| Ezra Taft Benson | |
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| Full name | Ezra Taft Benson |
| Born | August 4, 1899 |
| Place of birth | Whitney, Idaho |
| Died | May 30, 1994 (aged 94) |
| Place of death | Salt Lake City, Utah |
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| Ordained | November 10, 1985 (aged 86) |
| Predecessor | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Successor | Howard W. Hunter |
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| Called by | Heber J. Grant |
| Ordained | October 7, 1943 (aged 44) |
| Reason for ordination | Deaths of Sylvester Q. Cannon and Rudger Clawson[1] |
| End of term | May 30, 1994 (aged 94) |
| Reason for end of term | Death |
| Reorganization at end of term | Jeffrey R. Holland ordained |
Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both of the administrations of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Whitney is a small unincorporated community in the Cache Valley of Franklin County, Idaho, United States. The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Spencer Woolley Kimball ( March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Howard William Hunter ( November 14, 1907 &ndash March 3, 1995) was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Heber Jeddy Grant ( November 22, 1856 &ndash May 14, 1945) was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sylvester Quayle Cannon ( June 10 1877 – May 29 1943) was the sixth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Rudger Judd Clawson ( March 12, 1857 – June 21, 1943) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Jeffrey Roy Holland (b December 3, 1940) is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general
Contents |
Biography
Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of 11 children. Whitney is a small unincorporated community in the Cache Valley of Franklin County, Idaho, United States. The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. Beginning his academic career at Utah State University, he was a 1926 graduate of Brigham Young University (after serving a church mission in Britain from 1921 to 1923). Utah State University ( USU) is a public Land-grant university whose main campus is located in Logan Utah. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located He received his masters degree from Iowa State University and did preliminary work on a doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley, but never completed this degree. The Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University (ISU is a public land-grant and space-grant university Benson pursued a career in agriculture and later served in many church leadership positions. Just after receiving his masters he returned to Whitney to run the family farm, but later became the county agriculture extension agent.
In 1939, when he was president of the church's Boise, Idaho, stake and working for the University of Idaho Extension Service, he moved to Washington, D.C. to become Executive Secretary of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and became the first president of a new LDS Church stake there. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. The University of Idaho is Idaho 's oldest public university located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Apostle
On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Spencer Woolley Kimball ( March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Quorum of the TwelveIn The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Because Kimball was the older of the two, he was given seniority over Benson in the Quorum. Succession to the presidency of the church is by chronological order of ordination to apostleship, allowing Spencer W. Kimball to become president of the church years earlier than Benson. Spencer Woolley Kimball ( March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Upon Spencer W. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson became the president of the church. Spencer Woolley Kimball ( March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church
Political career
In 1953, Benson was appointed U. S. Secretary of Agriculture by President Eisenhower. Benson accepted this position with the permission of Church President David O. McKay and therefore served simultaneously in the United States Cabinet and in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve. David Oman McKay ( September 8, 1873 &ndash January 18, 1970) was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day The United States Cabinet (usually simplified as "the Cabinet" is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the Executive branch of the Federal government
Known for initiating Eisenhower's habit of beginning cabinet meetings with a prayer, Benson cut a controversial figure in politics. Ideologically, he was far to the right of Eisenhower, and he was prone to red-baiting in speeches. Red-baiting is the act of accusing someone or some group of being communist, socialist or in a broader sense of being significantly more Leftist Benson opposed the system of government price supports and aid to farmers which he was entrusted by Eisenhower to administer, arguing that it amounted to unacceptable socialism . Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Nonetheless, he survived in his cabinet position for all eight years of Eisenhower's presidency. He was selected as the administrator-designate of the Emergency Food Agency, part of a secret group created by Eisenhower in 1958 that would serve in the event of a national emergency that became known as the Eisenhower Ten. The Eisenhower Ten or E-10 were a group of US citizens who were secretly tasked by President Eisenhower in 1958 to serve as administrators in the event
Church presidency
