-- 07 Apr 1994
Robert D. Hales is ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, replacing recently deceased Marvin J. Ashton.
-- 13 May 1994
President Ezra Taft Benson is inducted into the University of Idaho alumni of fame.
-- 30 May 1994
Ezra Taft Benson, born in a quiet Idaho farm community, spent much of his life working with the power brokers of the world. Outspoken, courageous, and committed, he, like the founder of the Latter-day Saint church, Joseph Smith, had gone from "plowboy to prophet." He died 30 May 1994. (1)
President Ezra Taft Benson dies. Howard W. Hunter becomes president. (2)
-- December 1994
When the state of Idaho flew flags at half mast at Ezra Taft Benson's death, angry complaints flooded in from people who believed that the gesture honored his Church position rather than his service as an Idaho native in the Eisenhower cabinet. (3)
-- 21 May 1996
[Paul H. Dunn] Early in my career I found that there was not a whole lot of support or appreciation for Benson constantly harping on the communist issue. Although, every time President McKay was present or in a meeting, he would be the endorser, or thanking President Benson for doing what he was doing. That kept the other elements sort of quiet. Hugh B. Brown really thought President Benson had gone overboard. And yet President Benson —I talked with him several times, not on this subject but just in conversation—would remind me that he was doing what the prophet had asked him to do. (4)
-- 3 May 1998
The First Presidency asked Democrat General Authority Marlin K. Jensen, to give an interview to the Salt Lake Tribune assuring readers that one may, indeed, simultaneously be a Democrat and a Mormon in good standing. He explained that church leaders "regret … that there would become a church party and a non-church party. That would be the last thing that we would want to have happen. (5)
-- March 21, 2001
Harold B. Lee stated "the brethren would never permit another member of the Twelve to serve in the Cabinet or in a high political position because, as he put it, 'Elder Benson had lost his spiritual tone and would no longer accept counsel.'" (6)
-- 2003
Published Volume - Sermons and Writings of President Ezra Taft Benson. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7)
-- 2014
Published Volume - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7)
Endnotes:
1 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Ezra Taft Benson, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/
2 - Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)
3 - "Anti-Mormon Sentiment Shocks Idaho Lt. Governor" Sunstone 17, no. 3 (December 1994): 81 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
4 - Paul H. Dunn interview as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)
5 - Dan Harrie, "LDS Official Calls for More Political Diversity, Salt Lake Tribune as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)
6 - L. Ralph Mecham to Greg Prince as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)
7 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
