Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Funeral preparations are nearly complete to honor late LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson, with public events planned over the next two days.
Viewing
President Monson died on Jan. 2 at the age of 90. Since his passing, tributes have come in from many who have known President Monson during his 90 years of life.
A tradition of church leaders lying in repose will continue. The viewing for most church presidents was previously held in the Church Administration Building. Beginning with the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the public had the opportunity to show their love and respect in the Hall of Prophets on the third floor of the Conference Center, where there are bronze busts of each of the church's prophets.
This tradition will continue tomorrow; members of the community and the LDS Church can personally pay their respects to the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The public viewing to honor President Monson will begin Thursday morning at 9 a.m., at the Conference Center. Thousands of Latter-day Saints are expected to come and pay their final respects. The viewing is open to all ages, and will last until 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Bigger crowds are expected in the afternoon and early evening hours.
Funeral
President Monson's funeral service will be held at the Conference Center Friday at noon. The funeral will be open to the public ages 8 and older. No tickets are required for attendance; attendees should be seated no later than 11:30 a.m. Seating is not assigned, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be overflow seating in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Assembly Hall and Conference Center Theater.
KSL TV will broadcast the funeral live. Live streams will also be available on KSL.com, MormonNewsroom.org and LDS.org.
A private burial service will take place at the Salt Lake City Cemetery after the funeral. President Monson will be buried next to his wife Frances, who died in 2013. The public is not invited to the private burial service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the church’s Humanitarian or General Missionary funds. Condolences can be posted on President Monson's Facebook page or emailed to condolences@ldschurch.org.
Closures
The following church office buildings on the Temple Square campus will be closed Friday: Church Administration Building, Church Office Building, church offices housed in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the North Office Building, the Church History Museum, the Church History Library and Family History Library.
LDS Family Services, Deseret Industries, Bishop’s Storehouses and production facilities between Cache and Utah counties will also be closed on Friday.
The Salt Lake Temple will be open during regular operating hours.
Contributing: Sam Penrod, KSL TV
