Mormon leader reaffirms faith's opposition to gay marriage
Thomas S. Monson
The twice-yearly conference is preceding without  church President Thomas S. Monson   90  who is dealing with ailing health. It's the first time in more than a half century that  Monson  hasn't spoken at the conferences. Before becoming church president in 2008  he served on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles starting in 1963.
 Monson  has scaled back conference participation in recent years  and in May  church officials said that  he  was no longer going regularly to meetings at church offices because of limitations related to  his  age.
 Monson  is the first church president since 1994 not to attend and make at least one speech  but prior to that  it was fairly common for presidents to miss conference toward the end of their lives.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf  one of  Monson 's top two counselors  said  Monson  was watching from  his  home. " President Monson   we love you very much " Uchtdorf said.
The twice-yearly conference is preceding without  [TGT] . It's the first time in more than a half century that   [TGT] hasn't spoken at the conferences. Before becoming church president in 2008  he served on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles starting in 1963.
  [TGT] has scaled back conference participation in recent years  and in May  church officials said that   [TGT]   was no longer going regularly to meetings at church offices because of limitations related to   [TGT]   age.
  [TGT] is the first church president since 1994 not to attend and make at least one speech  but prior to that  it was fairly common for presidents to miss conference toward the end of their lives.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf  one of   [TGT]  's top two counselors  said   [TGT] was watching from   [TGT]   home. "  [TGT] we love you very much " Uchtdorf said.