckley returned to the United States in 1935 after completing a short tour of the European continent, including preaching in both Berlin and Paris . He
270-684: A counselor in the First Presidency . After first counselor N. Eldon Tanner died in 1982, Kimball did not appoint a new counselor. As the 1980s progressed, more of the day-to-day affairs of the First Presidency fell to the healthier Hinckley. By 1984, Hinckley was the only publicly-active member of the First Presidency. In 1984, the church formed Area Presidencies . Until then, church headquarters administered national and multinational areas. The Area Presidencies decentralized administration with presidencies living in locations around
360-505: A counselor in the First Presidency, Monson dedicated seven church temples: Buenos Aires Argentina , 1986; Louisville Kentucky , 2000; Reno Nevada , 2000; Tampico México , 2000; Villahermosa México , 2000; Mérida México , 2000; and Veracruz México , 2000. Monson attended the dedication of many other LDS Church temples as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency. He
450-517: A counselor in the presidency of the church's East Millcreek Stake . He later served as president of that stake, until about six months after his call as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . During his time as stake president Hinckley oversaw the building of several chapels. In the April 1958 general conference, Hinckley became a church general authority as an Assistant to
540-572: A counselor to Percy K. Fetzer in the presidency of the Salt Lake Temple View Stake . He was replaced as bishop of the 6th-7th ward the following month. In the stake presidency , Monson oversaw the stake's Primary , Sunday School , MIA , athletics and budget, until he was moved to Holladay, Utah , in June 1957. In Holladay, Monson was assigned to a ward building committee, to coordinate ward members' volunteer service to build
630-585: A former member of the church's Young Women general presidency. Another of their daughters, Kathleen Hinckley Barnes Walker, co-authored several books with Virginia , and ran an events company . Her first husband, Alan Barnes, died in 2001 and in 2004 she married M. Richard Walker. The Walkers served from 2005 to 2008 as president and matron of the Salt Lake Temple and lived in Preston , England, from 2011 to 2013, while Richard served as president of
720-456: A friendship with both Wallace and Larry King . In November 2000, Hinckley spoke to the youth of the church and gave them six traits to work on, named the "Six Be's" (Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, Be Prayerful), which were first introduced in his New York Times Bestseller Standing for Something and later expanded on in Way to Be . On March 31, 2001, Hinckley announced
810-581: A future LDS general authority , was among the immigrant converts. Monson encouraged members to remain in eastern Canada, instead of migrating to Utah or Alberta as many members had done before, to help build the church's presence. To help encourage members to stay in Canada, increase the perception of permanence, and better reach potential converts, he started a major construction program for new meetinghouses. Until then, most branches had used rented halls. Efforts made during Monson's service came to fruition when
900-674: A higher social class on the east side of the city. Her father, Franz Johnson, saw an immediate connection because Monson's great uncle, Elias Monson, had baptized him into the LDS Church in Sweden. In 1945, Monson joined the United States Naval Reserve and anticipated participating in World War II in the Pacific theater . He was sent to San Diego, California , for training, but was not stationed overseas before
990-661: A love for the Mexican people and culture. Monson often spent weekends with relatives on their farms in Granger (now part of West Valley City ), and as a teenager, he worked at a printing business his father managed. From 1940 to 1944, Monson attended West High School in Salt Lake City. In the fall of 1944, he enrolled at the University of Utah . Around this time he met his future wife, Frances, whose family came from
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#17328015597431080-601: A meetinghouse. In April 1959, at age 31, Monson became president of the church's Canadian Mission (consisting of Ontario and Quebec ), and served until January 1962. Monson's third child, Clark, was born during his mission presidency. As there were no local stakes in Ontario or Quebec at the time, Monson was responsible for both the missionaries and all LDS Church operations in the area. When he became mission president, he oversaw 130 missionaries and 55 church branches divided into nine districts . During his tenure,
1170-399: A quota of one LDS missionary, who would otherwise be drafted, being able to leave from a ward or branch every six months, with the quota transferable within any given LDS district or stake. In the late 1960s, Hinckley was a key person in formulating official LDS Church statements, such as the 1968 statement on the sale of liquor by the drink. In the early 1970s, Hinckley served as chair of
