High-ranking LDS Church Leader L. Tom Perry is undergoing hospice care for terminal cancer. Photo Courtesy: Intellectual Reserve
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – May 29, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Elder L. Tom Perry, age 92, high-ranking member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of Twelve Apostles is suffering from terminal cancer.
According to an LDS Church statement released Friday morning, Perry has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of thyroid cancer and is now undergoing hospice care.
News of Perry’s cancer diagnosis was made public just last month. Perry’s health has declined sharply ever since.
LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins confirmed Perry’s diagnosis. “Elder Perry has asked that we share his thanks for the prayers and kindness extended to him by Church members and friends. Despite earlier treatments, cancer has spread aggressively to his lungs and beyond. Elder Perry is at home. He will no longer attend meetings, though he is still receiving visits from members of the Quorum of the Twelve, the First Presidency, and close family. He will begin receiving hospice care in the coming days.”Perry’s health, and that of other LDS Church leaders, including President Thomas S. Monson, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks.Concerns over Monson’s health surfaced when he was unable to attend an April meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama. At the time, the LDS Church released a statement saying President Monson was saving his energy for the spring General Conference.
