-- 7 November 1962
Henry D. Taylor, an assistant to the Twelve Apostles, said that "in his judgment [Reed] Benson was the laughing stock of Salt Lake" for his Birch activism. (1)
-- 11 Nov 1962
A few days after Benson publicly endorsed the Birch Society, [Hugh B.] Brown himself wrote in November 1962 that he was "disgusted" by Benson's activities "in connection with the John Birch Society," and if they did not cease, "some disciplinary action should be taken." (2)
-- 26 Nov 1962
"It is certainly regrettable," [Hugh B.] Brown wrote in November 1962, that Reed Benson "is permitted to continue to peddle his bunk in our Church houses. The matter was brought sharply to the attention of the President by Brother Moyle during my absence . . ." (3)
-- 13 Dec 1962
By the fall of 1962 members of the Birch Society's national council and editorial advisory committee had been speakers at BYU's "Forum" assemblies which were attended by a majority of students. This reflected the pro-Birch sentiments of BYU's president. On the other hand, anti- Birchers on the BYU faculty formally complained to Hugh B. Brown that the administration had arranged for national leaders of the Birch Society to address the student body. (4)
-- 1963
Church membership reached 2 million. (5)
-- 1963-64
Member, General Church Board of Education
-- 1963
W. Cleon Skousen ... published a defense of the Birch Society (6)
-- 4 Jan 1963
In January 1963 the First Presidency ... announced: "We deplore the presumption of some politicians, especially officers, co-ordinators and members of the John Birch Society, who undertake to align the Church or its leadership with their political views." This was a not-too- subtle reference to Benson's son Reed, the Utah Birch coordinator. (7)
-- January 6, 1963
[David O. McKay] "[Regarding] the recent declaration made by the First Presidency and published in the newspapers regarding the John Birch Society and its officers, stating that the Church does not endorse them. You asked that I read a number of opinions from various sources, including the editor of the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Attorney General of the State of California, the Ministerial Association of California, and others. After reading and discussing these, we agreed that we had done the right thing in letting the members of the Church and the world know that the Church does not in any way endorse or subscribe to the John Birch Society. You mentioned that we might have erred in that we did not call the Bensons in before making the announcement. I called your attention to the fact that we had called Brother Benson in and discussed Reed's activities during the campaign in disregarding our former statement regarding the use of our chapels and meeting places for political purposes. At that same meeting we discussed the John Birch Society, and Brother Benson denied having any association with them." (8)
[Hugh B. Brown] [After reviewing media reaction] we [Brown and McKay] agreed that we had done the right thing in letting the members of the Church and the world know that the Church does not in any way endorse or subscribe to the John Birch Society. You [McKay] mentioned that we might have erred in that we did not call the Bensons in before making the announcement. I called your attention to the fact that we had called Brother Benson in and discussed Reed's activities during the campaign in disregarding our former statement regarding the use of our chapels and meeting places for political purposes. At that same meeting we discussed the John Birch Society, and Brother Benson denied having any association with them. (9)
-- 7 Jan 1963
Three days after the First Presidency announcement [about the John Birch Society] (4 Jan 1963) Elder Benson spoke at a rally endorsed by the Birch Society in Boston. Newspapers reported this as a defiant embarrassment to the LDS church. (10)
Endnotes:
1 - Brown & Benson; Henry D. Taylor statement, as reported in Richard M. Taylor to Richard D. Poll, 7 Nov. 1962. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
2 - Brown & Benson; Brown to Gustive O. Larson, 11 Nov. 1962, in answer to Larson's letter of 1 Nov., folder 12, box 10, Larson Papers, archives, Lee Library. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
3 - Brown & Benson; Hugh B. Brown to Richard D. Poll, 26 Nov. 1962, in response to Poll to Brown, 20 Nov. 1962. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
4 - Richard D. Poll to Hugh B. Brown, 13 Dec. 1962; "The Council," The John Birch Society Bulletin (Feb. 1960): 2; John Birch Society's American Opinion. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
5 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
6 - W. Cleon Skousen, The Communist Attack on the John Birch Society (Salt Lake City: Ensign Publishing Co., 1963). See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
7 - "Reprint of Statement From the First Presidency," The Messenger: Distributed By the Presiding Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 1963,1. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
8 - David O. McKay diary as referenced in Greg Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
9 - Hugh B. Brown summary of meeting with David O. McKay, McKay diary as referenced in Greg Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
10 - "Ezra Taft Benson Addresses Rally," Deseret News, 7 Jan. 1963, A-3; Drew Pearson, "Benson Embarrasses His Church," Washington Post, 22 Jan. 1963, B-23; "Church Embarrassed Over Ezra Taft Benson Stand," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 22 Jan. 1963, 4. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
