-- April 1, 1989
Many national and international citations and awards, including a number of honorary doctorate degrees, were bestowed on him. From the Boy Scouts of America he received the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, and Silver Buffalo; he served on their National Executive Board. On April 1, 1989, he was presented world Scouting's highest award, the Bronze Wolf. (1)
-- Aug 1989
Republican U.S. president George Bush awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Benson. This was another personal vindication of Benson's decades of political activism. This information was omitted from the 1993-1994 Church Almanac, 370. (2)
-- Sep 1, 1989.
Elder George P. Lee of the First Quorum of the Seventy is excommunicated "for apostasy" and "conduct unbecoming a member." Letters Lee releases to the press include criticisms of the church's neglect of Lamanites and incidents of personal discrimination against him by other general authorities. (3)
-- 30 Sep 1989
Elder Paul H. Dunn, age 65, of the Presidency of the First Quorum of Seventy is given emeritus status "in consideration of factors of age and health." [He had exaggerated many of his stories in books and sermons]. He continues, however, to participate in money-making ventures including tours of major-league baseball parks throughout the United States. (4)
The first General Authorities called to serve for five years are released.
-- 9 Nov 1989
The Berlin Wall came down, paving the way for eventual unification of East and West Germany. (5)
-- 25 Nov 1989
A major change in policy for financing local Church units in the United States and Canada was announced by the First Presidency. Ward members would no longer have stake and ward budget assessments. (5)
-- 02 Dec 1989
Church membership reaches seven million.
-- 1990
Published Volume - Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice. Deseret Book (6)
Published Volume - Missionaries to Match Our Message. Bookcraft (6)
-- 31 Mar 1990
Conference sustains first general authority of black African descent, Second Quorum of Seventy-s Helvecio Martins of Brazil (who is released in 1995). Chieko Nishimura Okazaki is sustained as first counselor in general presidency of Relief Society, first non-Caucasian member of auxiliary presidency in Mormon history. (4)
-- Apr 1990
[A]pocalyptic-minded Mormon members of the Birch Society had also organized "the American Study Group" which grew to 1,400 members within two months.
This revitalization of Mormon Birchers occurred while their presidential advocate was slipping deeper into the decay of old age. President Benson was physically unable to speak at general conference from April 1990 on. At his last public appearances in 1992 he was a frail shell of the strident partisan whom Mormons had known for decades. (7)
Endnotes:
1 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
2 - Deseret News 1991-1992 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1990), 315 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
6 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
7 - "Longtime Doomsayer Seeks 'Safety' Back in LDS Fold," Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Jan. 1993, B-6; also reference to the American Study Group in Malcolm S. Jeppsen, "We Shall Not Be Led Astray," 8, computer print-out, 25 Oct. 1992; Ensign 20 (May 1990): 1, 20 (Nov. 1990): 1, 21 (May 1991): 1, 21 (Nov. 1991): 1, 22 (May 1992): 1,22 (Nov. 1992): 1; photographs in "LDS Historian Says Benson's Right-Wing Beliefs Caused Infighting, Church To Censure Speeches," Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 1992, A-7, and in "Age Taking Its Toll On President Benson," Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Jan. 1993, C-l. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and 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/
Ezra Taft Benson, October 1988
-- October 1988
"[Wickedness] is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world." (1)
-- 1988 Oct.1
The Church completes 100 million endowments for the dead (August) Ezra Taft Benson urges members to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon (2)
-- 01 Oct 1988
President Ezra Taft Benson opens general conference with a challenge for the Saints to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.
-- October 2, 1988
Delivers his final general conference address in person. (After October 1988, his frail physical health prevented him from speaking at general conference. His counselors in the First Presidency read sermons on his behalf or quoted messages he had given in past addresses.) (3)
-- Oct 2,1988
Michaelene P. Grassli, general Primary President, is first woman to speak in general conference in 133 years. (4)
-- 06 Oct 1988
Richard G. Scott is ordained an Apostle, replacing Marion G. Romney, who had passed away.
-- 18 Oct 1988
At request of Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley, President Ezra Taft Benson appoints committee of three apostle-lawyers (Howard W. Hunter, James E. Faust, and Dallin H. Oaks) to formally investigate the publicly announced claims that as an apostle Hinckley allegedly had long-term homosexual affair with younger man. Circulated internationally by Protestant evangelicals through anti-Mormon video and book GODMAKERS II, these allegations are repudiated by apostolic committee as "pure fabrication" after "an extensive probe." Hinckley puts formal end to this investigation on May 6, 1993 when he reads statement to Presidency and Twelve. While he is counselor, temple council decides against making any kind of public denial. As church president Hinckley's authorized biography devotes three pages to this mater in 1996 but does not state whether he asked temple council to rescind its previous vote on matter. (5)
-- Oct 24, 1988-28
President Thomas S. Monson led a delegation of Church leaders that met with the German Democratic Republic's top government officials. It was announced Nov. 12 that the Church had been granted rights to send missionaries to the DDR and for LDS members from the DDR to serve as missionaries in other countries. (6)
-- During 1988
The Church contracts the Hawaii marketing agency, Hill and Knowlton, to monitor and promote the Churchs stance on gay issues in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. One function of working through a nonmainland marketing agency was that the name of the Church was separated from the legislative efforts that the firm undertook. (7)
-- 1989
Published Volume - A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson. Deseret Book (8)
-- 12 Feb 1989
The Church announces that worthy, unendowed members whose spouses are not members or the Church or are not worthy to enter the temple may receive their individual endowments.
-- Apr 1, 1989-2
The Second Quorum of the Seventy was created and all General Authorities serving under a five-year call were sustained as members, along with another eight newly called General Authorities. (6)
Endnotes:
1 - Ezra Taft Benson, I Testify, Conference, October 1988
2 - Madsen, Truman G., The Presidents of the Church
3 - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (2014)
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
5 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
7 - Crapo, Richley, Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/?q=node/59
8 - 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/
"[Wickedness] is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world." (1)
-- 1988 Oct.1
The Church completes 100 million endowments for the dead (August) Ezra Taft Benson urges members to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon (2)
-- 01 Oct 1988
President Ezra Taft Benson opens general conference with a challenge for the Saints to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.
-- October 2, 1988
Delivers his final general conference address in person. (After October 1988, his frail physical health prevented him from speaking at general conference. His counselors in the First Presidency read sermons on his behalf or quoted messages he had given in past addresses.) (3)
-- Oct 2,1988
Michaelene P. Grassli, general Primary President, is first woman to speak in general conference in 133 years. (4)
-- 06 Oct 1988
Richard G. Scott is ordained an Apostle, replacing Marion G. Romney, who had passed away.
-- 18 Oct 1988
At request of Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley, President Ezra Taft Benson appoints committee of three apostle-lawyers (Howard W. Hunter, James E. Faust, and Dallin H. Oaks) to formally investigate the publicly announced claims that as an apostle Hinckley allegedly had long-term homosexual affair with younger man. Circulated internationally by Protestant evangelicals through anti-Mormon video and book GODMAKERS II, these allegations are repudiated by apostolic committee as "pure fabrication" after "an extensive probe." Hinckley puts formal end to this investigation on May 6, 1993 when he reads statement to Presidency and Twelve. While he is counselor, temple council decides against making any kind of public denial. As church president Hinckley's authorized biography devotes three pages to this mater in 1996 but does not state whether he asked temple council to rescind its previous vote on matter. (5)
-- Oct 24, 1988-28
President Thomas S. Monson led a delegation of Church leaders that met with the German Democratic Republic's top government officials. It was announced Nov. 12 that the Church had been granted rights to send missionaries to the DDR and for LDS members from the DDR to serve as missionaries in other countries. (6)
-- During 1988
The Church contracts the Hawaii marketing agency, Hill and Knowlton, to monitor and promote the Churchs stance on gay issues in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. One function of working through a nonmainland marketing agency was that the name of the Church was separated from the legislative efforts that the firm undertook. (7)
-- 1989
Published Volume - A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson. Deseret Book (8)
-- 12 Feb 1989
The Church announces that worthy, unendowed members whose spouses are not members or the Church or are not worthy to enter the temple may receive their individual endowments.
-- Apr 1, 1989-2
The Second Quorum of the Seventy was created and all General Authorities serving under a five-year call were sustained as members, along with another eight newly called General Authorities. (6)
Endnotes:
1 - Ezra Taft Benson, I Testify, Conference, October 1988
2 - Madsen, Truman G., The Presidents of the Church
3 - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (2014)
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
5 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
7 - Crapo, Richley, Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/?q=node/59
8 - 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/
Ezra Taft Benson, 1988
-- 1988
Published Volume - A Witness and a Warning: A Modern-Day Prophet Testifies of the Book of Mormon. Deseret Book (1)
Published Volume - The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. Bookcraft (1)
-- January 1988
"…the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time…Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat falsehoods in socialism, rationalism, etc…The situation in the world will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of God and quit building up and upholding secret combinations, which the Book of Mormon tells us proved the downfall of ancient civilizations." (2)
-- 15 Jan 1988
The First Presidency renews the call for all Church members to be active in volunteer service and political, governmental, and community leadership.
-- 27 Feb 1988
President Ezra Taft Benson breaks ground for the San Diego California Temple.
-- 6 Mar 1988
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that W. Cleon Skousen solemnly affirmed to a largely Mormon audience during a fundraising dinner for the Evan Mecham campaign that God foretold the gubernatorial candidate that he would attain the governorship to help save America from going to hell in the handbasket of socialism. Skousen referrs to Mecham as "a modern-day Isaiah," who also was "beaten, spat upon, and persecuted for being a prophet."
-- 12 Mar 1988
First Presidency statement supports Child Abuse Prevention Month and encourages Mormons to combat this "pernicious problem." (3)
-- 15 May 1988
First stake organized in black Africa in Aba, Nigeria. [All leaders are black] (4)
-- 18 May 1988
Apostle Howard W. Hunter signs agreement with State of Israel that "the Church will not engage in any missionary activity within the borders of Israel, as long as such activity is not allowed by the government of Israel." (3)
-- 20 May 1988
Marion G. Romney dies. Howard W. Hunter becomes President of the Quorum. (5)
-- 28 May 1988
The First Presidency issued a statement on the subject of AIDS, stressing chastity before marriage, fidelity in marriage, and abstinence from homosexual behavior, yet extending sympathy to those who have contracted the disease. (6)
-- 17 Sep 1988
LDS church joins VISN television network (Vision Interfaith Satellite Network) sponsored jointly by different religious organizations; renamed "Faith and Values Channel."
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
2 - Ezra Taft Benson, First Presidency Message, Ensign, January 1988
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
5 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Published Volume - A Witness and a Warning: A Modern-Day Prophet Testifies of the Book of Mormon. Deseret Book (1)
Published Volume - The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. Bookcraft (1)
-- January 1988
"…the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time…Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat falsehoods in socialism, rationalism, etc…The situation in the world will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of God and quit building up and upholding secret combinations, which the Book of Mormon tells us proved the downfall of ancient civilizations." (2)
-- 15 Jan 1988
The First Presidency renews the call for all Church members to be active in volunteer service and political, governmental, and community leadership.
-- 27 Feb 1988
President Ezra Taft Benson breaks ground for the San Diego California Temple.
-- 6 Mar 1988
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that W. Cleon Skousen solemnly affirmed to a largely Mormon audience during a fundraising dinner for the Evan Mecham campaign that God foretold the gubernatorial candidate that he would attain the governorship to help save America from going to hell in the handbasket of socialism. Skousen referrs to Mecham as "a modern-day Isaiah," who also was "beaten, spat upon, and persecuted for being a prophet."
-- 12 Mar 1988
First Presidency statement supports Child Abuse Prevention Month and encourages Mormons to combat this "pernicious problem." (3)
-- 15 May 1988
First stake organized in black Africa in Aba, Nigeria. [All leaders are black] (4)
-- 18 May 1988
Apostle Howard W. Hunter signs agreement with State of Israel that "the Church will not engage in any missionary activity within the borders of Israel, as long as such activity is not allowed by the government of Israel." (3)
-- 20 May 1988
Marion G. Romney dies. Howard W. Hunter becomes President of the Quorum. (5)
-- 28 May 1988
The First Presidency issued a statement on the subject of AIDS, stressing chastity before marriage, fidelity in marriage, and abstinence from homosexual behavior, yet extending sympathy to those who have contracted the disease. (6)
-- 17 Sep 1988
LDS church joins VISN television network (Vision Interfaith Satellite Network) sponsored jointly by different religious organizations; renamed "Faith and Values Channel."
