Mormon elder Robert Hales dies, in another blow to church’s ageing leadership

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In this October 2, 2011, file photo, Mormon Elder Robert Hales speaks at the 181st Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City. Photo: AP

Published: 10:13am, 2 Oct 2017Updated: 10:13am, 2 Oct 2017

Top-ranking Mormon leader Robert Hales, who left a successful career as a businessman to help guide the church, has died from causes related to his age. He was 85.

Hales died peacefully on Sunday in a Salt Lake City hospital surrounded by his wife and family, church spokesman Eric Hawkins said.

The New York City native was a fighter pilot in the Air Force and business executive before he was chosen in 1994 as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a high-level governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Hales missed this weekend’s church conference after he was hospitalised several days ago for treatment of pulmonary disease and other conditions. At the conference’s final session Sunday, leader Henry Eyring announced his death to 20,000 people in attendance and millions watching live broadcasts around the world.

This July 10, 2015, file photo, shows Senior Mormon leaders Robert Hales, right, and Richard Scott, at the memorial service for Mormon leader Boyd Packer at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Photo: AP

“We will miss him. His wisdom and goodness have blessed our lives for many years,” said Eyring, one of two top counsellors to the church president. “We express our love to his sweet wife and carer, Mary, and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.”

Hales is the fourth top Mormon leader to die in the last three years. Quorum members Boyd Packer, L. Tom Perry and Richard Scott died in 2015.