1260-621: A second trip in April 1961, which included a meeting to inaugurate missionary work in the Philippines. During this trip he also was in Seoul, South Korea during the May 16 coup . Hinckley wired a story on the coup to the Deseret News . In June 1961, Hinckley was one of the general authority presenters at the first Missionary President training seminar and was involved in the presentation of
1350-678: A stake was organized in Toronto on August 14, 1960. However, most of the mission's area remained in districts. A more complete presence in Ontario would not come until the dedication of the Toronto Ontario Temple in 1990, which Monson attended as a member of the First Presidency. Immediately after returning from Canada, Monson was called to the high council of the Valley View Stake in Holladay. Two months later he
1440-524: A total of 17,500 square feet (1,630 m), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. There is a stake center and Missionary Training Center on the grounds. While all members of the church with a valid temple recommend are able to visit the temple, it primarily serves members in Benin , Ghana, the Ivory Coast , Liberia , Sierra Leone , and Togo . In 2020, like all the church's other temples,
1530-524: A voyage on a sailing vessel to preside at the funeral. In late 1963, Hinckley made another tour of the Philippines, Japan and South Korea, this time bringing not only his wife but also their 10-year-old daughter. In the spring of 1964, the Improvement Era published a series or articles on the church in Asia and identified Hinckley as president of the "Hawaiian-Oriental Missions." In 1964, Hinckley
1620-625: Is the second of three temples built in Africa. The first Mormon missionaries came to Ghana in 1978. Many of the people present at the announcement of the temple had been some of the first converts in Ghana. A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 16, 2001. Russell M. Nelson , a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles , led the ceremony. The vice president of Ghana, Aliu Mahama , as well as other officials, participated in
1710-554: The Church Boards of Trustees/Education . Hinckley died of natural causes on January 27, 2008. His wife, Marjorie Pay, died in 2004. He was succeeded as church president by Thomas S. Monson , who had served as his first counselor in the First Presidency , and, more importantly, was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ; according to LDS doctrine and practice, Monson was Hinckley's anticipated successor. Hinckley
1800-543: The Deseret News as assistant general manager of the Deseret News Press, mainly doing non-newspaper printing. A month later he was made the general manager of the Deseret News Press. At the time, it was the largest printing plant in the United States west of the Mississippi River. Monson remained in this position until 1963, when he was called as apostle . Monson was sustained to the Quorum of
1890-522: The Mark Hofmann document forgeries, bombings, and investigation occurred. "The news interest was global" and "the whole episode achieved epic proportions." Several books describe the acquisition of supposed historical documents by Hinckley and others such as the secret sale of the Stowell document describing Joseph Smith's "money-digging pursuits." Using $ 15,000 of church funds, Hinckley bought
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#17328015597431980-618: The Missionary Training Center . Hinckley's other son, Clark, has also served in several church leadership positions, including stake president , president of the church's Spain Barcelona Mission (2009 to 2012), and the first president of the Tijuana Mexico Temple (2015 to 2018). After returning to East Millcreek at the end of employment with the railroad, Hinckley was called as
2070-506: The Newspaper Agency Corporation at its formation in 1952. One year later, Monson transferred to the Deseret News Press, beginning as sales manager and eventually becoming general manager. While at Deseret News Press, Monson worked to publish LeGrand Richards 's A Marvelous Work And A Wonder . He also worked with Gordon B. Hinckley, the LDS Church's representative on publications, with whom he would later serve in
2160-488: The Oval Office on July 20, 2009, and presented Obama with five volumes of his personal family history records. Monson did not attend a meeting other church leaders, including Eyring and Uchtdorf, had with Obama during his visit to Utah in April 2015. A church spokesperson indicated the absence was in order to save Monson's strength for the church's general conference the following weekend. As 2015 progressed, Monson gave
2250-635: The Salt Lake Temple in 1948, and together they raised their three children. Frances died on May 17, 2013. Monson was born on August 21, 1927, at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City , Utah, the son of George Spencer Monson and Gladys Condie Monson. The second of six children, Monson grew up in a "tight-knit" family, with many of his mother's relatives living on the same street and the extended family frequently vacationing together. The family's neighborhood included several residents of Mexican descent, an environment in which Monson said he developed
