-- 14 December 1963
At a church farewell on 14 December Reed Benson complained that his father had been "`stabbed' in the back." The Twelve's president [Joseph Fielding Smith] was present to hear the younger Benson's remark that his father's mission call was a back-stab. (1)
-- December 20, 1963
[U.S. Senator Frank Moss (D-Utah) to Hugh B. Brown] I read the account of Apostle Benson's speech in the Logan LDS Tabernacle in the December 15th issue of the Herald Journal. I won't comment on the contents of the speech except to say that it appears that he has not changed his position at all from that that he expressed in Los Angeles at the testimonial dinner for Robert Welch (founder of the John Birch Society). On page 10 there is a picture of Reed Benson passing out copies of the speech of Ezra T. Benson, and on that same page the following paragraph in the article says: "Copies of Elder Benson's complete speech were available at the meeting or can be obtained by writing directly to him at the LDS Church Offices in Salt Lake City, the Apostle said." I don't know how we could be tied in more closely as a Church with the doctrines espoused by Ezra Taft Benson than by an announcement of this sort. I continue to be bombarded daily by questions and criticisms back here. (2)
-- 23 Dec 1963
Joseph Fielding Smith wrote [to Congressman Harding]: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain where I suppose he will be, at least for the next two years. When he returns I hope his blood will be purified." (3)
-- 1964
Mark A. Benson compiled a collection of his father's talks for a Deseret Book Company publication. Nearly every sermon referred to the threat of Communism, and the book also mentioned the Birch Society's president five times. By contrast, before their mutual involvement in the Birch Society, Reed Benson had compiled a book of his father's sermons which discussed Communism only three times. (4)
-- January 1964 to September 1965
Serves again as president of the European Mission. (5)
-- January 4, 1964
Ezra Taft Benson ... has departed for a long stay in Europe after a farewell speech hinting that the time has come for Americans to overthrow their government.
Free citizens, Benson said, in an amazing statement, should become "conspirators against established government."
The speech climaxed three years of unusual behavior for Benson, a period during which he embarrassed the man so steadfastly supported him, Dwight D. Eisenhower; also embarrassed the head of the Mormon Church president David O. McKay and his fellow apostles in the church. ... (6)
-- Late January, 1964
[Senator Ralph Harding] 'President McKay, I want you to know that just because I've had my problems with Elder Benson over the John Birch Society, that I still have a strong testimony of the gospel.' He said, 'I know that, Brother Harding. Several of us have had problems with Brother Benson over the Birch Society.'" (7)
-- 19 Feb 1964
Utah's Democratic senator, a Mormon, described Benson's [13 Dec 1963] Logan address as "a disgraceful talk." Senator Frank E. Moss also complained to Counselor Brown that Benson had arranged for copies of the talk to be distributed from the apostle's office at church headquarters. At the same time, other Mormons wrote the First Presidency with similar complaints that this "literature [is being] mailed from 47 East South Temple." (8)
Endnotes:
1 - Wilkinson diary, 14 Dec. 1963, as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992). See also Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
2 - Frank E. Moss to Hugh B. Brown, Moss Papers as referenced in Greg Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
3 - Joseph Fielding Smith to Congressman Ralph Harding, 23 Dec. 1963, photocopy in folder 2, box 4, King Papers, and in folder 22, box 5, Buerger Papers. Apostle Smith's letter was first quoted in "Ike, LDS Leaders Thank Harding For Anti-Birch, Benson Speech," Idaho State Journal, 20 Feb. 1964,1; "Ike Praises Idaho Solon For Benson Criticism," Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Feb. 1964, A-4; also Anderson, "Church and Birch In Utah," 12. (21 Feb 1964) Newspapers printed (Joseph Fielding) Smith's caustic assessment (of 23 Dec 1963) and the Quorum of Twelve's president made a public disclaimer which actually verified the political motivations for Benson's assignment to Europe: "I meant that when he returned he would be free of all political ties." See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.
4 - Benson, Title of Liberty, comp. Mark A. Benson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1964), with references to Robert Welch on 1,12,36,39, and 40. Compare to Benson, So Shall Ye Reap, comp. Reed A. Benson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1960), with references to Communism on 163, 208, and 328, as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992). See also Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
5 - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (2014)
6 - "Ezra Taft Benson Hints at Hour To Revolt", Drew Pearson, Jan 4, 1964 (provided by Joe Geisner)
7 - Ralph R. Harding interview as referenced in Greg Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
8 - Frank E. Moss to Ray R. Murdock, 19 Feb. 1964, and Moss to Hugh B. Brown, 19, as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992). See also Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
