SALT LAKE CITY — Long before he became a counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who died Jan. 27, Thomas S. Monson was well-schooled in the way of Mormon prophets and well-known to the Mormon faithful.
Monson has spent his entire career in the service of the LDS Church, working alongside every Mormon president since 1963 when he was named one of the 12 apostles at the age of 36.
By unfailing tradition, Monson, as the longest-serving apostle, will succeed Hinckley as the 16th Mormon president, but that election won't take place until after Hinckley's funeral on Feb. 2....