2340-637: The Sunday School General Board. After the Second World War , during which he left full-time LDS Church employ to work for a time with the Rio Grande Western Railroad, Hinckley served as executive secretary to the church's Missionary Committee. He also served as the church's liaison to Deseret Book , working with Deseret Book's liaison to the church, Thomas S. Monson . At various times, especially in
2430-600: The Thomas S. Monson Leadership Excellence Complex and also awarded him Scouting's Honor Medal in 2013 for saving the life of a girl who was drowning when he was 12 years old. The Salt Lake chapter of Rotary International honored Monson at its international convention with its Worldwide Humanitarian Award in 2008. In Slate.com 's "80 Over 80," a list of the most powerful octogenarians , Monson placed first in 2009, and first again in 2010. In 2011, Gallup listed Monson as one of "Americans' 10 Most Admired Men". Monson wrote
2520-695: The Times to remove the obituary gained 188,852 signatures, to which the Times obituaries editor Bill McDonald responded, "I think the obituary was a faithful accounting of the more prominent issues that Mr. Monson encountered and dealt with publicly during his tenure. Some of these matters — the role of women in the church, the church's policy toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage, and more — were widely publicized and discussed, and it's our obligation as journalists, whether in an obituary or elsewhere, to fully air these issues from both sides. I think we did that, accurately portraying Mr. Monson's positions as leader of
2610-852: The World Organization of the Scout Movement 's Bronze Wolf —the highest awards in each organization. He was a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America , the organization's governing body. Monson was chairman of the Boards of Trustees/Education of the Church Educational System , and Ronald Reagan appointed him to the U.S. President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives . He married Frances Beverly Johnson in
2700-533: The end of the war . His tour of duty lasted six months beyond the end of the war, then he returned to the University of Utah. Monson graduated in 1948 with a bachelor's degree cum laude in business management . Monson did not serve a mission as a youth. At age 21, on October 7, 1948, he married Frances Beverly Johnson in the Salt Lake Temple . The couple eventually had three children: Thomas Lee, Ann Frances, and Clark Spencer. After college he rejoined
2790-408: The endowment . Hinckley's background in journalism and public relations prepared him well to preside over the church during a time when it has received increasing media coverage. He had learned to use new technology to spread the word of God, developed positive relationships with people of other faiths, and studied and written works of Church history. These experiences would serve as a foundation for
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2880-550: The 1970s, Hinckley had supervisory assignments for the church in South America and later in Europe. He served on the church's executive committees for temples, missionary work, welfare services, priesthood, and the military. Hinckley was the chair of the executive committee over the 1980 commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the organization of the LDS Church. On July 23, 1981, Spencer W. Kimball appointed Hinckley as
2970-552: The Accra Ghana Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic . Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 2008) was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from March 1995 until his death in January 2008 at age 97. Considered a prophet, seer, and revelator by church members, Hinckley
3060-531: The Christmas season, including poultry he had raised himself. Monson eventually spoke at the funerals of each of these women. Also during his time as bishop, 23 men from his ward served in the Korean War . He wrote weekly personal letters to each serviceman . During his service as bishop of the 6th-7th Ward, sacrament meeting attendance in the ward quadrupled. On June 16, 1955, at age 27, Monson became
3150-515: The Church. Benson named Hinckley as first counselor and Thomas S. Monson as second counselor. In the early 1990s, Benson developed serious health problems, which removed him from public view. Hinckley and Monson carried out many of the duties of the First Presidency until Benson died in 1994. During the presidencies of Kimball and Benson, most of the new temples dedicated were dedicated by Hinckley. When Benson died in 1994, about half of all operating temples had been dedicated by Hinckley. Meanwhile,