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
2 - Ezra Taft Benson, First Presidency Message, Ensign, January 1988
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
5 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, Nov 1986
-- During Nov 1986
"The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion... Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The enemies of the Church understand this clearly. This is why they go to such great lengths to try to disprove the Book of Mormon, for if it can be discredited, the Prophet Joseph Smith goes with it. So does our claim to priesthood keys, and revelation, and the restored Church." -- Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign (1)
-- 4 Dec 1986
[Benson's] son Mark A. Benson [leaves board of the] National Center for Constitutional Studies. (2)
-- 22 Feb 1987
President Ezra Taft Benson speaks at a televised "Fireside for Parents." In his talk (which is later published as a pamphlet, "To the Mothers in Zion") he states, "Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mothers calling is in the home, not in the marketplace." He quotes Spencer W. Kimball: "It was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment."
-- March 1987
"Secretary Benson was the target for more organized and sustained attacks than anyone elsein high government office," was how an article in the official LDS Church press later described Benson's controversal term. (3)
-- 12 Mar 1987
Announcement that church's Hotel Utah will be remodeled into additional office building for LDS Bureaucracy. When completed in 1991, renamed "Joseph Smith Memorial Building" has 75,000 square feet of floor space. (4)
-- March 14, 1987
President Benson, then newly President of the Church, gave great emphasis to reading and teaching from the Book of Mormon. That year nearly 450,000 of 2.9 million copies were distributed through the family-to-family program and, during 1988, 1.4 of the 6.6 million printed that year. (5)
-- 25 Apr 1987
The First Presidency announces the creation of four new areas as part of the Church's realignment of worldwide administrative areas.
-- 20 Jun 1987
In a letter sent to priesthood leaders, the First Presidency defines the organizational structure of ward Young Women presidencies and requests consistent midweek activities for Young Women.
-- 15 Aug 1987
The First Presidency announces the renaming of the Church Genealogical Department as the Family History Department.
-- August 28–30 1987
Dedicates Frankfurt Germany Temple. This is the last temple (2nd) dedicated by Benson. The remaining four temples are dedicated by his counselor Gordon B. Hinckley. Typically presidents dedicate temples as their health permits. (6)
-- 4 Sep 1987
A letter from the First Presidency announced the discontinuance of the International Mission. Responsibility for its areas reverted to the respective area presidencies of the Church. (7)
-- November, 1987
Although 565 pages long, Sheri Dew's, Ezra Taft Benson biography skirts the issue of Benson and Communism to the point where the terms "Communism," "John Birch Society," and "Robert Welch" do not appear in its index. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - LDS Quotations, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
2 - The Constitution: The Voice of the National Center for Constitutional Studies, Nov. 1985, 4, Dec. 1986, 3 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - Derin Head Rodriguez, "Flora Amussen Benson: Handmaiden of the Lord, Helpmeet of a Prophet, Mother in Zion," Ensign , March 1987, 19. For context and full cite, see Gary James Bergera, '"Rising above Principle": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 1', Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Fall 2008, v 41)
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - "Missionaries Number 33,000," Church News, March 14, 1987, 3; "The Family–to-Family Book of Mormon Program," Ensign 17 (May 1987): 101; Edward L. Carter, "Y Scholar Finds 'Explosion' in Book of Mormon Use," Deseret News, June 14, 1997, E2. In 1955 about 300,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were distributed, about 750,000 in 1977, and about 5,440,000 in 1999. Victor L. Ludlow, "Internationalization of the Church" in Out of Obscurity, 210 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
6 - http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/chronological
7 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
8 - Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
"The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion... Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The enemies of the Church understand this clearly. This is why they go to such great lengths to try to disprove the Book of Mormon, for if it can be discredited, the Prophet Joseph Smith goes with it. So does our claim to priesthood keys, and revelation, and the restored Church." -- Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign (1)
-- 4 Dec 1986
[Benson's] son Mark A. Benson [leaves board of the] National Center for Constitutional Studies. (2)
-- 22 Feb 1987
President Ezra Taft Benson speaks at a televised "Fireside for Parents." In his talk (which is later published as a pamphlet, "To the Mothers in Zion") he states, "Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mothers calling is in the home, not in the marketplace." He quotes Spencer W. Kimball: "It was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment."
-- March 1987
"Secretary Benson was the target for more organized and sustained attacks than anyone elsein high government office," was how an article in the official LDS Church press later described Benson's controversal term. (3)
-- 12 Mar 1987
Announcement that church's Hotel Utah will be remodeled into additional office building for LDS Bureaucracy. When completed in 1991, renamed "Joseph Smith Memorial Building" has 75,000 square feet of floor space. (4)
-- March 14, 1987
President Benson, then newly President of the Church, gave great emphasis to reading and teaching from the Book of Mormon. That year nearly 450,000 of 2.9 million copies were distributed through the family-to-family program and, during 1988, 1.4 of the 6.6 million printed that year. (5)
-- 25 Apr 1987
The First Presidency announces the creation of four new areas as part of the Church's realignment of worldwide administrative areas.
-- 20 Jun 1987
In a letter sent to priesthood leaders, the First Presidency defines the organizational structure of ward Young Women presidencies and requests consistent midweek activities for Young Women.
-- 15 Aug 1987
The First Presidency announces the renaming of the Church Genealogical Department as the Family History Department.
-- August 28–30 1987
Dedicates Frankfurt Germany Temple. This is the last temple (2nd) dedicated by Benson. The remaining four temples are dedicated by his counselor Gordon B. Hinckley. Typically presidents dedicate temples as their health permits. (6)
-- 4 Sep 1987
A letter from the First Presidency announced the discontinuance of the International Mission. Responsibility for its areas reverted to the respective area presidencies of the Church. (7)
-- November, 1987
Although 565 pages long, Sheri Dew's, Ezra Taft Benson biography skirts the issue of Benson and Communism to the point where the terms "Communism," "John Birch Society," and "Robert Welch" do not appear in its index. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - LDS Quotations, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
2 - The Constitution: The Voice of the National Center for Constitutional Studies, Nov. 1985, 4, Dec. 1986, 3 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - Derin Head Rodriguez, "Flora Amussen Benson: Handmaiden of the Lord, Helpmeet of a Prophet, Mother in Zion," Ensign , March 1987, 19. For context and full cite, see Gary James Bergera, '"Rising above Principle": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 1', Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Fall 2008, v 41)
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - "Missionaries Number 33,000," Church News, March 14, 1987, 3; "The Family–to-Family Book of Mormon Program," Ensign 17 (May 1987): 101; Edward L. Carter, "Y Scholar Finds 'Explosion' in Book of Mormon Use," Deseret News, June 14, 1997, E2. In 1955 about 300,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were distributed, about 750,000 in 1977, and about 5,440,000 in 1999. Victor L. Ludlow, "Internationalization of the Church" in Out of Obscurity, 210 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
6 - http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/chronological
7 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
8 - Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 13 Feb 1986
-- 13 Feb 1986
Conservative members of the Utah legislature in 1986 refused to allow the state to call this national holiday by King's name. The state of Utah uses the name "Human Rights Day" instead of Martin Luther King Day. (1)
-- April 1986
When Ezra Taft Benson was sustained as President in April 1986, the quorums did not sit together in Solomn Assembly, and the ceremony was substantially shortened, requiring only ten votes. (2)
-- 2 Apr 1986
BYU's administration prepares document for its external accreditation review, including: "BYU administrators are advised not to publish in 'Dialogue, a Journal of Mormon Thought,' nor to participate in 'Sunstone' symposia." (3)
-- April 6, 1986
In a solemn assembly at general conference, [Behson] was sustained by Church members as the prophet, seer, and revelator, and President of the Church. In his opening address at that conference, President Benson stressed the need to "cleanse the inner vessel, beginning first with ourselves, then with our families, and finally with the Church" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:4). In commencing that cleansing, he declared, "The Book of Mormon has not been, nor is it yet, the center of our personal study, family teaching, preaching, and missionary work. Of this we must repent" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:5-6).
In his concluding address of the conference, he said, "The Lord inspired His servant Lorenzo Snow to reemphasize the principle of tithing to redeem the Church from financial bondage.... Now, in our day, the Lord has revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church and all the children of Zion out from under condemnation—the scourge and judgment" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:78).
To that end, his address "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God" was repeated in regional conferences throughout the Church. (4)
-- 30 Apr 1986
Church membership was estimated to have reached the 6-million member milestone. (5)
-- 6 Jul 1986
Announcement of "Improved missionary discussions [which] put aside the specific dialogue of the past. Missionaries will now use their own words and follow an outline to share the gospel." This ends twenty-five years of requiring LDS missionaries to memorize and speak word-for-word dialogue when teaching non-Mormons. (3)
-- October, 1986
All stake quorums of the seventy were discontinued. The church encouraged local leaders to have ordained seventies meet with the local elders quorum or to ordain them as high priests. (6)
-- 4 Oct 1986
At priesthood session of General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson announces that "the seventies quorums in the stakes of the Church are to be discontinued." Soon church's only Seventies (at one time the largest body of priesthood in the church) are general authorities who have been ordained High Priests.
-- October 5, 1986
President Benson's administration expressed Church opposition to the legalization of gambling and government-sponsored lotteries being proposed in many states. "First Presidency Issues Statement against Gambling." (7)
-- 05 Oct 1986
The First Presidency releases a statement indicating that the Church is opposed to the legalization of gambling and government-sponsored lotteries.
-- 09 Oct 1986
Joseph B. Wirthlin is ordained an Apostle, replacing Thomas S. Monson, who had been called to the First Presidency.
-- October 24–28 1986
Dedicates Denver Colorado Temple. This is the 4th temple dedicated during his presidency, the 1st by Benson. Historically, temples are usually dedicated by the president as their health permits. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - For the difficult passage and renaming of Martin Luther King day in Utah, see Deseret News, 14 Oct. 1985, A-2,13 Feb. 1986, A-l; Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Feb. 1986, A-l, 28 Feb. 1986, A-5,18 Mar. 1986, B-l. For the Utah legislature's continued disrespect toward the national King holiday, see "Martin Luther King Holiday or Not, Utah Lawmakers Convene Today," Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Jan. 1993, B-l; also companion article "Utah's Mix of Church and State: Theocratic or Just Homogenized?" Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Jan. 1993, B-2. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
2 - "The Solemn Assembly and Sustaining of Church Officers," Ensign 16 (May 1986): 73–75 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
5 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
6 - "Stake Seventies Quorums Discontinued". Ensign: 97–98. November 1986 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
7 - Church News, October 5, 1986, 4. In 1994, Mormon efforts helped defeat a lottery initiative in Oklahoma. "Members Help Defeat Lottery Initiative," Church News, July 23, 1994, 12 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
8 - http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/chronological
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Conservative members of the Utah legislature in 1986 refused to allow the state to call this national holiday by King's name. The state of Utah uses the name "Human Rights Day" instead of Martin Luther King Day. (1)
-- April 1986
When Ezra Taft Benson was sustained as President in April 1986, the quorums did not sit together in Solomn Assembly, and the ceremony was substantially shortened, requiring only ten votes. (2)
-- 2 Apr 1986
BYU's administration prepares document for its external accreditation review, including: "BYU administrators are advised not to publish in 'Dialogue, a Journal of Mormon Thought,' nor to participate in 'Sunstone' symposia." (3)
-- April 6, 1986
In a solemn assembly at general conference, [Behson] was sustained by Church members as the prophet, seer, and revelator, and President of the Church. In his opening address at that conference, President Benson stressed the need to "cleanse the inner vessel, beginning first with ourselves, then with our families, and finally with the Church" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:4). In commencing that cleansing, he declared, "The Book of Mormon has not been, nor is it yet, the center of our personal study, family teaching, preaching, and missionary work. Of this we must repent" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:5-6).
In his concluding address of the conference, he said, "The Lord inspired His servant Lorenzo Snow to reemphasize the principle of tithing to redeem the Church from financial bondage.... Now, in our day, the Lord has revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church and all the children of Zion out from under condemnation—the scourge and judgment" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:78).
