Mormon president fighting ill health

Mormon President Thomas S. Monson, 90, won’t attend this weekend’s church conference because of deteriorating health — marking the first time in more than a half century that the longtime church leader won’t deliver spiritual guidance at the important twice-yearly event.

Monson’s absence was confirmed Thursday by church spokesman Eric Hawkins, who referred to a previous statement in May that revealed Monson was no longer going regularly to meetings at church offices because of limitations related to his age.

Monson, who in 2008 became the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is considered a prophet, seer and revelator. He oversees the religion’s church and business operations with help from two top counsellors and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

He has delivered speeches at every one of the twiceyearly conferences since 1963, when he became the youngest member ever of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Hawkins said.

Mormon presidents serve until they die.

Monson has scaled back conference participation recently and gave just two short speeches at April’s conference. He was hospitalized afterward when he reported “not feeling well.”

The religion also announced Thursday that Robert D. Hales, 85, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, won’t be at the conference either due to ailing health. Hales was taken to hospital several days ago for treatment of pulmonary and other conditions, Hawkins said.