3240-585: The First Presidency. In addition to serving as a counselor to President Hinckley, President Monson also served alongside two other church presidents. On May 7, 1950, Monson became an LDS bishop at age 22, serving for five years in two wards . He had previously served as ward clerk, ward Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association superintendent. At the time, Monson's Salt Lake City ward contained over 1,000 people, including 85 widows whom he visited regularly, and he continued visiting these widows after completing his service as bishop. He brought them gifts during
3330-432: The First Presidency. With Hunter as President of the Church, the title of President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles fell to Hinckley because he was the second-most senior Apostle after Hunter. When Hunter died after a presidency of nine months, Hinckley succeeded to the presidency of the church at the age of 84 on March 12, 1995. Hinckley immediately showed a change in approach and tone from his predecessors by making
3420-525: The LDS Church announced on September 28, 2017, that Monson would not attend the church's upcoming general conference, due to the same health and age-related limitations. He was the first church president to miss an entire general conference weekend since Ezra Taft Benson in 1992. The same reason was given when Monson did not attend the funeral of Robert D. Hales , who died on the Sunday of the church's October general conference. Monson died of natural causes at
3510-508: The Naval Reserve with the aim of becoming an officer. Shortly after receiving his commission acceptance letter, his local bishop asked him to serve as a counselor in the bishopric . Time conflicts with bishopric meetings would have made Navy service impossible. After discussion with church apostle Harold B. Lee (his former stake president ), Monson declined the commission and applied for a discharge. The Navy granted his discharge in
3600-581: The Philippines, as he had before. Next, he went to Thailand and held a meeting with the few church members, all of whom expatriates, in the country at the time. Hinckley then traveled to Saigon and met with about 60 church members, mostly American military personnel. There were two Vietnamese citizens who had joined the LDS Church at the meeting in Saigon. Finally, he visited Singapore and then went to India. In India, he went to Madras and then Coimbatore , where Hinckley met Paul Thirithuvodoss, who had written to
3690-551: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles , a position that was later discontinued. One of his first assignments as a general authority was participating in the dedication the same month of the New Zealand Temple . In August 1958, Hinckley traveled to England, where he was involved in the London Temple open house and dedication. As a general authority, Hinckley continued to work with the missionary department, and after
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3780-661: The Santa Severa resort on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea; and meetings with Church members in Florence, Pisa and Milan. In Milan, they held a press conference, which was attended by only one journalist, Michele Straniero. He interviewed Lee and Hinckley for an hour and not only published work in La Stampa from the interview but also used it as the starting point to a book on Mormonism that he later wrote. Also in
3870-481: The Twelve Apostles at general conference on October 4, 1963. He was the youngest man called to the Quorum of the Twelve in 53 years, and was 17 years younger than the next youngest member, Gordon B. Hinckley. He was ordained and set apart on October 10, 1963, by Joseph Fielding Smith . From 1965 to 1968, Monson oversaw church operations in the South Pacific and Australia. During this time he organized
3960-752: The University of Utah in May 2007, and an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities from Dixie State College in May 2011. Monson received the Boy Scouts of America 's Silver Beaver award in 1971 and Silver Buffalo award in 1978, the latter being the highest honor of the BSA. In October 1993, during the Priesthood Session of the church's general conference, Monson also received the Bronze Wolf ,
4050-834: The Utah State Board of Higher Education and the Utah State Board of Regents . He was a member of the board of directors of Commercial Security Bank, chairing the bank's audit committee for 20 years. In 1993, when the bank was purchased by Key Bank , Monson joined the Board of Directors of Key Bank. In 1981, Ronald Reagan appointed him to the President's Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives, serving until its completion in December 1982. Monson resigned most of his positions in 1996 when church leadership determined all
4140-697: The World " was issued and the Perpetual Education Fund was established. At the time of his death, approximately one-third of the church's membership had joined the church under Hinckley's leadership. Hinckley was awarded ten honorary doctorate degrees , and in 2004 the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush . He also received the Boy Scouts of America 's highest award, the Silver Buffalo , and served as chairman of