Benson succeeded Kimball as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1973, and as President of the Church in 1985. President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church During his early years as Church President, Benson brought a renewed emphasis to the distribution and reading of the Book of Mormon, reaffirming the LDS scripture's importance as "the keystone of [the LDS] religion. The Book of Mormon is a Sacred text of the churches in the Latter Day Saint movement. " He is also remembered for his general conference sermon condemning pride. In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction Pride is a lofty view of one's self or one's own Pride often manifests itself as a high opinion of one's Nation (national pride Ethnicity (ethnic pride or appearance
Scouting
Benson was a lifelong supporter of Scouting. He started in 1918 as assistant Scoutmaster. On 23 May 1949 he was elected a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts of America ( BSA) is the largest youth organization in the United States with over five million He received the three highest national awards in Scouting—the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope, and the Silver Buffalo—as well as world Scouting’s international award, the Bronze Wolf. The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. The Silver Antelope Award is the regional-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America and recognizes outstanding service to young people within The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. [2]
Health problems and death
Benson suffered poor health in the last years of his life from the effects of blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks, and was rarely seen publicly. He was hospitalized in 1992 and 1993 with pneumonia. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the Lung. Frequently it is described as lung Parenchyma / alveolar inflammation and abnormal
Benson died of congestive heart failure in his Salt Lake City apartment at the age of 94. Heart failure is a Cardiac condition that occurs when a problem with the structure or function of the Heart impairs its ability to supply Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U Funeral services were held June 4, 1994 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The Salt Lake Tabernacle, also known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located in Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah along with the Salt Lake Gordon Bitner Hinckley ( June 23 1910 – January 27 2008) was an American religious leader who served as the fifteenth president He was buried near his birthplace in Whitney, Idaho, at the Whitney City Cemetery. Whitney is a small unincorporated community in the Cache Valley of Franklin County, Idaho, United States.
Published works
- Ezra Taft Benson (1990). Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-351-7.
- — (1983). Come Unto Christ. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-997-6.
- — (1986). The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-216-2.
- — (1976). Cross Fire: The Eight Years With Eisenhower. Doubleday. ISBN 0-8371-8422-3.
- — (1992). Elect Women of God. Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-838-2.
- — (1992). An Enemy Hath Done This. Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-184-1.
- — (1974). God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties. Deseret Book Company. ISBN B0006CF3MC.
- — (1989). A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-275-8.
- — (1990). Missionaries to Match Our Message. Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-779-3.
- — (1960). in Reed A. Benson. : So Shall Ye Reap: Selected Addresses of Ezra Taft Benson. Deseret Book Company. ISBN B0007E7BME.
- — (1988). The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. Bookcraft. ISBN 0-88494-639-8.
- — (1977). This Nation Shall Endure. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-658-6.
- — (1962). The Red Carpet. Bookcraft. ISBN B0007F4WJI.
- — (2003). Sermons and Writings of President Ezra Taft Benson. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- — (1964). Title of Liberty, compiled by Mark A. Benson, Deseret Book Company.
- — (1988). A Witness and a Warning: A Modern-Day Prophet Testifies of the Book of Mormon. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-153-0.
Notes
- ^ Benson and Spencer W. Kimball were ordained on the same date to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve resulting from the deaths of Cannon and Clawson. Spencer Woolley Kimball ( March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
- ^ Presidents of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved on 2008-05-05. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John
References
- Ensign Editor (July 1994). President Ezra Taft Benson: A Sure Voice of Faith. Ensign. p. 8.
- Monson, Thomas S. (July 1994). President Ezra Taft Benson—A Giant among Men. Ensign. p. 35.
External links
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Ezra Taft Benson
- A biography of Ezra Taft Benson
- Ezra Taft Benson's comments on freedom and the U.S. Constitution
- Ezra Taft Benson's comments on freedom, the U.S. Constitution and the Founding Fathers
- Some Speeches (audio) of Ezra Taft Benson
- audio excerpt from “Our Immediate Responsibility.” Devotional Address at Brigham Young University. circa 1968.”
| Preceded by Spencer W. Kimball |
President of the LDS Church November 10, 1985 — May 30, 1994 |
Succeeded by Howard W. Hunter |
| Preceded by Spencer W. Kimball |
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles December 30, 1973–November 10, 1985 |
Succeeded by Marion G. Romney |
| Preceded by Spencer W. Kimball |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles October 7, 1943–November 10, 1985 |
Succeeded by Mark E. Petersen |
| Preceded by Charles F. Brannan |
United States Secretary of Agriculture 1953–1961 |
Succeeded by Orville Freeman |
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