To that end, his address "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God" was repeated in regional conferences throughout the Church. (4)
-- 30 Apr 1986
Church membership was estimated to have reached the 6-million member milestone. (5)
-- 6 Jul 1986
Announcement of "Improved missionary discussions [which] put aside the specific dialogue of the past. Missionaries will now use their own words and follow an outline to share the gospel." This ends twenty-five years of requiring LDS missionaries to memorize and speak word-for-word dialogue when teaching non-Mormons. (3)
-- October, 1986
All stake quorums of the seventy were discontinued. The church encouraged local leaders to have ordained seventies meet with the local elders quorum or to ordain them as high priests. (6)
-- 4 Oct 1986
At priesthood session of General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson announces that "the seventies quorums in the stakes of the Church are to be discontinued." Soon church's only Seventies (at one time the largest body of priesthood in the church) are general authorities who have been ordained High Priests.
-- October 5, 1986
President Benson's administration expressed Church opposition to the legalization of gambling and government-sponsored lotteries being proposed in many states. "First Presidency Issues Statement against Gambling." (7)
-- 05 Oct 1986
The First Presidency releases a statement indicating that the Church is opposed to the legalization of gambling and government-sponsored lotteries.
-- 09 Oct 1986
Joseph B. Wirthlin is ordained an Apostle, replacing Thomas S. Monson, who had been called to the First Presidency.
-- October 24–28 1986
Dedicates Denver Colorado Temple. This is the 4th temple dedicated during his presidency, the 1st by Benson. Historically, temples are usually dedicated by the president as their health permits. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - For the difficult passage and renaming of Martin Luther King day in Utah, see Deseret News, 14 Oct. 1985, A-2,13 Feb. 1986, A-l; Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Feb. 1986, A-l, 28 Feb. 1986, A-5,18 Mar. 1986, B-l. For the Utah legislature's continued disrespect toward the national King holiday, see "Martin Luther King Holiday or Not, Utah Lawmakers Convene Today," Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Jan. 1993, B-l; also companion article "Utah's Mix of Church and State: Theocratic or Just Homogenized?" Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Jan. 1993, B-2. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
2 - "The Solemn Assembly and Sustaining of Church Officers," Ensign 16 (May 1986): 73–75 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
5 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
6 - "Stake Seventies Quorums Discontinued". Ensign: 97–98. November 1986 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
7 - Church News, October 5, 1986, 4. In 1994, Mormon efforts helped defeat a lottery initiative in Oklahoma. "Members Help Defeat Lottery Initiative," Church News, July 23, 1994, 12 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
8 - http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/chronological
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 10 Oct 1985
-- 10 Oct 1985
M. Russell Ballard is ordained an Apostle, replacing Bruce R. McConkie, who had passed away.
-- Oct 15, 1985.
Steven Christensen and Kathy Sheets are killed by homemade bombs. Mark Hofmann, the killer, is injured the next day by a third bomb but lives to avoid trial through a successful plea-bargain after an agonizing investigation exposes misrepresentations on the part of general authorities and their representatives and leaves Mormon historians charged with gullibility. (1)
-- 5 Nov 1985
When Spencer W. Kimball passed away on 5 November 1985 Ezra Taft Benson became the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At eighty-six years of age he became the second oldest man to succeed to the presidency. He called lapsed Mormons to return to the fold. In general conference addresses, he counseled church members to read and study the Book of Mormon. In a humanitarian gesture, he personally delivered a contribution of ten million dollars to President Ronald Reagan to be used to procure food for the world's hungry. (2)
-- 10 Nov 1985
The First Presidency is reorganized, with Ezra Taft Benson President, Gordon B. Hinckley First Counselor, and Thomas S. Monson Second Counselor. Marion G. Romney becomes President of the Quorum. Because Marion G. Romney was suffering from health and age difficulties, Howard W. Hunter was set apart as Acting President of the Quorum. (3)
By the time Ezra Taft Benson himself became church president in 1985, he no longer acted as a standard-bearer of the anti- Communist movement. After all, at eighty-six, Benson was the second oldest man to become LDS church president and already suffered dizzy spells, memory loss, and difficulty in public speaking.
Besides, the widespread paranoia and political passion of the 1950s and 1960s had died. Although still active in promoting anti-Communism in the 1980s, the John Birch Society now seemed irrelevant.
Benson's ascension occurred in the middle of America's conservative "Reagan Revolution." The church president saw this as a personal vindication.
Non-Mormon journalists astutely noted: "In the past Benson's heavy-handed political maneuvering has antagonized numerous members of the [LDS] church, leading to fears of a major schism if he became president."
When he ascended to that office in November 1985, church officials insisted that Benson's political activism was "in the past." (4)
-- 9 Dec 1985
The Birch Society's new magazine immediately heralded the appointment of "the long-time Americanist patriot" as the new LDS president. "As in numerous past attempts to smear him and distract from his anti-Communist message, recent news articles have linked Benson to The John Birch Society," the magazine noted two weeks later in its regular "American Hero" section. The Birch magazine then mentioned Reed Benson's affiliation and quoted President Benson: "I do not belong to The John Birch Society, but I have always defended this group." (5)
-- 22 Dec 1985
The First Presidency issued a special invitation to those members who had ceased activity or become critical of the Church to "come back" (Church News, Dec. 22, 1985, p. 3), and they opened the temples to worthy members married to unendowed spouses. (6)
-- During 1985
Special fasts raised $11 million for famine victims. (7)
The temple recommend question was simplified to, "Do you live the law of Chastity?" from "unnatural acts." (8)
-- 1986
Published Volume - The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner. Deseret Book (9)
-- January 2, 1986
... Congratulations on a job well done. I am deeply grateful for "The New American".
May the good Lord sustain you and bless you as you enjoy your work as editor. The magazine is needed and so are you . ...
Faithfully, your friend and brother,
<Signed: Ezra Taft Benson>
Ezra Taft Benson, President.
P.S.
Will you be kind enough to send a subscription of "The New American", 'A Weekly Review of the News and American Opinion,' to D. Aurther Haycock [secretary to the First Presidency] at 47 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150; and bill me for it please. Thank You.
Will you also send copies of "The New American" to my associates, Thomas S. Monson and Gordon B. Hinckley, both at the same address I have, and also send me the bill. (10)
-- 05 Jan 1986
At the Annandale Virginia Stake conference, President Ezra Taft Benson addresses the Saints for the first time as President of the Church, testifying of the power of the Book of Mormon to change lives and lead people to Christ (a message that would become a recurring theme of his presidency).
Endnotes:
1 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
2 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Ezra Taft Benson, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/
3 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
4 - Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 486-87, 469-70 ; Bob Gottlieb and Peter Wiley, "Mormons to the Right," San Jose Mercury News, 1 Dec. 1985, 9; also "Possibility of Benson Heading Mormons Worries Some With Different Views," Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 1976, Pt. 1,32; "Mormon Church Faces A Fresh Challenge . . . But Now, A Change of Leaders May Bring A Split In Its Ranks," U.S. News & World Report 95 (21 Nov. 1983): 61; "Conservative Seeking Leadership Worries Some Mormons," Baltimore Sun, 11 Dec. 1983, A-3; Gottlieb and Wiley, America's Saints, 247, 257; "Mormon Church Council Meets To Pick New Leader," Dallas Morning News, 11 Nov. 1985, A-4; "New Chief of Mormons: Ezra Taft Benson," New York Times, 19 Nov. 1985, A-16; also Robert Lindsey, "The Mormons: Growth, Prosperity and Controversy," New York Times Magazine, 12 Jan. 1986, 46. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
5 - "New Head of Mormon Church," The New American 1 (25 Nov. 1985): 9; Evans-Raymond Pierre, "The True Man of Principle: Ezra Taft Benson," The New American 1 (9 Dec. 1985): 56. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
7 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://lds.net/forums/topic/10668-church-chronology-from-1800-2000-part-1/
8 - Exploring Mormonism: Bishop’s Interview Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/bishops-interview-timeline/
9 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
10 - Ezra Taft Benson to Mr Jeffrey St. John, Editor, "The New American," Jan 2, 1986 (provided by Joe Geisner)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
M. Russell Ballard is ordained an Apostle, replacing Bruce R. McConkie, who had passed away.
-- Oct 15, 1985.
Steven Christensen and Kathy Sheets are killed by homemade bombs. Mark Hofmann, the killer, is injured the next day by a third bomb but lives to avoid trial through a successful plea-bargain after an agonizing investigation exposes misrepresentations on the part of general authorities and their representatives and leaves Mormon historians charged with gullibility. (1)
-- 5 Nov 1985
When Spencer W. Kimball passed away on 5 November 1985 Ezra Taft Benson became the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At eighty-six years of age he became the second oldest man to succeed to the presidency. He called lapsed Mormons to return to the fold. In general conference addresses, he counseled church members to read and study the Book of Mormon. In a humanitarian gesture, he personally delivered a contribution of ten million dollars to President Ronald Reagan to be used to procure food for the world's hungry. (2)
-- 10 Nov 1985
The First Presidency is reorganized, with Ezra Taft Benson President, Gordon B. Hinckley First Counselor, and Thomas S. Monson Second Counselor. Marion G. Romney becomes President of the Quorum. Because Marion G. Romney was suffering from health and age difficulties, Howard W. Hunter was set apart as Acting President of the Quorum. (3)
By the time Ezra Taft Benson himself became church president in 1985, he no longer acted as a standard-bearer of the anti- Communist movement. After all, at eighty-six, Benson was the second oldest man to become LDS church president and already suffered dizzy spells, memory loss, and difficulty in public speaking.
Besides, the widespread paranoia and political passion of the 1950s and 1960s had died. Although still active in promoting anti-Communism in the 1980s, the John Birch Society now seemed irrelevant.
Benson's ascension occurred in the middle of America's conservative "Reagan Revolution." The church president saw this as a personal vindication.
Non-Mormon journalists astutely noted: "In the past Benson's heavy-handed political maneuvering has antagonized numerous members of the [LDS] church, leading to fears of a major schism if he became president."
When he ascended to that office in November 1985, church officials insisted that Benson's political activism was "in the past." (4)
-- 9 Dec 1985
The Birch Society's new magazine immediately heralded the appointment of "the long-time Americanist patriot" as the new LDS president. "As in numerous past attempts to smear him and distract from his anti-Communist message, recent news articles have linked Benson to The John Birch Society," the magazine noted two weeks later in its regular "American Hero" section. The Birch magazine then mentioned Reed Benson's affiliation and quoted President Benson: "I do not belong to The John Birch Society, but I have always defended this group." (5)
-- 22 Dec 1985
The First Presidency issued a special invitation to those members who had ceased activity or become critical of the Church to "come back" (Church News, Dec. 22, 1985, p. 3), and they opened the temples to worthy members married to unendowed spouses. (6)
-- During 1985
Special fasts raised $11 million for famine victims. (7)
The temple recommend question was simplified to, "Do you live the law of Chastity?" from "unnatural acts." (8)
-- 1986
Published Volume - The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner. Deseret Book (9)
-- January 2, 1986
... Congratulations on a job well done. I am deeply grateful for "The New American".
May the good Lord sustain you and bless you as you enjoy your work as editor. The magazine is needed and so are you . ...
Faithfully, your friend and brother,
<Signed: Ezra Taft Benson>
Ezra Taft Benson, President.
P.S.
Will you be kind enough to send a subscription of "The New American", 'A Weekly Review of the News and American Opinion,' to D. Aurther Haycock [secretary to the First Presidency] at 47 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150; and bill me for it please. Thank You.
Will you also send copies of "The New American" to my associates, Thomas S. Monson and Gordon B. Hinckley, both at the same address I have, and also send me the bill. (10)
-- 05 Jan 1986
At the Annandale Virginia Stake conference, President Ezra Taft Benson addresses the Saints for the first time as President of the Church, testifying of the power of the Book of Mormon to change lives and lead people to Christ (a message that would become a recurring theme of his presidency).