4230-466: The World ," a statement of belief and counsel regarding the sanctity of the family and marriage; it was prepared by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. In February 1996, there were more church members outside than inside the United States. Also in 1996, 60 Minutes aired an interview of Hinckley by Mike Wallace during a segment on the LDS Church. In 1998, Hinckley was a guest on CNN 's Larry King Live . Until his death, Hinckley maintained
4320-701: The World Organization of the Scout Movement to find ways to strengthen the links between the Church and national Scout associations. He was a committed, solid, hard-working volunteer in the Scout Movement. His Scouting leadership was exemplary. In connection with the LDS Church's centennial celebration as a chartered sponsor, the BSA announced that the Leadership Excellence Complex , located at The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia, would be renamed
4410-423: The age of 90 on January 2, 2018, at his home in Salt Lake City. The following day, the LDS Church announced that a public viewing would be held on January 11, in the church's Conference Center , with funeral services scheduled the following day, also in the Conference Center. His death, along with the passing of Hales a couple of months prior, created two vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve, which were filled at
4500-443: The church headquarters to ask for baptism. Hinckley went to Medukerai to see a school run by Thirithuvodoss. Hinckley decided not to baptize Thirithuvodoss at the time. The Hinckleys then traveled to Beirut, where they met with a small group of church members, and then on to Jerusalem. From there, they traveled to Greece, where they met with another small group of church members. They then proceeded to Frankfurt, where they stayed in
4590-420: The church's Printing Advisory, Missionary Executive, and General Welfare committees. While an apostle, he continued his education and received a master of business administration degree from Brigham Young University in 1974. Monson later oversaw church operations in Eastern Europe and helped the church gain access in the Soviet bloc . On August 29, 1982, he organized the first stake in East Germany and
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#17328015597434680-480: The church's fledgling radio broadcasts and making use of the era's new communication technologies. One of the projects Hinckley oversaw in the late 1930s was development of the church's exhibit for the Golden Gate International Exposition . In 1935 Hinckley also worked as a seminary teacher for the Church Educational System . He however decided to focus solely on the work with the Radio, Publicity and missionary literature committee. Starting in 1937, he served on
4770-728: The church, and those of the faithful and others who questioned church policies." As church president, Monson dedicated fourteen (and rededicated four) LDS Church temples : Rexburg Idaho , 2008; Curitiba Brazil , 2008; Panamá City Panamá , 2008; Twin Falls Idaho , 2008; México City México (rededication), 2008; Draper Utah , 2009; Oquirrh Mountain Utah , 2009; Vancouver British Columbia , 2010; Gila Valley Arizona , 2010; Cebu City Philippines , 2010; Kyiv Ukraine , 2010; Laie Hawaii (rededication), 2010; Kansas City Missouri , 2012; Calgary Alberta , 2012; Boise Idaho (rededication), 2012; Gilbert Arizona , 2014; Ogden Utah (rededication), 2014; and Phoenix Arizona , 2014. As
4860-417: The church. At the time of his death, there were 124, over two thirds of which had been dedicated or rededicated under Hinckley, with 14 others announced or under construction. Hinckley oversaw other significant building projects, including the construction of the Conference Center and extensive renovations of the Salt Lake Tabernacle . On September 23, 1995, Hinckley released " The Family: A Proclamation to
4950-420: The closing talk at the funerals of L. Tom Perry , Boyd K. Packer , and Richard G. Scott . On May 23, 2017, the LDS Church said Monson would no longer be attending meetings at the church's offices on a regular basis, because of limitations incident to age. With his birthday on August 21, 2017, Monson became the seventh president of the LDS Church to be a nonagenarian. Consistent with the May 2017 statement,
5040-409: The creation of the Perpetual Education Fund , an endowment that provides loans to students in developing nations. On October 22, 2002, Hinckley participated in the dedication of the Gordon B. Hinckley Building at Brigham Young University–Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho . That was the first building at BYU–Idaho to be named for a living church president. In April 2003, Hinckley gave a sermon that addressed
5130-419: The death of Richards, he worked closely with Henry D. Moyle . In early 1960, Hinckley was given responsibility for overseeing LDS Church operations in Asia. His first trip there in the spring of 1960 lasted two months and involved going to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines. In the Philippines, he worked on getting government approval for missionaries to be sent. He returned to Asia on
