Ezra Taft Benson - General conference talks, External resources

Government official and religious leader, born in Whitney, Idaho, USA. He served as secretary of agriculture (1953–1961) under President Eisenhower, and became president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) in 1985.

font-size: larger;"> Ezra Taft Benson

Full name	Ezra Taft Benson
Born	August 4, 1899
Place of birth	Whitney, Idaho
Died	May 30, 1994
Place of death	Salt Lake City, Utah
LDS Church President
Ordained	November 10, 1985
Predecessor	Spencer W. Hunter

Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death. Kimball to became president of the church years earlier than Benson. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson was Ordained as President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Politician

In 1953 Benson was appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture by President Eisenhower perhaps to appease Robert Taft supporters of which he was one, and he accepted this position with the permission of Church President David O.

As Secretary of Agriculture, Benson was predicted by the press to be the first man of the cabinet to be ousted, and even Congressional Republicans felt he was too high a liability for the party, given his severely anti-socialist stance. Benson prevailed, which has been termed one of the great "political mysteries" of the 20th century ; Secretary Benson grew to have a hatred for communism. We’ll so weaken your economy until you’ll fall like overripe fruit into our hands.’ “And they’re ahead of schedule in their devilish scheme.” (Ezra Taft Benson “Our Immediate Responsibility.” Devotional Address at Brigham Young University. circa 1968.”) listen to an excerpt of that speech here

In his political and ecclesiastical life, Benson was intensely conservative. In the early 1960s, Benson met Robert W. While Benson never joined the Society, his wife Flora joined, and his son Reed was the Society's Utah state coordinator.

While Benson later attributed his longevity to his unorthodox diet and his religious faith, his eating habits became the source of constant ribbing in the 1970s when his conservative friends began a series of "Ezra Roasts" to poke fun at Benson as a means of fund raising to finance campaigns against the Equal Rights Amendment.

Prophet

Benson succeeded Kimball as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1973, and as President of the Church in 1985.

In the years before his death President Benson suffered from poor health, suffering from blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks. Hinckley took on many of Benson's official duties, as he had done as Second Counselor in Kimball's last years.

There was some controversy as to whether Benson's actual mental health during this time was accurately portrayed by the Church. According to Church spokesman Don LeFevre, Hinckley and Monson reviewed major church decisions with Benson in his home, where he was attended by a staff of nurses. However, according to Benson's grandson Steve Benson, who later became a vocal critic of the church that he quit, the elder Benson by about 1993 was living in a sweatsuit, fed by others, and incapable of recognizing others or speaking coherently. Steve Benson stated that in a private meeting with apostle Dallin H. Oaks, Oaks explained to the younger Benson that the apostles rotated in pairs each week to visit the elder Benson at the apartment socially, but that Benson was incapable of conducting official business. Other members of the Benson family, who remain devout Latter-day Saints, have distanced themselves from Steve Benson's statements.

Benson was buried in Whitney, Idaho. Benson, Ezra Taft (1983). Benson, Ezra Taft (1986). Benson, Ezra Taft (1976). Benson, Ezra Taft (1992). Benson, Ezra Taft (1992). Benson, Ezra Taft (1974). Benson, Ezra Taft (1989). Benson, Ezra Taft (1990). Benson, Ezra Taft (1960). Benson, Ezra Taft (1988). Benson, Ezra Taft (1977). Benson, Ezra Taft (1962). Benson, Ezra Taft (2003). Benson, Ezra Taft (1964). Benson, Deseret Book Company. Benson, Ezra Taft (1988).

General conference talks

To the Elderly in the Church October 1989 To the Children of the Church April 1989 Beware of Pride April 1989 To the Single Adult Sisters of the Church October 1988 I Testify October 1988 Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon October 1988 To the Single Adult Brethren of the Church April 1988 The Great Commandment--Love the Lord April 1988 Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him April 1988 To the Fathers in Israel October 1987 Our Divine Constitution October 1987 Come unto Christ October 1987 To the Home Teachers of the Church April 1987 The Savior's Visit to America April 1987 The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants April 1987 To the Young Women of the Church October 1986 The Gift of Modern Revelation October 1986 The Book of Mormon--Keystone of Our Religion October 1986 Godly Characteristics of the Master October 1986 To the Youth of the Noble Birthright April 1986 The Power of the Word April 1986 Cleansing the Inner Vessel April 1986 A Sacred Responsibility April 1986 Worthy Fathers, Worthy Sons October 1985 Born of God October 1985 Preparing Yourselves for Missionary Service April 1985 Our Responsibility to Share the Gospel April 1985 When I Was Called as a Scoutmaster October 1984 A New Witness for Christ October 1984 Our Commission to Take the Gospel to All the World April 1984 Counsel to the Saints April 1984 What Manner of Men Ought We to Be? October 1983 Jesus Christ: Our Savior and Redeemer October 1983 A Principle with a Promise April 1983 A Call to the Priesthood: Feed My Sheep April 1983 Fundamentals of Enduring Family Relationships October 1982 The Honored Place of Woman October 1981 Joseph Smith: Prophet to Our Generation October 1981 Great Things Required of Their Fathers April 1981 Prepare for the Days of Tribulation October 1980 Remarks April 1980 A Marvelous Work and a Wonder April 1980 A Witness and a Warning October 1979 This Is a Day of Sacrifice April 1979 Church Government through Councils April 1979 Worthy of All Acceptation October 1978 May the Kingdom of God Go Forth April 1978 A Message to the Rising Generation October 1977 Prayer April 1977 Ministering to Needs through the Lord's Storehouse System April 1977 Our Priceless Heritage October 1976 The Constitution-- A Glorious Standard April 1976 A Message to the World October 1975 The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God April 1975 Do Not Despair October 1974 Missionary Work: A Major Responsibility April 1974 Prepare Ye October 1974 Watchman, Warn the Wicked April 1973

External resources

A biography of Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson's comments on freedom and the U.S. Constitution Some Speeches (audio) of Ezra Taft Benson Emphasizes his poliical views

Preceded by: Spencer W. Kimball

President of the LDS Church November 10, 1985 — May 30, 1994

Succeeded by: Howard W. Kimball

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles October 7, 1943–November 10, 1985

Succeeded by: Mark E. Brannan

United States Secretary of Agriculture 1953–1961

Succeeded by: Orville Freeman

United States Secretaries of Agriculture
Colman • Rusk • Morton • Wilson • Houston • Meredith • HC Wallace • Gore • Jardine • Hyde • HA Wallace • Wickard • Anderson • Brannan • Benson • Freeman • Hardin • Butz• Knebel • Bergland • Block • Lyng • Yeutter • Madigan • Espy • Glickman • Veneman • Johanns