Endnotes:
1 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
2 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Ezra Taft Benson, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/
3 - Wikipedia, Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles_(LDS_Church)
4 - Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 486-87, 469-70 ; Bob Gottlieb and Peter Wiley, "Mormons to the Right," San Jose Mercury News, 1 Dec. 1985, 9; also "Possibility of Benson Heading Mormons Worries Some With Different Views," Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 1976, Pt. 1,32; "Mormon Church Faces A Fresh Challenge . . . But Now, A Change of Leaders May Bring A Split In Its Ranks," U.S. News & World Report 95 (21 Nov. 1983): 61; "Conservative Seeking Leadership Worries Some Mormons," Baltimore Sun, 11 Dec. 1983, A-3; Gottlieb and Wiley, America's Saints, 247, 257; "Mormon Church Council Meets To Pick New Leader," Dallas Morning News, 11 Nov. 1985, A-4; "New Chief of Mormons: Ezra Taft Benson," New York Times, 19 Nov. 1985, A-16; also Robert Lindsey, "The Mormons: Growth, Prosperity and Controversy," New York Times Magazine, 12 Jan. 1986, 46. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
5 - "New Head of Mormon Church," The New American 1 (25 Nov. 1985): 9; Evans-Raymond Pierre, "The True Man of Principle: Ezra Taft Benson," The New American 1 (9 Dec. 1985): 56. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
7 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://lds.net/forums/topic/10668-church-chronology-from-1800-2000-part-1/
8 - Exploring Mormonism: Bishop’s Interview Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/bishops-interview-timeline/
9 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
10 - Ezra Taft Benson to Mr Jeffrey St. John, Editor, "The New American," Jan 2, 1986 (provided by Joe Geisner)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 7 Feb 1982
-- 7 Feb 1982
NEWSWEEK article on the rift between LDS historians and Church leaders: "A major conflict is brewing between professional Mormon historians and a group of church elders who insist that LDS scholars write only `faith promoting' accounts of the church. . . . [Apostles Boyd K. Packer and Ezra Taft Benson] "have been harshly critical of the methods and motives of LDS scholars who attempt `objective' histories of the church. What particularly exercises Benson is the effort made by scholars to place what are supposed to be divinely inspired church doctrines in a relevant social and historical context. . . . According to the dicta of Benson and Packer, Mormon history should be presented as a sacred saga so that students can-in Packer's words-'see the hand of the Lord in every hour and every moment of the Church from its beginning till now.'" The article further quoted a lecture distributed to all Mormon educators in which Elder Packer denounced professional scholars who " write history as they were taught in graduate school, rather than as Mormons" and enjoined LDS historians to write selectively about "the faults and contradictions of church."
-- 2 Apr 1982
First Presidency announces two changes to lessen financial burdens on church members. First, church headquarters henceforth pays for all costs of meetinghouse construction. This relieves local members of requirement to finance construction in addition to paying tithing. Second, service of male missionaries is reduced from 24 months to 18 months. "It is anticipated that this shortened term will make it possible for many to go who cannot go under present [financial circumstances]," counselor Gordon B Hinckley explains. "This will extend the opportunity for missionary service to an enlarged body of our young men." Instead annual number of new missionaries level off. Annual convert baptisms decline more than 7 percent each year rather than increase by same proportion as before. (1)
-- 3 Oct 1982
First Presidency announced addition of subtitle to the Book of Mormon: ―Another Testament of Jesus Christ. (2)
-- 09 Oct 1982
The First Presidency announces plans to build the first temple in a communist nation in Freiberg, Germany Democratic Republic (East Germany).
-- October 17, 1982
President Ezra Taft Benson dedicates the Kirtland LDS Ward building in Kirtland, Ohio. (3)
-- Dec 2, 1982 - 5 November 1985
Marion G. Romney called as First Counselor; Gordon B. Hinckley called as Second Counselor (death of N. Eldon Tanner). (4)
-- 1983
Published Volume - Come Unto Christ. Deseret Book (3)
-- Jan 1984
After Reagan signed the law for King Day, Cleon Skousen's Freemen Institute observed that this national holiday honored "a man who courted violence and nightriding and broke the law to achieve his purposes; who found it expedient openly to collaborate with totalitarian Communism; and, whose personal life was so revolting that it cannot be discussed." (5)
-- 12 Apr 1984
Russell M. Nelson is ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, replacing LeGrand Richards, who had passed away.
-- 03 May 1984
Dallin H. Oaks is ordained an Apostle, replacing Mark E. Petersen, who had passed away.
-- 26 Nov 1984
The First Presidency announced that, beginning Jan. 1, the term of full-time missionary service for single elders would again be 24 months. It had been shortened from two years to 18 months in April 1982. (6)
-- 18 May 1985
"In the May 18, 1985, political-operational report of Department XX … regarding the political-ideological orientation of the US-American Mormons, it was determined that they are to be classified as representatives of the right wing of American conservatism. There are close connections between their leadership and ruling circles within the government [at that time the Reagan administration]. Relationships also exist between persons and institutions of the church and the American secret service." (7)
Endnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
3 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
4 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
5 - Willard Woods, "Martin Luther King Day," Freemen Digest, Jan. 1984, 23; also Skousen and R. Stephen Pratt emphasized King's association with Marxists and Communists in their two articles, "The Early Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.," and "Reverend King's Ministry: Thirteen Years of Crisis," Freemen Digest, Jan. 1984,11,13,16, 17,18,20. Aside from guilt-by-association, the concluding sentence of Skousen's and Pratt's first article (14) was guilt-by-similar-interest: "As the King program got under way, Gus Hall, head of the Communist party USA, declared: "For us, by far the most significant development is the escalation of mass protest movements by the American people.'". These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
7 - Karlheinz Leonhardt, Die Ersten Hundert Jahre, 358 (1985 internal report by Stasi, the East German secret police) 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)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
NEWSWEEK article on the rift between LDS historians and Church leaders: "A major conflict is brewing between professional Mormon historians and a group of church elders who insist that LDS scholars write only `faith promoting' accounts of the church. . . . [Apostles Boyd K. Packer and Ezra Taft Benson] "have been harshly critical of the methods and motives of LDS scholars who attempt `objective' histories of the church. What particularly exercises Benson is the effort made by scholars to place what are supposed to be divinely inspired church doctrines in a relevant social and historical context. . . . According to the dicta of Benson and Packer, Mormon history should be presented as a sacred saga so that students can-in Packer's words-'see the hand of the Lord in every hour and every moment of the Church from its beginning till now.'" The article further quoted a lecture distributed to all Mormon educators in which Elder Packer denounced professional scholars who " write history as they were taught in graduate school, rather than as Mormons" and enjoined LDS historians to write selectively about "the faults and contradictions of church."
-- 2 Apr 1982
First Presidency announces two changes to lessen financial burdens on church members. First, church headquarters henceforth pays for all costs of meetinghouse construction. This relieves local members of requirement to finance construction in addition to paying tithing. Second, service of male missionaries is reduced from 24 months to 18 months. "It is anticipated that this shortened term will make it possible for many to go who cannot go under present [financial circumstances]," counselor Gordon B Hinckley explains. "This will extend the opportunity for missionary service to an enlarged body of our young men." Instead annual number of new missionaries level off. Annual convert baptisms decline more than 7 percent each year rather than increase by same proportion as before. (1)
-- 3 Oct 1982
First Presidency announced addition of subtitle to the Book of Mormon: ―Another Testament of Jesus Christ. (2)
-- 09 Oct 1982
The First Presidency announces plans to build the first temple in a communist nation in Freiberg, Germany Democratic Republic (East Germany).
-- October 17, 1982
President Ezra Taft Benson dedicates the Kirtland LDS Ward building in Kirtland, Ohio. (3)
-- Dec 2, 1982 - 5 November 1985
Marion G. Romney called as First Counselor; Gordon B. Hinckley called as Second Counselor (death of N. Eldon Tanner). (4)
-- 1983
Published Volume - Come Unto Christ. Deseret Book (3)
-- Jan 1984
After Reagan signed the law for King Day, Cleon Skousen's Freemen Institute observed that this national holiday honored "a man who courted violence and nightriding and broke the law to achieve his purposes; who found it expedient openly to collaborate with totalitarian Communism; and, whose personal life was so revolting that it cannot be discussed." (5)
-- 12 Apr 1984
Russell M. Nelson is ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, replacing LeGrand Richards, who had passed away.
-- 03 May 1984
Dallin H. Oaks is ordained an Apostle, replacing Mark E. Petersen, who had passed away.
-- 26 Nov 1984
The First Presidency announced that, beginning Jan. 1, the term of full-time missionary service for single elders would again be 24 months. It had been shortened from two years to 18 months in April 1982. (6)
-- 18 May 1985
"In the May 18, 1985, political-operational report of Department XX … regarding the political-ideological orientation of the US-American Mormons, it was determined that they are to be classified as representatives of the right wing of American conservatism. There are close connections between their leadership and ruling circles within the government [at that time the Reagan administration]. Relationships also exist between persons and institutions of the church and the American secret service." (7)
Endnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
3 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
4 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
5 - Willard Woods, "Martin Luther King Day," Freemen Digest, Jan. 1984, 23; also Skousen and R. Stephen Pratt emphasized King's association with Marxists and Communists in their two articles, "The Early Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.," and "Reverend King's Ministry: Thirteen Years of Crisis," Freemen Digest, Jan. 1984,11,13,16, 17,18,20. Aside from guilt-by-association, the concluding sentence of Skousen's and Pratt's first article (14) was guilt-by-similar-interest: "As the King program got under way, Gus Hall, head of the Communist party USA, declared: "For us, by far the most significant development is the escalation of mass protest movements by the American people.'". These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
7 - Karlheinz Leonhardt, Die Ersten Hundert Jahre, 358 (1985 internal report by Stasi, the East German secret police) 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)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, March 19, 1980
-- March 19, 1980
"Ezra Taft Benson said the Mormons are bound to obey every word of the prophet including politics. ... Church doctrine teaches free agency and individual responsibility. How can one practice this principle of one is bound to let someone else make his decisions for him, even in religion." (1)
-- 3 May 1980
Flanked by his two Counselors in the First Presidency and apostles Hinckley and Packer, together with forger Mark Hofmann, Mormon prophet Spencer W. Kimball is photographed examining the bogus "Anthon Transcript" with a magnifying glass (Church News, May 3, , p. 3). The prophet, seer and revelator clearly does not have a clue. Over the next five years, Hofmann dupes Kimball and his successor, Ezra Taft Benson, as well as several of the Apostles, bilking the Mormon Church for large sums of money (Hofmann's Confession, 3 Volumes, 540 pages). (2)
-- Jul 1, 1980.
It is announced that the History Division, renamed the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History, will move to Brigham Young University. By February 1981 a sixteen-volume history of the church is canceled and the authors are paid for the proportion of work they have done. (3)
-- 12 Oct 1980
While organizing a stake in Brasilia, Brazil, Apostle Ezra Taft Benson gives blessing to new stake president's daughter who "had a large growth on her neck," that "growth would disappear" without surgery recommended by physicians. Five days later the growth is gone.
-- 27 Feb 1981
First Presidency authorizes stake presidents to ordain partiarchs. Previously, the Twelve maintained that as exclusive right, even denying it to church's patriarch.
-- 5 May 1981
The First Presidency publicly voiced its opposition to the proposed basing of the MX missile system in the Utah-Nevada desert. (4)
-- 23 Jul 1981
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley is called as third counselor in the First Presidency due to the physical weakness of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. Hinckley is referred to in the press as the "acting president of the church" because Kimball, Tanner, and Romney are largely out of the public eye.
