Ezra T. Benson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ezra T. Benson |
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| July 16, 1846 – September 3, 1869 | |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| July 16, 1846 – September 3, 1869 | |
| Reason | Removal of John E. Page from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Albert Carrington ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ezra Taft Benson February 22, 1811 Mendon, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | September 3, 1869 (aged 58) Ogden, Utah Territory, United States |
| Resting place | Logan City Cemetery 41°44′57″N 111°48′22″W / 41.7492°N 111.8061°W |
| Spouse(s) | 8 |
| Children | 35 |
| Parents | John Benson Chloe Taft |
Ezra Taft Benson (born February 22, 1811 – died September 3, 1869) was an important leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People often call him Ezra T. Benson to tell him apart from his great-grandson, who had the same name and also became a church leader. Ezra T. Benson served as an apostle and was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Contents
Early Life and Family Beginnings
Ezra Taft Benson was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, on February 22, 1811. His parents were John Benson and Chloe Taft. When he was six years old, his family moved to a farm in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
On January 1, 1832, Ezra married Pamelia Andrus in Uxbridge. They lived there for about three years. Ezra managed a hotel in Uxbridge and also invested in a cotton mill in Holland, Massachusetts. In 1835, he moved to Holland and became the postmaster before moving further west.
Joining the Church and Becoming a Leader
Ezra Benson and his wife learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after hearing Joseph Smith speak. They were baptized into the church on July 19, 1840, in Quincy, Illinois. Ezra had met church members earlier when they came to Quincy after being forced out of Missouri.
In 1841, Benson moved to Nauvoo, a main gathering place for church members. While in Nauvoo, he helped guard the Nauvoo Temple as it was being built.
On July 16, 1846, Ezra Benson was chosen and set apart as an apostle. This meant he became a special witness of Jesus Christ and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a leading group in the church. He took the place of John E. Page in the Quorum.
In 1847, Ezra Benson was one of the first 148 pioneers to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley. He traveled with the first group, known as the Brigham Young Pioneer Company. They left Winter Quarters, Nebraska, on April 16, 1847, and reached the Salt Lake Valley between July 21 and July 24, 1847.
Serving as a Missionary
Ezra Benson served as a missionary for the church in many places. He preached in the United States, Europe, and the Sandwich Islands.
- His first mission was in the 1840s, and he went back to his hometown of Mendon, Massachusetts. He also preached in Chambersburg, Illinois.
- During his second mission, he was in New Jersey when he heard the sad news of Joseph Smith's death.
- From December 1844 to May 1845, Benson served a mission in New England. He was in charge of the church's missionary work in Boston.
- Later, he led the church's missionary efforts in England until 1857.
- In 1864, he traveled to the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii). The boat he was on turned over in the water, but Ezra and the other missionaries were safe.
Public Service
Ezra Benson also served in government. He was a Territorial Councilor in the Utah Territorial Legislature for ten years. This meant he helped make laws for the Utah Territory.
His Family and Legacy
Ezra Benson had a large family. He had eight wives and 35 children.
His great-grandson, who was also named Ezra Taft Benson, became a very important leader in the church much later. The younger Ezra Taft Benson also served as an apostle and was the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 to 1994. He also served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the 1950s.
Death and Burial
Ezra Taft Benson passed away suddenly from a heart attack on September 3, 1869. He was in Ogden, Utah Territory, at the time and was 58 years old. He is buried in the Logan City Cemetery in Logan, Utah.
See also
- Taft family
