Ezra Taft Benson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ezra Taft Benson |
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| 13th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| November 10, 1985 – May 30, 1994 | |
| Predecessor | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Successor | Howard W. Hunter |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| December 30, 1973 – November 10, 1985 | |
| Predecessor | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Successor | Marion G. Romney |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 7, 1943 – November 10, 1985 | |
| Called by | Heber J. Grant |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 7, 1943 – May 30, 1994 | |
| Called by | Heber J. Grant |
| Reason | Deaths of Sylvester Q. Cannon and Rudger Clawson |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Jeffrey R. Holland ordained |
| 15th United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office | |
| January 21, 1953 – January 20, 1961 | |
| Predecessor | Charles F. Brannan |
| Successor | Orville Freeman |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Political party | Republican |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ezra Taft Benson August 4, 1899 Whitney, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | May 30, 1994 (aged 94) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Education | Oneida Stake Academy Utah State University, Logan Brigham Young University (BS) Iowa State University (MS) University of California, Berkeley |
| Spouse(s) |
Flora Amussen
(m. 1926; d. 1992) |
| Children | 6, including Reed |
| Signature | |
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Ezra Taft Benson (born August 4, 1899 – died May 30, 1994) was an American farmer, a government official, and a religious leader. He served as the 15th United States Secretary of Agriculture for eight years under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Later, he became the 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death in 1994.
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Early Life and Education
Ezra Taft Benson was born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho. He was the oldest of eleven children. When he was 12, his father left to serve as a missionary. Ezra took on much of the responsibility for running the family farm. His sister said he "took the place of father for nearly two years."
He went to Oneida Stake Academy and graduated in 1918. Then he attended Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University). There, he met his future wife, Flora Smith Amussen.
Benson served as an LDS Church missionary in Britain from 1921 to 1923. During his mission, he realized how important the Book of Mormon was for sharing the church's message. After his mission, he studied at Brigham Young University, earning his bachelor's degree in 1926. He married Flora Smith Amussen that same year. They had six children. Benson also earned a master's degree in agricultural economics from Iowa State University in 1927.
Early Career and Church Service
After college, Benson returned to his family farm. He later became an agriculture extension agent for Oneida County, Idaho. He helped farmers with things like crop rotation, better grains, and pest control. He also helped farmers create cooperatives to sell their products.
In 1939, he became the president of the Boise Idaho Stake in the church. Later that year, he moved to Washington, D.C.. There, he became the Executive Secretary of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. This group worked with thousands of farm cooperatives across the country. He also became the first president of a new church stake in Washington, D.C.
Becoming an Apostle
In 1943, Ezra Taft Benson was called to be an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was a very important leadership position. He and Spencer W. Kimball became members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on the same day.
After World War II, in 1946, church leaders sent Benson to Europe. His job was to help with the church's relief efforts. He spent eleven months traveling and overseeing the delivery of two thousand tons of supplies. He helped people in many countries, including Germany and Poland. He saw how much suffering the war had caused.
In 1980, the Ezra Taft Benson Building at Ricks College was named in his honor. His teachings as an apostle were studied by church members in 2015.
Serving in Government
In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Benson as the United States Secretary of Agriculture. Benson served in this role for all eight years of Eisenhower's presidency. This was a unique situation because he was also an apostle in his church.
As Secretary of Agriculture, Benson worked to help farmers. He believed that government should not control farming too much. He thought farmers should have more freedom to make their own choices. He faced some challenges, including protests from farmers who disagreed with his ideas. However, by the end of his term, farm prices had improved, and his popularity grew.
In 1989, U.S. President George H. W. Bush gave Benson the Presidential Citizens Medal. This award recognizes citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation.
Views on Communism
Ezra Taft Benson was a strong opponent of communism and socialism. He believed these ideas were harmful to freedom and religion. He often spoke about the importance of individual liberty and standing against communism. He gave many talks encouraging people to learn about and resist these political systems.
Church President
Ezra Taft Benson became the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1973. Then, in 1985, he became the 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He chose Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson as his counselors.
As church president, Benson focused on spiritual messages. He strongly encouraged church members to read and share the Book of Mormon. He taught that it was a very important scripture for the church. He also gave a famous sermon about avoiding pride. He encouraged single adult men in the church to think about their life goals, including marriage and family.
Support for Scouting
Benson was a lifelong supporter of Scouting. He started as an assistant Scoutmaster in 1918. He was elected to the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America in 1949. He received many high awards in Scouting, including the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope, and the Silver Buffalo. He also received the Bronze Wolf, which is an international Scouting award.
Later Life and Death
In his later years, Ezra Taft Benson had health problems, including strokes. He was rarely seen in public. He made his last public appearance at his wife Flora's funeral in 1992.
Ezra Taft Benson died on May 30, 1994, at the age of 94. His funeral was held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He was buried in Whitney, Idaho, near where he was born. After his death, Howard W. Hunter became the next church president.
Posthumous Honors
- Idaho Hall of Fame, inducted 1997
- Ezra Taft Benson Building at Brigham Young University, dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley in 1995.
See also
- Michael T. Benson (grandson and educational administrator)
- Steve Benson (grandson and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist)
- Mark B. Madsen (grandson and Utah state senator)
Images for kids
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Signature of Ezra Taft Benson