Neal A. Maxwell is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to fill the vacancy left by Hinckley's call to the First Presidency. (5)
-- Oct 1,1981
New York Times reports official announcement that new edition of Book of Mormon changes prophecy that Lamanites will "become white and delightsome." Instead of continuing original reference to skin color, new edition emphasizes inward spirituality: "become pure and delightsome." (6)
-- October 24, 1981
Ezra Taft Benson had hip replacement surgery in October 1981 to repair a horse-handling injury suffered in 1978 (7)
-- December 1981
During the laying of the Jordan River temple cornerstone in 1981, a helicopter from Salt Lake television Channel 2 passed repeatedly over the proceedings, drowning out the proceedings with its roar. Afterward Wolsey [a church liaison with the media] called the television producer, objected to what had happened, and said, "This is not a religious issue; it's a matter of common courtesy." The producer answered belligerently, "What do you want me to do? Apologize?" "If you don't know," snapped Wolsey, "don't expect me to tell you." The producer wrote to Elder Benson, president of the Twelve, apologizing for the insensitive act. President Benson answered: "Dear sir, repentance and forgiveness are great principles. I believe in both. With best wishes. . . ." (8)
-- 1982
Skousen renamed the Freemen Institute to the National Center for Constitutional Studies and moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C., as an ecumenical effort to attract conservative non-Mormons who had been put off by the Mormon orientation of the Freemen. Within a few years the membership in this spin-off of Utah's Birch Society shifted from 90 percent Mormon to more than half non-Mormon. (9)
-- 25 Jan 1982
First Presidency formally releases Leonard J. Arrington as Church Historian. Position has been in administrative limbo since 1980, when he and his staff are released form LDS Historical Department and transferred administratively to BYU. Day after this letter Presidency sets apart G. Homer Durham as church historian. There is no mention in either General Conference or in the CHURCH NEWS about Arrington's release.
Endnotes:
1 - Salt Lake Tribune, "Church is Drifting," Leon Johnson, 3/19/80 (provided by Joe Geisner)
2 - Watchman Fellowship Inc, Historical Events, Notable Doctrines: Mormonism Overview, http://www.watchman.org/lds/ldshst96.htm
3 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
4 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
5 - Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)
6 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
7 - 1983 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1982), 12 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
8 - Wolsey, "PR Man for a Prophet." -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
9 - D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and 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/
"Ezra Taft Benson said the Mormons are bound to obey every word of the prophet including politics. ... Church doctrine teaches free agency and individual responsibility. How can one practice this principle of one is bound to let someone else make his decisions for him, even in religion." (1)
-- 3 May 1980
Flanked by his two Counselors in the First Presidency and apostles Hinckley and Packer, together with forger Mark Hofmann, Mormon prophet Spencer W. Kimball is photographed examining the bogus "Anthon Transcript" with a magnifying glass (Church News, May 3, , p. 3). The prophet, seer and revelator clearly does not have a clue. Over the next five years, Hofmann dupes Kimball and his successor, Ezra Taft Benson, as well as several of the Apostles, bilking the Mormon Church for large sums of money (Hofmann's Confession, 3 Volumes, 540 pages). (2)
-- Jul 1, 1980.
It is announced that the History Division, renamed the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History, will move to Brigham Young University. By February 1981 a sixteen-volume history of the church is canceled and the authors are paid for the proportion of work they have done. (3)
-- 12 Oct 1980
While organizing a stake in Brasilia, Brazil, Apostle Ezra Taft Benson gives blessing to new stake president's daughter who "had a large growth on her neck," that "growth would disappear" without surgery recommended by physicians. Five days later the growth is gone.
-- 27 Feb 1981
First Presidency authorizes stake presidents to ordain partiarchs. Previously, the Twelve maintained that as exclusive right, even denying it to church's patriarch.
-- 5 May 1981
The First Presidency publicly voiced its opposition to the proposed basing of the MX missile system in the Utah-Nevada desert. (4)
-- 23 Jul 1981
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley is called as third counselor in the First Presidency due to the physical weakness of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. Hinckley is referred to in the press as the "acting president of the church" because Kimball, Tanner, and Romney are largely out of the public eye.
Neal A. Maxwell is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to fill the vacancy left by Hinckley's call to the First Presidency. (5)
-- Oct 1,1981
New York Times reports official announcement that new edition of Book of Mormon changes prophecy that Lamanites will "become white and delightsome." Instead of continuing original reference to skin color, new edition emphasizes inward spirituality: "become pure and delightsome." (6)
-- October 24, 1981
Ezra Taft Benson had hip replacement surgery in October 1981 to repair a horse-handling injury suffered in 1978 (7)
-- December 1981
During the laying of the Jordan River temple cornerstone in 1981, a helicopter from Salt Lake television Channel 2 passed repeatedly over the proceedings, drowning out the proceedings with its roar. Afterward Wolsey [a church liaison with the media] called the television producer, objected to what had happened, and said, "This is not a religious issue; it's a matter of common courtesy." The producer answered belligerently, "What do you want me to do? Apologize?" "If you don't know," snapped Wolsey, "don't expect me to tell you." The producer wrote to Elder Benson, president of the Twelve, apologizing for the insensitive act. President Benson answered: "Dear sir, repentance and forgiveness are great principles. I believe in both. With best wishes. . . ." (8)
-- 1982
Skousen renamed the Freemen Institute to the National Center for Constitutional Studies and moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C., as an ecumenical effort to attract conservative non-Mormons who had been put off by the Mormon orientation of the Freemen. Within a few years the membership in this spin-off of Utah's Birch Society shifted from 90 percent Mormon to more than half non-Mormon. (9)
-- 25 Jan 1982
First Presidency formally releases Leonard J. Arrington as Church Historian. Position has been in administrative limbo since 1980, when he and his staff are released form LDS Historical Department and transferred administratively to BYU. Day after this letter Presidency sets apart G. Homer Durham as church historian. There is no mention in either General Conference or in the CHURCH NEWS about Arrington's release.
Endnotes:
1 - Salt Lake Tribune, "Church is Drifting," Leon Johnson, 3/19/80 (provided by Joe Geisner)
2 - Watchman Fellowship Inc, Historical Events, Notable Doctrines: Mormonism Overview, http://www.watchman.org/lds/ldshst96.htm
3 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
4 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
5 - Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)
6 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
7 - 1983 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1982), 12 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
8 - Wolsey, "PR Man for a Prophet." -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
9 - D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and 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/
Ezra Taft Benson, 6 Oct 1979
-- 6 Oct 1979
First Presidency vacates office of Patriarch to the Church by giving emeritus status to Eldred G. Smith, ending a hierarchy office in existence since 1834.
-- October 14, 1979
President Ezra Taft Benson states that the rebuilding of Kirtland is to begin and prophecies are to be fulfilled. He prays to lift the "scourge" placed on Kirtland. Ground is broken for the Kirtland LDS meeting house. (1)
-- Feb 1980
After another series of political talks, Benson was sufficiently confident to authorize the Birch Society to publish one of his talks in its February 1980 magazine. (2)
-- 23 Feb 1980
At a meeting of the Freemen Institute on 23 February Benson next gave a major address. (3)
-- 24 Feb 1980
A full- page ad appears in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE describing Jerald and Sandra Tanner's THE CHANGING WORLD OF MORMONISM. The ad draws attention to changes in the Church's position on such matters as polygamy and the granting of the priesthood to blacks and thereby questioned the consistency of the prophetic leadership of the Church. Two days later Ezra Taft Benson gives a speech at BYU, in which he dismisses the issue of conflicting past and present policies by declaring that the words of living prophets supplant or make moot the directives of past prophets.
-- Feb 26, 1980.
Ezra Taft Benson as president of the Quorum of the Twelve gives a controversial speech at Brigham Young University titled, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets," including: ". The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything. 2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works. 3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. 4. The prophet will never lead the church astray. 5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time. 6. The prophet does not have to say `Thus Saith the Lord' to give us scripture. . . . 11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich."
J. D. Williams, a professor in the University of Utah political science department, calls "Benson's speech `a plea in anticipation' of his becoming church president." Don LeFevre, public communications spokesman, responding to press inquiries, agrees that "Benson's speech accurately portrayed the church's position that a prophet can receive revelations from God on any matter--temporal or spiritual" and that "the prophet's word is scripture, as far as the church is concerned, and the living prophet's words take precedence in interpreting the written scripture as it applies to the present." However, he denies as "simply not true" a newspaper report which says the president of the church "is God's prophet and his word is law on all issues-- including politics." (4)
-- February 27, 1980
Benson was directly quoted as saying "Those who would remove prophets fro politics would take God ouf of government." LeFevre termed the new interpretation of Benson's speech "misleading." ... In regard to the press account that Benson told the University audience that a Church president must be obeyed even when he contradicts scripture of statements of past prophets, LeFevre said that the prophet's word is scripture, as far as the Church is concerned, and the living prophet's words take precdence in intrepreting the written scripture." (5)
-- 5 Mar 1980
The First Presidency was critical of Benson's 1980 BYU talk. On 5 March the presidency issued a statement that "we reaffirm that we take no partisan stand as to candidates or political parties, and exercise no constraint on the freedom of individuals to make their own choices in these matters." However, the church's official spokesperson claimed that "there is no connection between this [First Presidency] letter and a speech by Apostle Ezra Taft Benson to Brigham Young University" a few days before.
Kimball's son affirms that President Kimball bore no ill feeling toward his longtime associate but "was concerned about Elder Benson's February 1980 talk at BYU." The church president wanted "to protect the Church against being misunderstood as espousing ultraconservative politics, or--in this case--espousing an unthinking `follow the leader' mentality."
In 1980 President Kimball's wife Camilla also described "his displeasure with the speech" to her brother-in-law George T. Boyd. (6)
-- About 6 Mar 1980
A general authority revealed that Kimball asked Benson to apologize to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who "were dissatisfied with his response." Therefore, Kimball required him to explain himself to a combined meeting of all general authorities the following week.
The entire Benson family felt anxious about the outcome of this 1980 meeting. They apparently feared the possibility of a formal rebuke before all the general authorities. Benson's son Mark (a Bircher and the Freemen Institute's "Vice President in Charge of Development") wrote him a note that morning: "All will be well--we're praying for you and know all will be well. The Lord knows your heart." The meeting went well for Benson who "explained that he had meant only to reaffirm the divine nature of the prophetic call." Ezra's biographer indicates that the most effusively supportive general authority in attendance was Apostle Boyd K. Packer: "How I admire, respect and love you. How could anyone hesitate to follow a leader, an example such as you? What a privilege!" (7)
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
2 - Ezra Taft Benson, "A Moral Challenge," in John Birch Society's American Opinion 23 (Feb. 1980): 41-54 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - "Benson Urges Monetary Step: Re-Establish Metal Standard," Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Feb. 1980, B-2; "Gathering of Freemen Institute Draws Crowd to Arizona Resort," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 25 Feb. 1980, A-12. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
4 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
5 - Ogden Standard-Examiner, 27 February 1980, "Benson Misinterpreted" (provided by Joe Geisner)
6 - First Presidency statement, 5 Mar. 1980, Deseret News "Church News, "8 Mar. 1980, 3; "Church Policies and Announcements," Ensign 10 (Aug. 1980): 79; Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Mar. 1980, C-31.; Edward L. Kimball to D. Michael Quinn, 14 Aug., 20 Aug. 1992, concerning discussions with his father in 1980 ; Boyd to D. Michael Quinn, 24 Sept. 1992. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
7 - In 1980 a general authority reported to George T. Boyd the apologies which Kimball required of Benson. Boyd's letter to Michael Quinn, 24 Sept. 1992, requested that Quinn not identify the general authority for publication. Boyd (an in-law of Spencer and Camilla Kimball) also reported this conversation to BYU professor Duane Jeffery early in 1980. Telephone interview of Jeffery in David John Buerger diary, 14 Aug. 1980, folder 4, box 1, Buerger Papers. These reproofs were also reported in "What Mormons Believe," Newsweek 96 (1 Sept. 1980): 71, in "Thus Saith Ezra Benson," Newsweek 98 (19 Oct. 1981): 109; in Allen interview (with Henry D. Taylor as a general authority source different from the above), 3 May 1984, by Alison Bethke Gayek; and in Quinn interview on 5 Sept. 1992 with Rodney P. Foster, assistant secretary in the First Presidency's Office from 1974 to 1981; Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 469. For Mark Benson's position in 1980, see "Mark Benson Becomes Our New Vice President in Charge of Development," Behind the Scenes (Jan. 1980): (4). These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and 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/
First Presidency vacates office of Patriarch to the Church by giving emeritus status to Eldred G. Smith, ending a hierarchy office in existence since 1834.
