President Thomas S. Monson served as president of the Canadian Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, from 1959 to 1962. He was instrumental in leading the growth of the Church in eastern Canada and spoke often about his experiences in Canada and the many friends he met while doing so.
It was under President Monson’s inspired leadership that the first stake in eastern Canada — the Toronto Ontario Stake, also the 300th stake of the Church — was formed in August 1960. He also formally opened missionary work to French-speaking people in Quebec by assigning six French-speaking missionaries in 1961.
President Monson supported the construction of temples across Canada. He participated in the dedication of the Toronto Ontario Temple in August 1990 and the Montreal Quebec Temple in June 2000 as well as the rededication of the Cardston Alberta Temple in June 1991. He also dedicated the Vancouver British Columbia Temple in May 2010 and the Calgary Alberta Temple in October 2012. Further, he announced the construction of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple in April 2012.
- President Monson
- Monson and Temple Groundbreaking
- Monson at Cardston
- 4TSM
- Calgary Temple Dedication with President Monson
- Scouts at dedication of Thomas S. Monson Camp
- President Monson Receives Silver Fox Award
- Monson and Pallin
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
President Monson was also a strong supporter of Scouting. Andrew Price, executive commissioner and CEO of Scouts Canada, states, “President Monson was a great Scout, serving in a number of capacities both within Scouts Canada as well as having the longest tenure of any executive board member of the Boy Scouts of America. … His tremendous contributions to Scouting, globally, were recognized by Scouts Canada when he was personally awarded the Silver Fox in 2011.”
Everett S. Pallin, first counsellor to President Monson during the Canadian mission years, expresses, “My tenure of service with Thomas S. Monson is a memorable time as I was exposed to his kindness. President Monson’s devotion and loyalty to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his love for everyone was his motivation. He said to me on one occasion, ‘When I stand at the judgment bar of heaven and give an accounting of my actions, if there is any error in my judgments, I want them to be on the side of mercy.’ He cherished the years he served here in Canada and returned often to renew those friendships. He will be remembered for his love and kindness.”
President Thomas S. Monson is truly loved by the Canadian Latter-day Saints, whom he has served faithfully across Canada.
Funeral services for President Thomas S. Monson will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, January 12, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. MST. The services will be broadcast live via MormonNewsroom.org.