Elder Richard G. Scott dies at age 86

A top-ranking Mormon leader, 86-year-old Richard G. Scott, has died from natural causes.

Church officials said in a statement that Scott died Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City.

Scott was hospitalized in April with gastrointestinal bleeding. He recovered from that, but church officials announced in May that Scott was experiencing fading memory because of his age.

Scott was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and had a successful career as a nuclear engineer. He was chosen in 1988 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.

He is the third top Mormon leader to die recently. Quorum president Boyd K. Packer and quorum member L. Tom Perry also died this year.