5220-500: The document from Hofmann. Two years later, Hofmann leaked its existence to the Mormon history community. Upon press inquiries, Hinckley acknowledged the document and released it. Later, bombing investigators proved that Hofmann had forged the document. In 1992, Hinckley made an official visit to Rome and he presented a copy of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism to the Vatican. After Benson's death, Howard W. Hunter became president and retained Hinckley and Monson as counselors in
5310-411: The executive committee of the Church Board of Education. In 1972, Hinckley became the initial head of the LDS Church's public affairs department. In September 1972, Hinckley and his wife traveled with church president Harold B. Lee and his wife, Joan, on a tour of the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, and Italy. The visit included meetings with church members in Rome; a group of LDS youth at an event at
5400-405: The first LDS stake in Tonga. With his business background, he helped oversee many church operations, including KSL Newsradio and Bonneville International . He was chairman of the Scripture Publication Committee in the 1970s that oversaw publication of the LDS Church edition of the King James Bible , and revised editions of church scriptures containing footnotes and guides. He also oversaw
5490-427: The first standardized missionary lesson plan. In September 1961, Hinckley became an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . He filled a vacancy created by Hugh B. Brown being added to the First Presidency as the third counselor to David O. McKay . After his call as an apostle, Hinckley continued to be a leader in the missionary department, with Boyd K. Packer serving as one of his key aides. Hinckley
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#17328015597435580-690: The general authorities should leave all business boards of directors, except for Deseret Management Corporation . From 1965 until 1996 Monson was a member of the Deseret News Publishing Company board of directors. He became chairman of the board of directors in 1977. Following the death of church president Spencer W. Kimball in 1985, newly selected church president Ezra Taft Benson asked Hinckley and Monson to serve as his First and Second Counselors. Monson and Hinckley also served as counselors to Benson's successor, Howard W. Hunter . When Hinckley succeeded Hunter in 1995, Monson became his first counselor. He served until Hinckley's death on January 27, 2008. As
5670-410: The groundbreaking ceremony and a radio station and Ghana Television covered the event. The temple sits on 6 acres (24,000 m) on the main avenue that runs through the center of Accra. The exterior of the temple is made of Namibia Pearl Granite. The temple was open to the public from December 3rd through 20th, 2003. During the tour, people were able to see the craftsmanship utilized in the interior of
5760-433: The highest honor and only award of the World Organization of the Scout Movement , and was recognized for his contributions when a leadership complex at the Summit Bechtel Reserve was named for him. The citation for this award says: In his assignments throughout the world as a leader of [the LDS Church], President Monson worked tirelessly to bring about the advancement of Scouting in many countries. He worked closely with
5850-404: The home of Ezra Taft Benson , who presided the European Mission, and his wife, Flora . The Hinckleys then went to Brussels before they returned to Utah. In July 1965, Hinckley went to Hawaii, where he was involved with the first LDS temple services in Japanese. Also in 1965, Hinckley was involved in negotiations with United States Selective Service officials that led to the establishment of
5940-422: The last group processed before the Korean War . Lee set him apart six months later as a bishop—mentioning in the blessing that he likely would not have been called if he had accepted the commission. Monson briefly taught at the University of Utah, then began a career in publishing. His first job was with the Deseret News , where he became an advertising executive. He joined the advertising operations at
6030-413: The late 1940s, Hinckley was also a reporter for the Church News , a publication of the Deseret News . In the early 1950s, Hinckley was part of a committee that considered how to present the temple ordinances at the Swiss Temple . The concern was how this could be done when a need existed to provide them in at least 10 languages; the concern was eventually solved through the use of a film version of
6120-446: The main force behind higher rates of conversion over the coming summer. Also in 1962, Hinckley was involved in the negotiations that lead to the LDS Church purchasing the shortwave radio station WRUL. Meanwhile, Hinckley also dedicated a chapel in French Polynesia on the island of Huahine. A group of Latter-day Saints returned to their home island on their boat, which sank with 15 drowning. Hinckley canceled his return to Utah and took