-- October 14, 1979
President Ezra Taft Benson states that the rebuilding of Kirtland is to begin and prophecies are to be fulfilled. He prays to lift the "scourge" placed on Kirtland. Ground is broken for the Kirtland LDS meeting house. (1)
-- Feb 1980
After another series of political talks, Benson was sufficiently confident to authorize the Birch Society to publish one of his talks in its February 1980 magazine. (2)
-- 23 Feb 1980
At a meeting of the Freemen Institute on 23 February Benson next gave a major address. (3)
-- 24 Feb 1980
A full- page ad appears in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE describing Jerald and Sandra Tanner's THE CHANGING WORLD OF MORMONISM. The ad draws attention to changes in the Church's position on such matters as polygamy and the granting of the priesthood to blacks and thereby questioned the consistency of the prophetic leadership of the Church. Two days later Ezra Taft Benson gives a speech at BYU, in which he dismisses the issue of conflicting past and present policies by declaring that the words of living prophets supplant or make moot the directives of past prophets.
-- Feb 26, 1980.
Ezra Taft Benson as president of the Quorum of the Twelve gives a controversial speech at Brigham Young University titled, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets," including: ". The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything. 2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works. 3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. 4. The prophet will never lead the church astray. 5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time. 6. The prophet does not have to say `Thus Saith the Lord' to give us scripture. . . . 11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich."
J. D. Williams, a professor in the University of Utah political science department, calls "Benson's speech `a plea in anticipation' of his becoming church president." Don LeFevre, public communications spokesman, responding to press inquiries, agrees that "Benson's speech accurately portrayed the church's position that a prophet can receive revelations from God on any matter--temporal or spiritual" and that "the prophet's word is scripture, as far as the church is concerned, and the living prophet's words take precedence in interpreting the written scripture as it applies to the present." However, he denies as "simply not true" a newspaper report which says the president of the church "is God's prophet and his word is law on all issues-- including politics." (4)
-- February 27, 1980
Benson was directly quoted as saying "Those who would remove prophets fro politics would take God ouf of government." LeFevre termed the new interpretation of Benson's speech "misleading." ... In regard to the press account that Benson told the University audience that a Church president must be obeyed even when he contradicts scripture of statements of past prophets, LeFevre said that the prophet's word is scripture, as far as the Church is concerned, and the living prophet's words take precdence in intrepreting the written scripture." (5)
-- 5 Mar 1980
The First Presidency was critical of Benson's 1980 BYU talk. On 5 March the presidency issued a statement that "we reaffirm that we take no partisan stand as to candidates or political parties, and exercise no constraint on the freedom of individuals to make their own choices in these matters." However, the church's official spokesperson claimed that "there is no connection between this [First Presidency] letter and a speech by Apostle Ezra Taft Benson to Brigham Young University" a few days before.
Kimball's son affirms that President Kimball bore no ill feeling toward his longtime associate but "was concerned about Elder Benson's February 1980 talk at BYU." The church president wanted "to protect the Church against being misunderstood as espousing ultraconservative politics, or--in this case--espousing an unthinking `follow the leader' mentality."
In 1980 President Kimball's wife Camilla also described "his displeasure with the speech" to her brother-in-law George T. Boyd. (6)
-- About 6 Mar 1980
A general authority revealed that Kimball asked Benson to apologize to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who "were dissatisfied with his response." Therefore, Kimball required him to explain himself to a combined meeting of all general authorities the following week.
The entire Benson family felt anxious about the outcome of this 1980 meeting. They apparently feared the possibility of a formal rebuke before all the general authorities. Benson's son Mark (a Bircher and the Freemen Institute's "Vice President in Charge of Development") wrote him a note that morning: "All will be well--we're praying for you and know all will be well. The Lord knows your heart." The meeting went well for Benson who "explained that he had meant only to reaffirm the divine nature of the prophetic call." Ezra's biographer indicates that the most effusively supportive general authority in attendance was Apostle Boyd K. Packer: "How I admire, respect and love you. How could anyone hesitate to follow a leader, an example such as you? What a privilege!" (7)
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
2 - Ezra Taft Benson, "A Moral Challenge," in John Birch Society's American Opinion 23 (Feb. 1980): 41-54 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - "Benson Urges Monetary Step: Re-Establish Metal Standard," Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Feb. 1980, B-2; "Gathering of Freemen Institute Draws Crowd to Arizona Resort," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 25 Feb. 1980, A-12. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
4 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
5 - Ogden Standard-Examiner, 27 February 1980, "Benson Misinterpreted" (provided by Joe Geisner)
6 - First Presidency statement, 5 Mar. 1980, Deseret News "Church News, "8 Mar. 1980, 3; "Church Policies and Announcements," Ensign 10 (Aug. 1980): 79; Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Mar. 1980, C-31.; Edward L. Kimball to D. Michael Quinn, 14 Aug., 20 Aug. 1992, concerning discussions with his father in 1980 ; Boyd to D. Michael Quinn, 24 Sept. 1992. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
7 - In 1980 a general authority reported to George T. Boyd the apologies which Kimball required of Benson. Boyd's letter to Michael Quinn, 24 Sept. 1992, requested that Quinn not identify the general authority for publication. Boyd (an in-law of Spencer and Camilla Kimball) also reported this conversation to BYU professor Duane Jeffery early in 1980. Telephone interview of Jeffery in David John Buerger diary, 14 Aug. 1980, folder 4, box 1, Buerger Papers. These reproofs were also reported in "What Mormons Believe," Newsweek 96 (1 Sept. 1980): 71, in "Thus Saith Ezra Benson," Newsweek 98 (19 Oct. 1981): 109; in Allen interview (with Henry D. Taylor as a general authority source different from the above), 3 May 1984, by Alison Bethke Gayek; and in Quinn interview on 5 Sept. 1992 with Rodney P. Foster, assistant secretary in the First Presidency's Office from 1974 to 1981; Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 469. For Mark Benson's position in 1980, see "Mark Benson Becomes Our New Vice President in Charge of Development," Behind the Scenes (Jan. 1980): (4). These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and 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/
Ezra Taft Benson, Jun 17,1978
-- Jun 17,1978
Church News headline "Interracial Marriage Discouraged" in same issue which announces authorization of priesthood for those of black African descent. Sources at church headquarters indicate that Apostle Mark E. Petersen requires this emphasis. (1)
-- 1978-08-26
For the first time the First Presidency defines the ERA as a "moral issue" (2)
-- 1978, September 16
First annual women's meeting held. (3)
-- 01 Oct 1978
James E. Faust is ordained an Apostle, replacing Delbert L. Stapley, who had passed away.
-- 30 Oct 1978
First Presidency announces emeritus status for general authorities due to age, physical infirmity, or other reasons. Members of First Quorum of Seventy are first general authorities to receive this retirement. (4)
-- Dec 29,1978
First Presidency allows women to pray in sacrament meetings again, rescind earlier ban from Jul 1967. (1)
-- 15 Feb 1979
Kimball and his counselors found it necessary to counter the now-familiar pattern of Mormon ultra- conservatives to imply church endorsement. In February 1979 the First Presidency published a statement against "announcements have been made in Church meetings of lectures to be given by those connected with the Freemen Institute." (5)
-- 18 Feb 1979
The Church's 1,000th stake was created at Nauvoo, Ill., by President Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve. (6)
-- Aug 19, 1979.
Ann Kenney, a student at the University of Utah, is set apart as president of the University of Utah Second Stake Sunday School. Gilbert Sharffs, counselor in the stake presidency, assures her that he has been "strongly impressed" to issue the calling and also had a general authority approve the calling. On 24 September she is released. Sharffs explains that "in the past there has been no policy set. The quorum [of the Twelve] was divided on the issue, and the decision was left to the president." The president was Ezra Taft Benson. (7)
-- During Aug 1979
Church's Ensign magazine publishes first counselor N. Eldon Tanner's statement: "When the prophet speaks the debate is over," which echoes Improvement Era's message of Jun 1945. (1)
-- October 1979
"It is well to ask, what system [referring to Isaiah 29:15–16] established secret works of darkness to overthrow nations by violent revolution? Who blasphemously proclaimed the atheistic doctrine that God made us not? Satan works through human agents. We need only look to some of the ignoble characters in human history who were contemporary to the restoration of the gospel to discover fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. I refer to the infamous founders of Communism and others who follow in their tradition…" (8)
Benson's last anti-communist talk (9)
Endnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
2 - Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html
3 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney to All Stake Presidents, Bishops, and Branch Presidents in the United States, 15 Feb. 1979, photocopy in folder 25, box 17, Buerger Papers -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
7 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
8 - Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning, Conference, October 1979
9 - Ezra Taft Benson, in Official Report of the 149th Semi-Annual Conference of the Church (October 1979), 43–47. The 1979 talk was not published in the non-English Church magazines -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Church News headline "Interracial Marriage Discouraged" in same issue which announces authorization of priesthood for those of black African descent. Sources at church headquarters indicate that Apostle Mark E. Petersen requires this emphasis. (1)
-- 1978-08-26
For the first time the First Presidency defines the ERA as a "moral issue" (2)
-- 1978, September 16
First annual women's meeting held. (3)
-- 01 Oct 1978
James E. Faust is ordained an Apostle, replacing Delbert L. Stapley, who had passed away.
-- 30 Oct 1978
First Presidency announces emeritus status for general authorities due to age, physical infirmity, or other reasons. Members of First Quorum of Seventy are first general authorities to receive this retirement. (4)
-- Dec 29,1978
First Presidency allows women to pray in sacrament meetings again, rescind earlier ban from Jul 1967. (1)
-- 15 Feb 1979
Kimball and his counselors found it necessary to counter the now-familiar pattern of Mormon ultra- conservatives to imply church endorsement. In February 1979 the First Presidency published a statement against "announcements have been made in Church meetings of lectures to be given by those connected with the Freemen Institute." (5)
-- 18 Feb 1979
The Church's 1,000th stake was created at Nauvoo, Ill., by President Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve. (6)
-- Aug 19, 1979.
Ann Kenney, a student at the University of Utah, is set apart as president of the University of Utah Second Stake Sunday School. Gilbert Sharffs, counselor in the stake presidency, assures her that he has been "strongly impressed" to issue the calling and also had a general authority approve the calling. On 24 September she is released. Sharffs explains that "in the past there has been no policy set. The quorum [of the Twelve] was divided on the issue, and the decision was left to the president." The president was Ezra Taft Benson. (7)
-- During Aug 1979
Church's Ensign magazine publishes first counselor N. Eldon Tanner's statement: "When the prophet speaks the debate is over," which echoes Improvement Era's message of Jun 1945. (1)
-- October 1979
"It is well to ask, what system [referring to Isaiah 29:15–16] established secret works of darkness to overthrow nations by violent revolution? Who blasphemously proclaimed the atheistic doctrine that God made us not? Satan works through human agents. We need only look to some of the ignoble characters in human history who were contemporary to the restoration of the gospel to discover fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. I refer to the infamous founders of Communism and others who follow in their tradition…" (8)
Benson's last anti-communist talk (9)
Endnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
2 - Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html
3 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney to All Stake Presidents, Bishops, and Branch Presidents in the United States, 15 Feb. 1979, photocopy in folder 25, box 17, Buerger Papers -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
7 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
8 - Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning, Conference, October 1979
9 - Ezra Taft Benson, in Official Report of the 149th Semi-Annual Conference of the Church (October 1979), 43–47. The 1979 talk was not published in the non-English Church magazines -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 1976-10-22
-- 1976-10-22
First Presidency statement against the ERA
The First Presidency issues its first of several statements on the ERA. While they "deplore" the "injustices" women have experienced and acknowledge that "there are additional rights to which women are entitled," they conclude that the ERA "could indeed bring [women] far more restraints and repressions. We fear it will even stifle many God-given feminine instincts. It would strike at the family, humankind's basic institution. ERA would bring ambiguity and possibly invite extensive litigation. Passage of ERA, some legal authorities contend, could nullify many accumulated benefits to women in present statutes. We recognize men and women as equally important before the Lord, but with differences biologically, emotionally, and in other ways."
