Younger Missionaries, Older President

A former stake president explained once that in his calling he was supposed to recommend potential mission presidents to his leaders. Mission presidents needed to be under 60, or up to 65 in cases of exceptionally robust health and vigor.

When the ages for young missionaries were lowered, and thousands more made themselves available for service, and dozens of new missions opened, that required finding more mission presidents than before. One of those tasked was Stephen Hansen, 71 at the time of his call to preside the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. Wednesday, Sister Carol Hansen, his 69-year-old wife died quite unexpectedly, though naturally. It seems likely that President Hansen will be released early.