Ezra Taft Benson

Born: Aug 4, 1899
Whitney, Idaho
Died: May 30, 1994
Burial: Whitney, Idaho
Baptism: Mar 28, 1903
Married: Sept 10, 1926
Father: Ezra T. Benson
Mother: Sarah Dunkley
Brothers:
Joseph Dunkley, Orval Dunkley, Valdo Dunkley, George Taft, Ross Dean, Volco Ballif
Sisters:
Margaret, Louisa, Lera, Sarah

"Cleanse the inner vessel by conquering pride"

"The Book of Mormon brings men unto christ"

Positions held: President of the quorum of the Twelve, President
Tenure as Prophet:
8 yr 7 mo
Nov 10, 1985-May 30, 1994
Tenure as Apostle:
42 yr 1 mo
Ordination: Oct 7, 1943
Temples Dedicated: Two
Temples Total: 39
Apostles Called: Three
Members: 9,024,368

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 greatgrandson 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 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 Economicsand Marketiing 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 execcutive 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."