As President Thomas S. Monson approaches the one-year anniversary of his appointment as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he knows the meaning of the adage, "It's lonely at the top."

"However," he said during an interview this week, "I feel I'm never alone."

With no one else on earth having the same responsibility that he has as president of the LDS Church, President Monson said he turns to prayer for direction from Heavenly Father.

"He's always there," he said. "I rely on Him. I know what it is like to have Him lead me. As the song goes, 'Lead me, guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the way.' … It has so much truth in it."

In a one-on-one interview Wednesday with the Church News section of the Deseret News, President Monson reflected upon the past year.

After his predecessor, President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away on Jan. 27, 2008, the First Presidency was dissolved. President Monson, who was first counselor to President Hinckley, resumed his place in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as its president.

Members of that quorum met in the Salt Lake Temple on Feb. 3, 2008, and ordained him as president of the church. President Monson is the 16th man since the church's founding in 1830 to hold this office. More than 13 million Latter-day Saints worldwide sustain him as prophet, seer and revelator, the holder of all keys of priesthood authority.

The past year has been a busy one for President Monson. He has announced plans to build nine new temples, three in Arizona: Gilbert, Gila Valley and Phoenix. The other temples he announced are Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Cordoba, Argentina; Kansas City, Mo.; Philadelphia; Rome; and Trujillo, Peru.

He dedicated temples in Rexburg and Twin Falls, Idaho; Curitiba, Brazil; and Panama City, Panama; and he's rededicated the Mexico City Temple.

His office calendar has been filled with visits ranging from dignitaries, such as President George W. Bush, to "average" Latter-day Saints. A family from Mexico was leaving his office as the Church News arrived for its interview.

Although President Monson's position as leader of the LDS Church keeps him busy with duties that only he can perform, he still takes time to visit bedsides in hospitals and nursing homes.

President Monson said he always acts on promptings, whether it is to make a telephone call or call on someone in person. The Church News pointed out that there are only so many hours in the day; even a prophet is a mortal who has limited time and energy, and certainly there must be occasions when he feels he can't act on a prompting.

President Monson's reply was immediate and definite: "I don't want to ever get to that point."

E-mail: gerry@desnews.com

More details from interview Additional details from the interview with President Monson will be published in Saturday's edition of Church News and online at ldschurchnews.com.