Answer
Thomas S. Monson was the anticipated successor to Gordon B. Hinckley as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Monson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for nearly 40 years, and was considered to be Hinckley's right-hand man. When Hinckley died in 2008, Monson was unanimously elected to succeed him as President.