Nearly 50 years ago, President Thomas S. Monson appointed himself the personal guardian for 87 widows in his LDS ward.

All of those women have passed away, and President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has spoken at every single funeral of the women he visited for so many years.

That attitude of service earned President Monson the Worldwide Humanitarian Award at the Salt Lake Rotary International convention Saturday.

"I've watched wonderful people grow old and infirm," President Monson said after receiving his award in Salt Lake City. "I've developed a spirit of compassion for others regardless of age and circumstances."

The award is given annually to a community member who has "made extraordinary efforts to lift those around the world," said Charles Dahlquist, Salt Lake Rotary banquet chairman.

"President Monson is one who has spent his entire life lifting the widow and the downtrodden," he said.

President Monson said he got his first taste for humanitarian service as a boy. A neighbor told him that his family had no holiday dinner and that he had never tasted turkey or chicken.

The young Monson then took two of his pet rabbits and gave them to the boy so his family could enjoy a holiday meal.

"I was not sad. A warm feeling of indescribable joy filled my heart," President Monson said. "I learned the truth that when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are in the service of the Lord."

President Monson has served as a counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1985. Born in Salt Lake City, he graduated from the University of Utah in business management and later received an MBA from Brigham Young University.

President Monson and his wife, Frances, have three children.

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