LDS Church Leader Thomas S. Monson Opts Out Of Obama Meeting
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – April 3, 2015 – Gephardt Daily
U.S. President Barack Obama met with high ranking leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Thursday, with one notable exception – LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson.
According to Church spokesman Eric Hawkins, President Monson, age 87, opted out of the late night meeting in order to “preserve his strength” and focus on General Conference weekend which starts Saturday.
President Monson did meet with Mr.Obama in the past. In 2009, he presented President Obama with his personal family history during a White House visit.
The LDS Church released the following statement about President Monson’s absence during the Thursday night meeting:
“President Monson remembers fondly his visit to the White House to present President Obama with his personal family history in 2009. Because of the need to preserve his strength for this weekend’s General Conference, it was felt that the logistics of meeting away from Church offices, with the walking and the waiting periods associated with a presidential visit, would regrettably not be conducive to President Monson’s participation.”
