He currently serves as a trustee of Brigham Young University, where he earlier received an master's of business administration and was honored in April 1981 with an honorary Doctor of Laws. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Salt Lake Community College in June 1996, and an honorary Doctor of Business from the U.

In December 1981, President Monson was appointed by President Reagan to serve on the President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives, completing his assignment a year later.

Other honors include the University of Utah's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1966; the Boy Scouts of America's Silver Beaver, Silver Buffalo and Bronze Wolf awards; the Minuteman Award from the Utah National Guard in 1997; and BYU's Exemplary Manhood Award.

On Nov. 10, 1985, he became a member of the First Presidency, as second counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson, and again as second counselor to President Howard W. Hunter beginning June 5, 1994.

He joined President Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency on March 12, 1995, serving as first counselor until President Hinckley's death on Jan. 27, 2008.

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Editor's note: The details in this story about President Monson's early life and memories are drawn from his personal memoirs, which he published privately in 1985 under the title, "On the Lord's Errand — Memoirs of Thomas S. Monson."