[Another reason for its opposition was the fear that the ERA would result in "an increase in the practice of homosexual and lesbian activities".] (1)
-- November 18, 1976
... Benson says working women "weaken the stability of the home" and contribute to juvenile delinquency, drug abuse and crime. "There is no satisfactory substitute for mother, and no one can take care of her children as she can. ... The father's place at the head of the home is being challenged..." (2)
-- 1977
Published Volume - This Nation Shall Endure. Deseret Book (3)
-- April 13, 1977
Ezra Taft Benson told Brigham Young University Students Tuesday it was better for them to drop out of school than accept government food stamps. "You did not come to this university to become a welfare recpient or freeloader." (4)
-- 26 Oct 1977
Some students in Brigham Young University's Washington, D.C., seminar were recruited to "spy" on professors there. One of the student reports of faculty surveillance intended for Ezra Taft Benson's office instead ended up on the desk of Mark E. Petersen. After being informed of this "spy ring" by Apostle Petersen, BYU's president Dallin H. Oaks angrily referred to "that Birch Mafia that surrounds ETB." Apostle Benson had put William O. Nelson in charge of this most recent effort at BYU espionage. Nelson was Benson's secretary in the Church Administration Building. (5)
-- Fall, 1977
Jack Carlson, former Undersecretary of the Interior (with his wife Renee) was asked by President Kimball, "What do you think would happen if we changed the policy [regarding blacks and the priesthood]? Give me a scenario." President Kimball expressed his own concerns about internal dissent, particularly from members in the American South or even from the Quorum of the twelve. He said "I don't know that I should be the one doing this, but if I don't my successor won't." Benson was in line to become the next president of the church. (6)
-- 7 Dec 1977
President Kimball resolved "spy scandal" with a decisiveness lacking in the more famous episode of 1966. He made the following statement to the school's Board of Trustees in December 1977: "We understand that a member or members of the Board directly, or through others, have sought evidence about alleged statements made by faculty members in courses taught on the BYU campus and have stated or implied that such evidence is to be used by a Church official in a so-called `hearing.'" The church president's blunt statement concluded with a clear disapproval of such "surveillance of BYU employees." (7)
-- 1978
Church membership reached 4 million. (8)
-- 22 Feb 1978
First Presidency letter to all stake and mission leaders: "The fact that there may be some question as to man's ancestry cannot be rightfully considered as evidence that he has Negro blood. . . . If there is no evidence to indicate that a man has Negro blood, you would not be justified in withholding the priesthood and temple blessings from him, if he is otherwise worthy." This stops denial of priesthood merely on the basis of black African appearance and is significant prelude to the end of the ban altogether less than four months later.
-- June 1, 1978
Spencer W. Kimball receives a revelation granting the priesthood to black men, and temple blessings to black men and women. Elder Benson recorded in his journal: "Following the prayer, we experienced the sweetest spirit of unity and conviction that I have ever experienced. . . . Our bosoms burned with the righteousness of the decision we had made." He also said he "had never experienced anything of such spiritual magnitude and power." (9)
-- 1 Jun 1978
Spencer W. Kimball's proposal to resolve "the Negro issue," is sustained by apostles after prayer circle in Salt Lake temple. This answer ends policy since 1852 of denying priesthood to those of black African ancestry. Urgency of Kimball's inquiry involves upcoming dedication of temple in Brazil, where centuries of racial intermarriage have always posed problems in administering LDS ban on priesthood to those of black African ancestry. Kimball later describes the meeting: "I offered the final prayer and I told the Lord if it wasn't right, if He didn't want this change to come in the Church that I would be true to it all the rest of my life, and I'd fight the world against it if that's what he wanted . . ." First Presidency announces this change on Jun 9, and general conference accepts it on Sep 30. This announcement becomes "Document 2" in 1981 edition of D&C. First Presidency secretary Francis M. Gibbons writes that this change "seemed to relieve them of a subtle sense of guilt they had felt over the years." (10)
-- 1978, June 8
First Presidency issued letter announcing revelation granting the priesthood to worthy men of all races. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html
2 - "Apostle Ezra T. Benson Criticizes Working Women," Provo Daily Herald, Nov 18, 1976 (provided by Joe Geisner)
3 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
4 - The Browsville, Browsville Texas, "Students Told Better TO Drop out Than Accept Food Stamps," April 13, 1977 (provided by Joe Geisner)
5 - Duane E. Jeffery memorandum, 26 Oct. 1977, folder 28, box 6, Buerger Papers.; 299. "LDS Official Acknowledges Church Monitors Critics," Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 1992, D-l; "LDS Leaders Say Scripture Supports Secret Files on Members," Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 1992, B-1. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Renee Pyott Carlson interview, Gregory A. Prince, Potomac, Md., June 2 1994, (Kimball Papers), as referenced in Edward Kimball, Lengthen Your Stride, The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (working draft) chapter 21, page 9
7 - Minutes of Combined Boards of Trustees, 7 Dec. 1977, archives, Lee Library; Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 223. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
8 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
9 - Sheri L. Dew, Ezra Taft Benson: A Biography (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987), 457;. McConkie, "New Revelation," 128, quotes Ezra Taft Benson -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
10 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
First Presidency statement against the ERA
The First Presidency issues its first of several statements on the ERA. While they "deplore" the "injustices" women have experienced and acknowledge that "there are additional rights to which women are entitled," they conclude that the ERA "could indeed bring [women] far more restraints and repressions. We fear it will even stifle many God-given feminine instincts. It would strike at the family, humankind's basic institution. ERA would bring ambiguity and possibly invite extensive litigation. Passage of ERA, some legal authorities contend, could nullify many accumulated benefits to women in present statutes. We recognize men and women as equally important before the Lord, but with differences biologically, emotionally, and in other ways."
[Another reason for its opposition was the fear that the ERA would result in "an increase in the practice of homosexual and lesbian activities".] (1)
-- November 18, 1976
... Benson says working women "weaken the stability of the home" and contribute to juvenile delinquency, drug abuse and crime. "There is no satisfactory substitute for mother, and no one can take care of her children as she can. ... The father's place at the head of the home is being challenged..." (2)
-- 1977
Published Volume - This Nation Shall Endure. Deseret Book (3)
-- April 13, 1977
Ezra Taft Benson told Brigham Young University Students Tuesday it was better for them to drop out of school than accept government food stamps. "You did not come to this university to become a welfare recpient or freeloader." (4)
-- 26 Oct 1977
Some students in Brigham Young University's Washington, D.C., seminar were recruited to "spy" on professors there. One of the student reports of faculty surveillance intended for Ezra Taft Benson's office instead ended up on the desk of Mark E. Petersen. After being informed of this "spy ring" by Apostle Petersen, BYU's president Dallin H. Oaks angrily referred to "that Birch Mafia that surrounds ETB." Apostle Benson had put William O. Nelson in charge of this most recent effort at BYU espionage. Nelson was Benson's secretary in the Church Administration Building. (5)
-- Fall, 1977
Jack Carlson, former Undersecretary of the Interior (with his wife Renee) was asked by President Kimball, "What do you think would happen if we changed the policy [regarding blacks and the priesthood]? Give me a scenario." President Kimball expressed his own concerns about internal dissent, particularly from members in the American South or even from the Quorum of the twelve. He said "I don't know that I should be the one doing this, but if I don't my successor won't." Benson was in line to become the next president of the church. (6)
-- 7 Dec 1977
President Kimball resolved "spy scandal" with a decisiveness lacking in the more famous episode of 1966. He made the following statement to the school's Board of Trustees in December 1977: "We understand that a member or members of the Board directly, or through others, have sought evidence about alleged statements made by faculty members in courses taught on the BYU campus and have stated or implied that such evidence is to be used by a Church official in a so-called `hearing.'" The church president's blunt statement concluded with a clear disapproval of such "surveillance of BYU employees." (7)
-- 1978
Church membership reached 4 million. (8)
-- 22 Feb 1978
First Presidency letter to all stake and mission leaders: "The fact that there may be some question as to man's ancestry cannot be rightfully considered as evidence that he has Negro blood. . . . If there is no evidence to indicate that a man has Negro blood, you would not be justified in withholding the priesthood and temple blessings from him, if he is otherwise worthy." This stops denial of priesthood merely on the basis of black African appearance and is significant prelude to the end of the ban altogether less than four months later.
-- June 1, 1978
Spencer W. Kimball receives a revelation granting the priesthood to black men, and temple blessings to black men and women. Elder Benson recorded in his journal: "Following the prayer, we experienced the sweetest spirit of unity and conviction that I have ever experienced. . . . Our bosoms burned with the righteousness of the decision we had made." He also said he "had never experienced anything of such spiritual magnitude and power." (9)
-- 1 Jun 1978
Spencer W. Kimball's proposal to resolve "the Negro issue," is sustained by apostles after prayer circle in Salt Lake temple. This answer ends policy since 1852 of denying priesthood to those of black African ancestry. Urgency of Kimball's inquiry involves upcoming dedication of temple in Brazil, where centuries of racial intermarriage have always posed problems in administering LDS ban on priesthood to those of black African ancestry. Kimball later describes the meeting: "I offered the final prayer and I told the Lord if it wasn't right, if He didn't want this change to come in the Church that I would be true to it all the rest of my life, and I'd fight the world against it if that's what he wanted . . ." First Presidency announces this change on Jun 9, and general conference accepts it on Sep 30. This announcement becomes "Document 2" in 1981 edition of D&C. First Presidency secretary Francis M. Gibbons writes that this change "seemed to relieve them of a subtle sense of guilt they had felt over the years." (10)
-- 1978, June 8
First Presidency issued letter announcing revelation granting the priesthood to worthy men of all races. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html
2 - "Apostle Ezra T. Benson Criticizes Working Women," Provo Daily Herald, Nov 18, 1976 (provided by Joe Geisner)
3 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
4 - The Browsville, Browsville Texas, "Students Told Better TO Drop out Than Accept Food Stamps," April 13, 1977 (provided by Joe Geisner)
5 - Duane E. Jeffery memorandum, 26 Oct. 1977, folder 28, box 6, Buerger Papers.; 299. "LDS Official Acknowledges Church Monitors Critics," Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 1992, D-l; "LDS Leaders Say Scripture Supports Secret Files on Members," Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 1992, B-1. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
6 - Renee Pyott Carlson interview, Gregory A. Prince, Potomac, Md., June 2 1994, (Kimball Papers), as referenced in Edward Kimball, Lengthen Your Stride, The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (working draft) chapter 21, page 9
7 - Minutes of Combined Boards of Trustees, 7 Dec. 1977, archives, Lee Library; Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 223. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
8 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
9 - Sheri L. Dew, Ezra Taft Benson: A Biography (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987), 457;. McConkie, "New Revelation," 128, quotes Ezra Taft Benson -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
10 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 6 Mar 1976
-- 6 Mar 1976
Undoubtedly, Kimball's opposition was behind Benson's non-acceptance of the U.S. presidential nomination from the Concerned Citizens Party in 1976. Involving former members of the American Party (which Benson had publicly endorsed) and LDS members of the Birch Society, the "Concerned Citizens party will be dedicated to individual rights under the Constitution," and proposed to bring God "back into government." (1)
-- Spring-fall 1976.
In separate addresses Elder Ezra Taft Benson defines "historical realism" as "slander and defamation," denounces those who "inordinately humanize the prophets of God," and instructs CES personnel: "If you feel you must write for the scholarly journals, you always defend the faith. Avoid expressions and terminology which offend the Brethren and Church members." He also warns them not to buy the books or subscribe to the periodicals of "known apostates, or other liberal sources" or have such works on office or personal bookshelves. (2)
-- 1976, April 3
Two revelations added to Pearl of Great Price. Later became D&C 137 and D&C 138, 1981. (3)
-- 03 Apr 1976
In general conference, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles propose to the Church to include Joseph Smith's vision of the celestial kingdom and Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead in the standard works of the Church. The vote is unanimous in the affirmative.
-- May 1976
Benson carefully questioned BYU's president Dallin H. Oaks whether BYU was "friendly to solid conservative constitutionalists." A few days later Oaks told fellow administrators about "BYU's tenuous position in the silent contest with extremists of the right wing." (4)
-- August 26, 1976
Some General Authorities, including Elders Benson and Petersen, assigned others to read publications about the Church and mark for them passages that they considered questionable. (5)
Elders Benson, Petersen, and Packer were the primary spokesmen for the view that it was not right for church-paid historians to write in a way that they felt inordinately humanized the prophets and underplayed revelation and God's intervention in human affairs. For example, Benson noted: "Members of our staff have carefully read . . . and in accordance with your request, these are our impressions." They were very disappointed with lack of spirituality, reliance on sources like Dialogue, portrayal of Joseph Smith as affected by the political, economic, and religious environments in which he lived, not taking the conservative side on issues like evolution, and calling the "black issue" a matter of "policy" (paraphrase of several pages).