6210-452: The meeting with the press. There, his call was announced at an actual press conference, and reporters were invited to ask questions, which sent the reporters scrambling to figure out what they would actually ask. On November 2, 2006, Hinckley surpassed David O. McKay to become the oldest LDS Church president in history. Hinckley was known for accelerating the building of temples . When he became president, there were 47 operating temples in
6300-413: The next general conference. He was succeeded as church president by Russell M. Nelson . After Monson's death, the obituary posted by The New York Times , which noted several controversies during his presidency, drew negative attention. The Times was criticized for bias against Monson, with one writer citing the obituaries of Fidel Castro and Hugh Hefner in contrast. An online petition asking
6390-456: The number of missionaries peaked at 180. Historically, most districts and branches in the area had been presided over by full-time missionaries, but Monson placed local members as presidents of branches and districts soon after arriving. Monson initiated French -speaking proselytizing efforts in Quebec. He directed increased missionary work to immigrants from the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Italy, Soviet Union and Hungary. Jacob de Jager ,
6480-672: The ongoing War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War , which had started just two weeks earlier. He said that "as citizens we are all under the direction of our respective national leaders. They have access to greater political and military intelligence than do the people generally. He added, "Furthermore, we are a freedom-loving people, committed to the defense of liberty wherever it is in jeopardy." He also noted, "It may even be that [the Lord] will hold us responsible if we try to impede or hedge up
6570-449: The sacred institution of marriage." In the 2012 Utah voter list he was listed as a registered Republican voter. In 1966, Monson was honored as a distinguished alumnus by the University of Utah . His first honorary degree, an Honorary Doctorate of Laws , was conferred in April 1981 by Brigham Young University . He received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Salt Lake Community College in June 1996, an Honorary Doctor of Business from
6660-476: The second most senior of the apostles behind Hinckley, Monson simultaneously served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Boyd K. Packer (then third in seniority) served as Acting President during that time. Monson became the 16th president of the LDS Church on February 3, 2008, succeeding Hinckley, who had died seven days earlier. Monson selected Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as his first and second counselors, respectively. When Monson
6750-451: The service he would give for the rest of his life. In 1957, Hinckley was named to the board of directors of KSL . Shortly after he was named to the executive committee of the board. On April 29, 1937, Hinckley married Marjorie Pay (November 23, 1911 – April 6, 2004) in the Salt Lake Temple . They had five children, including Richard G. Hinckley, an LDS Church general authority between 2005 and 2011, and Virginia Hinckley Pearce ,
6840-403: The temple. All of the materials used in the building of the temple were from the area. Moldings in the temple were made of native makore wood, skilled men in the area handcrafted the furniture and the art-glass windows reflect the culture. The vice president of Ghana as well as many other officials took tours through the temple. Hinckley dedicated the Accra Ghana Temple on January 11, 2004. It has
6930-600: The way of those who are involved in a contest with forces of evil and repression." In March 2005, Hinckley, together with Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust , celebrated their tenth anniversary as the First Presidency, the second time in the history of the church that a First Presidency had continued for such a period of time without personnel changes (the first time occurring between October 1934 and May 1945, when J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay served as counselors to Heber J. Grant ). Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson (August 21, 1927 – January 2, 2018)
7020-609: The world. During his time in Kimball's presidency, Hinckley presided over the dedication of 16 LDS temples. Among them was the Manila Philippines Temple . Hinckley dedicated it 18 years after he had dedicated the first Philippine LDS chapel. At the time of Kimball's death, Hinckley had dedicated nearly half of the then 36 temples. After Kimball's death in November 1985, Ezra Taft Benson became President of
7110-769: Was also a proponent of the Scouting for Food drive, and he served on the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America from 1969 to his death. He also represented the Boy Scouts of America as a delegate to the World Conferences in Tokyo, Nairobi , and Copenhagen . In June 2008, Monson and his counselors in the First Presidency sent a letter to local congregations in California, urging them to support Proposition 8 by donating their time and resources, stating that, "Our best efforts are required to preserve
