Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson
Name	Ezra Taft Benson
Caption	Official portrait, c. 1985
Office	13th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Term start	November 10, 1985
Term end	May 30, 1994
Predecessor	Spencer W. Kimball
Successor	Howard W. Hunter
Birth date	4 August 1899
Birth place	Whitney, Idaho, U.S.
Death date	30 May 1994
Death place	Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Office2	United States Secretary of Agriculture
President2	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Term start2	January 21, 1953
Term end2	January 20, 1961
Predecessor2	Charles F. Brannan
Successor2	Orville Freeman

Ezra Taft Benson was an American religious leader, government official, and influential conservative voice who served as the thirteenth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His tenure was marked by emphatic teachings on The Book of Mormon, warnings against communism, and advocacy for constitutional principles. Prior to his church presidency, he achieved national prominence as the United States Secretary of Agriculture under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the only member of the First Presidency to hold a U.S. Cabinet position.

Early life and education

Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, he was the eldest son of George T. Benson and Sarah Dunkley. He was named for his great-uncle, Ezra T. Benson, an early apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He worked on the family farm and was deeply influenced by the agrarian values of Oneida County. He served a mission for the church in the United Kingdom from 1921 to 1923. Upon returning, he earned a degree in animal husbandry from Brigham Young University and later a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Iowa State University.

Career in agriculture and government

Benson became a prominent agricultural economist, serving as an extension specialist for the University of Idaho and later as executive secretary of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington, D.C.. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him as United States Secretary of Agriculture. His tenure focused on reducing price supports, modernizing farm policy, and combating subsidies, often placing him at odds with segments of the Republican Party and farming interests. He served through both of Eisenhower's terms, becoming a nationally recognized figure.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service

Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1943, his early assignments included overseeing the church's European missions after World War II, coordinating humanitarian aid during the reconstruction. He served as an apostle for over four decades, becoming President of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1973. He became church president in 1985 following the death of Spencer W. Kimball. His presidency emphasized the primacy of The Book of Mormon, which he called "the keystone of our religion," and he issued challenges for widespread member engagement with the text.

Political views and influence

Benson was a staunch advocate for Americanist principles and a vocal critic of collectivism and communism, which he viewed as theological threats. He frequently spoke on the dangers of the creeping socialism he perceived in federal programs, even while serving in the Eisenhower administration. His speeches, many compiled in books like *The Red Carpet*, influenced the modern conservative movement and members of the John Birch Society, though the church maintained official political neutrality. He strongly supported the United States Constitution, describing it as a divinely inspired document.

Personal life and death

He married Flora Amussen in 1926 in the Salt Lake Temple; they had six children. His wife, Flora, was a noted advocate for family history work. His grandson, Reed Benson, later served as a Seventy. Benson's health declined in his later years, and he died in Salt Lake City on May 30, 1994, at the age of 94. His funeral was held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, and he was buried in the Whitney Cemetery.

Legacy and honors

Benson's legacy is defined by his dual roles in high government office and global religious leadership. Key buildings bear his name, including the Ezra Taft Benson Building at Brigham Young University and the Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute at the same institution. His teachings continue to be widely studied within the LDS Church, particularly his focus on The Book of Mormon, family home evening, and political morality. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in 1989.

Category:1899 births Category:1994 deaths Category:American religious leaders Category:United States Secretaries of Agriculture Category:Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints