Select Page

biosetb (Ezra Taft Benson ** )

 

A biographical overview of the life of Ezra Taft Benson,
the thirteenth President and Prophet of the
Church of Jesus Christ


Following is a brief summary of some major events in the life of Ezra Taft Benson, the thirteenth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 

  • Ezra Taft Benson was born in Whitney, Franklin County, Idaho on August 4, 1899. He was the son of Ezra T. Benson and Sarah Dunkley Benson. He was also a great-grandson of the apostle Ezra T. Benson, one of the original pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young.
  • On his birthday in 1907 (age 8), he was baptized in the Logan River Canal near Whitney, Idaho.
  • He served a mission to Great Britain from 1921 to 1923 (age 21-24).
  • He married Flora Smith Amussen on September 10, 1926 (age 27). Sister Benson died in 1992.
  • In 1931 he became the head of the Department of Agriculture Economics and Marketing for the University of Idaho in Boise, Idaho.
  • He served in the stake presidency and as the President of the Boise Stake from 1935 to 1939.
  • In 1943 he was appointed executive secretary of the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives, necessitating a move to Washington, D.C.
  • He served as the first president of the Washington, D.C. Stake
  • He was ordained an apostle by Heber J. Grant on October 7, 1943 (age 44).
  • He began service as the President of the European Mission in 1946, and was responsible for the distribution of tons of needed supplies to Europeans after World War II.
  • He served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1953 to 1961, under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  • He again served as President of the European Mission from 1964 to 1965.
  • He was sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve on December 30, 1973, and served in that capacity for 12 years.
  • He was ordained as President of the Church of Jesus Christ on November 10, 1985 (age 86). He chose as his counselors Elders Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson.
  • He dedicated the Denver Colorado and Frankfurt Germany temples during his presidency.
  • He died on May 30, 1994, having served as President of the Church for over 8 years.
  • He was perhaps the Church’s greatest champion of the Book of Mormon. He said, “There is a power in the Book of Mormon that will begin to flow into your lives. This is my prayer, that the Book of Mormon may become the keystone of our lives.”

Click here to return to the Prophets’ Biographies Menu page
Click here to return to the Prophets Menu page
Click here to return to the Main Menu page