7200-565: Was also appointed the chair of the all-church coordinating council's children's section. Hinckley also continued to oversee the church's operations in Asia. In February 1962, he made the first trip to Asia on which he was accompanied by his wife, Marjorie. On the trip, they visited the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea On his return, he held training seminars with missionaries in California and Illinois in co-operation with Moyle, and he later held training seminars in all 23 missions in Europe. The seminars were credited with being
7290-501: Was an American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As president, he was considered by adherents of the religion to be a prophet, seer, and revelator . Monson's early career was as a manager at the Deseret News , a Utah newspaper owned by the LDS Church. He spent most of his life engaged in various church leadership positions and public service. Monson
7380-469: Was appointed a board member of KIRO-TV and KIRO-AM/FM, which the LDS Church had just purchased. When the church formed Bonneville International Corporation later in 1964, Hinckley was named a vice president, a member of the board of directors, and a member of the executive committee. Hinckley circumnavigated the world on a trip with his wife in late 1964. He first stopped in Tokyo for a missionary conference. He then traveled to South Korea, Hong Kong, and
7470-637: Was born on June 23, 1910, in Salt Lake City, Utah , to prominent LDS writer and educator Bryant S. Hinckley and his wife Ada Bitner. He grew up on a residential farm in East Millcreek. His home library contained approximately 1,000 volumes of literature, philosophy and history. He graduated from LDS High School in 1928, then attended the University of Utah , where he majored in English literature and minored in Latin and ancient Greek, graduating with
7560-596: Was born, there were fewer than 650,000 church members in the world, most of them living in the western United States. At the time he became the church's president, there were over 13 million members worldwide , with the majority living outside the United States and Canada. As of October 2012, 31 temples announced by Monson were either under construction or in planning. Monson and his counselors met with President George W. Bush on May 29, 2008, during Bush's visit to Salt Lake City. He and apostle Dallin H. Oaks met with President Barack Obama and Senator Harry Reid in
7650-462: Was given an assignment by his mission president , Joseph F. Merrill , to meet with the church's First Presidency and request that better materials be made available to missionaries for proselytizing . As a result of this meeting, Hinckley received employment as executive secretary of the church's Radio, Publicity and Missionary Literature Committee (he had received schooling as a journalist in college). Hinckley's responsibilities included developing
7740-719: Was instrumental in obtaining permission for the LDS Church to build a temple in Freiberg, East Germany , which was completed in 1985. In the mid-1950s Monson was the secretary of the Utah State Roller Club, a group of pigeon breeders. Monson was a member of the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America starting in 1969. From 1969 to 1988 Monson was on the Mountain Bell Board of Advisors. From 1971 to 1977, he served on
7830-631: Was made area supervisor over nine stake missions (Winder, Wilford, Monument Park, Monument Park West, Hillside, Highland, Parleys, Sugarhouse, and Wasatch). Eight of these stakes were in Salt Lake City or its east-side suburbs, with the Wasatch Stake based in Heber City . He also joined the church's Priesthood Genealogy Committee, and later the Priesthood Home Teaching Committee. Monson resumed his work with
7920-420: Was ordained an LDS apostle at age 36, served in the First Presidency under three church presidents, and was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from March 12, 1995, until he became President of the Church on February 3, 2008. He succeeded Gordon B. Hinckley as church president. Monson received four honorary doctorate degrees , as well as the Boy Scouts of America 's Silver Buffalo and
8010-713: Was president of the Printing Industry of Utah and a former board member of the Printing Industries of America . A Life Scout and Explorer crew member in his youth, Monson served in several adult Scouting leadership capacities: merit badge counselor , member of the Canadian LDS Scouting Committee, chaplain at a Canadian Jamboree, and a member of the General Scouting Committee of the LDS Church. He
8100-507: Was the oldest person to preside over the church in its history until Russell M. Nelson surpassed his age in 2022. Hinckley's presidency was noted for the building of temples , with more than half of existing temples being built under his leadership. He also oversaw the reconstruction of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and the building of the 21,000 seat Conference Center . During his tenure, " The Family: A Proclamation to
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