According to Elder Benson's grandson, Elder Benson had strong personal anti-evolution views but "acknowledged that 'the Lord may not have revealed enough to create unanimity among the Brethren.' . . . Any such statement would . . . be 'unwise'. . . and serve only to 'widen differences.'"
Leaders who spoke most pointedly in opposition to evolution were Joseph Fielding Smith, Bruce R. McConkie, Mark E. Petersen, Ezra Taft Benson, and Boyd K. Packer. The reluctance of General Authorities to disagree in public caused many Church members to assume that statements left uncontradicted were reliable.
President Benson also said to his grandson, "Stand by the Brethren. Even if someday they are proven in error or inaccurate, it will be attributed to you for righteousness and the Lord will bless you. This is a basic principle." (6)
-- 18 Sept 1976
Former BYU president Wilkinson gave the invocation before Benson spoke at this dedicatory service of the Freemen Institute on 18 September 1976. ... Skousen, Wilkinson, and Benson had been allied as advocates of the Birch Society for more than a decade. Now, for the first time, all three participated at an ultra-conservative political meeting also attended by the secretary to the LDS church president. The evident news black-out of this meeting in all the regular newspapers of Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, Utah, apparently resulted from the fact that newspaper reporters were excluded from this dedicatory service of the Freemen Institute. Even the Mormon-Birch Utah Independent reported only Benson's attendance at the dedicatory service.
D. Arthur Haycock, President Kimball's secretary, specifically linked the Birch Society with this ceremony at the Freemen Institute in September 1976. After Wilkinson gave the prayer at the Freemen dedication, Haycock confided to him on this day that "nearly all of them believed in the concepts of the John Birch Society." That may have been an overstatement, but more importantly it showed that the Birch Society and Benson in particular had a partisan friend in the First Presidency's office. Haycock had been private secretary to Benson as Secretary of Agriculture and was a confidant and significant influence on President Kimball. (7)
-- 18 Sep 1976
After a string of talks which echoed themes of the Birch Society, Benson spoke at the dedication of W. Cleon Skousen's Freemen Institute at Provo, Utah, in September 1976. (8)
-- 1 Oct 1976
Members of the First Council of the Seventy and the Assistants to the Twelve were released in general conference and called to the new First Quorum of the Seventy. Franklin D. Richards was named the first senior president. (9)
Endnotes:
1 - "Party Qualifies For Utah Ballot," Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Mar. 1976, B-5; "LDS Official Says 'No' to Politics," Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Mar. 1976, B-4, and "Party Clarifies Stand on Benson Selection," Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Mar 1976, 38. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
2 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
3 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
4 - Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 221-22 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
5 - Leonard J. Arrington, Adventures of a Church Historian (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998), 101, 143, 145, 147; Ezra Taft Benson to First Presidency, memo, "New History, The Story of the Latter-day Saints," August 26, 1976: "Members of our staff have carefully read . . ." -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
6 - Stephen Benson, "Ezra Taft Benson: A Grandson's Remembrance," Sunstone 17, no. 3 (December 1994): 31–32; Ezra Taft Benson to First Presidency, August 26, 1976, Kimball Papers -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
7 - Wilkinson diary, 18 Sept. 1976 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
8 - Wilkinson diary, 18 Sept. 1976; "Pres. Ezra Taft Benson Speaks At Freeman. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
9 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Undoubtedly, Kimball's opposition was behind Benson's non-acceptance of the U.S. presidential nomination from the Concerned Citizens Party in 1976. Involving former members of the American Party (which Benson had publicly endorsed) and LDS members of the Birch Society, the "Concerned Citizens party will be dedicated to individual rights under the Constitution," and proposed to bring God "back into government." (1)
-- Spring-fall 1976.
In separate addresses Elder Ezra Taft Benson defines "historical realism" as "slander and defamation," denounces those who "inordinately humanize the prophets of God," and instructs CES personnel: "If you feel you must write for the scholarly journals, you always defend the faith. Avoid expressions and terminology which offend the Brethren and Church members." He also warns them not to buy the books or subscribe to the periodicals of "known apostates, or other liberal sources" or have such works on office or personal bookshelves. (2)
-- 1976, April 3
Two revelations added to Pearl of Great Price. Later became D&C 137 and D&C 138, 1981. (3)
-- 03 Apr 1976
In general conference, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles propose to the Church to include Joseph Smith's vision of the celestial kingdom and Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead in the standard works of the Church. The vote is unanimous in the affirmative.
-- May 1976
Benson carefully questioned BYU's president Dallin H. Oaks whether BYU was "friendly to solid conservative constitutionalists." A few days later Oaks told fellow administrators about "BYU's tenuous position in the silent contest with extremists of the right wing." (4)
-- August 26, 1976
Some General Authorities, including Elders Benson and Petersen, assigned others to read publications about the Church and mark for them passages that they considered questionable. (5)
Elders Benson, Petersen, and Packer were the primary spokesmen for the view that it was not right for church-paid historians to write in a way that they felt inordinately humanized the prophets and underplayed revelation and God's intervention in human affairs. For example, Benson noted: "Members of our staff have carefully read . . . and in accordance with your request, these are our impressions." They were very disappointed with lack of spirituality, reliance on sources like Dialogue, portrayal of Joseph Smith as affected by the political, economic, and religious environments in which he lived, not taking the conservative side on issues like evolution, and calling the "black issue" a matter of "policy" (paraphrase of several pages).
According to Elder Benson's grandson, Elder Benson had strong personal anti-evolution views but "acknowledged that 'the Lord may not have revealed enough to create unanimity among the Brethren.' . . . Any such statement would . . . be 'unwise'. . . and serve only to 'widen differences.'"
Leaders who spoke most pointedly in opposition to evolution were Joseph Fielding Smith, Bruce R. McConkie, Mark E. Petersen, Ezra Taft Benson, and Boyd K. Packer. The reluctance of General Authorities to disagree in public caused many Church members to assume that statements left uncontradicted were reliable.
President Benson also said to his grandson, "Stand by the Brethren. Even if someday they are proven in error or inaccurate, it will be attributed to you for righteousness and the Lord will bless you. This is a basic principle." (6)
-- 18 Sept 1976
Former BYU president Wilkinson gave the invocation before Benson spoke at this dedicatory service of the Freemen Institute on 18 September 1976. ... Skousen, Wilkinson, and Benson had been allied as advocates of the Birch Society for more than a decade. Now, for the first time, all three participated at an ultra-conservative political meeting also attended by the secretary to the LDS church president. The evident news black-out of this meeting in all the regular newspapers of Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, Utah, apparently resulted from the fact that newspaper reporters were excluded from this dedicatory service of the Freemen Institute. Even the Mormon-Birch Utah Independent reported only Benson's attendance at the dedicatory service.
D. Arthur Haycock, President Kimball's secretary, specifically linked the Birch Society with this ceremony at the Freemen Institute in September 1976. After Wilkinson gave the prayer at the Freemen dedication, Haycock confided to him on this day that "nearly all of them believed in the concepts of the John Birch Society." That may have been an overstatement, but more importantly it showed that the Birch Society and Benson in particular had a partisan friend in the First Presidency's office. Haycock had been private secretary to Benson as Secretary of Agriculture and was a confidant and significant influence on President Kimball. (7)
-- 18 Sep 1976
After a string of talks which echoed themes of the Birch Society, Benson spoke at the dedication of W. Cleon Skousen's Freemen Institute at Provo, Utah, in September 1976. (8)
-- 1 Oct 1976
Members of the First Council of the Seventy and the Assistants to the Twelve were released in general conference and called to the new First Quorum of the Seventy. Franklin D. Richards was named the first senior president. (9)
Endnotes:
1 - "Party Qualifies For Utah Ballot," Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Mar. 1976, B-5; "LDS Official Says 'No' to Politics," Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Mar. 1976, B-4, and "Party Clarifies Stand on Benson Selection," Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Mar 1976, 38. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
2 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1
3 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
4 - Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 221-22 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
5 - Leonard J. Arrington, Adventures of a Church Historian (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998), 101, 143, 145, 147; Ezra Taft Benson to First Presidency, memo, "New History, The Story of the Latter-day Saints," August 26, 1976: "Members of our staff have carefully read . . ." -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
6 - Stephen Benson, "Ezra Taft Benson: A Grandson's Remembrance," Sunstone 17, no. 3 (December 1994): 31–32; Ezra Taft Benson to First Presidency, August 26, 1976, Kimball Papers -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
7 - Wilkinson diary, 18 Sept. 1976 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
8 - Wilkinson diary, 18 Sept. 1976; "Pres. Ezra Taft Benson Speaks At Freeman. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
9 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, June 24, 1975
-- June 24, 1975
Organizers of the Utah International Women's Year conference wanted it to be a grassroots.
Church Relief Society Barbara Smith proposed to Church leaders that the Relief Society send a letter to the stake Relief Society presidents in Utah urging Mormon women to participate and suggesting that ten from each stake attend. But Elder Benson, president of the Twelve, opted instead to have the bishops in Utah urge the women in their wards to become informed on the issues and "to encourage at least ten women and hopefully many more from each ward to attend the convention." This letter was distributed through regional representatives and stake presidents to each bishop but was sent in the name of the Relief Society presidency. In hindsight, both the specification of a quota from each ward and the priesthood direction created the impression that this was a call to arms.
The Relief Society general presidency did not instruct women to take any particular position on the issues to be raised. They arranged for a series of articles in the Deseret News to educate readers on the issues, expecting women to study the issues and follow their own judgment, informed by their understanding of Church principles (Barbara Smith urged women to join others "fighting pornography, homosexuality, abortion and other social evils"). But in the absence of other instruction, conservative groups like the John Birch Society, Eagle Forum, and Conservative Caucus filled the vacuum and undertook through "information meetings" to recruit and organize Mormon women to follow their lead in the conference, sometimes implying that they had Relief Society or Church approval.
These groups adopted the basic position that all proposals at the conference had hidden implications that were part of the agenda of extreme feminists and urged that they should all be defeated, even if they looked benign.
On June 24 more than twelve thousand women converged on the Salt Palace, twice as many as in the state of California. Organizers were flabbergasted to find the conference overwhelmed by Mormon women who were there on assignment. Some organizers felt that, although the Church had been asked to encourage attendance, the huge numbers effectively sabotaged the conference. Rudeness, shouting down of speakers, and extreme polarization reigned.
Because the national recommendations included issues such as the ERA, abortion rights, and government-funded sex education, most participants decided the entire slate of recommendations was tainted and simply rejected everything. Votes typically ran seven to nine thousand against the proposals versus one to two thousand in support. Such rejection occurred apparently without regard to the merits of individual items. For example, recommendations for better enforcement of child support, for review of union practices that were unjust to women, and for equal pay for equivalent work were defeated by margins nearly as large as the recommendation for adopting the ERA and abortion rights. Barbara Smith attended but took no active part, although she felt dismayed at the vehement and automatic reaction of so many women, influenced unduly by political extremists.
Utah's IWY conference was not the only one for which Mormon women were recruited. In Hawaii, Washington, Connecticut, Iowa, New York, and Montana, large numbers of Mormon women attended and sought to influence the state conferences to vote against endorsement of the ERA and other proposals.
The Utah IWY meeting was a public relations disaster, much greater than might have been expected given the relative insignificance of the state meeting and its delegates' votes in affecting what happened in the national meeting. (1)
-- 23 Jul 1975
First Presidency circular letter authorizes stake presidents to ordain bishops. Previously this was restricted to general authorities. (2)
-- 1975, July 24
The 28-story Church Office Building dedicated, Salt Lake City. (3)
-- 1976
Published Volume - Cross Fire: The Eight Years With Eisenhower. Doubleday (4)
In 1976 a one-volume history by James B. Allen and Glen Leonard, The Story of the Latter-day Saints, was published intended for an LDS audience. Elders Benson, Petersen, and Packer were the primary spokesmen for the view that it was not right for church-paid historians to write in a way that they felt inordinately humanized the prophets and underplayed revelation and God's intervention in human affairs. Elders Benson and Petersen addressed their complaints to the First Presidency. President Kimball acquiesced to Ezra Taft Benson's and Mark E. Petersen's strongly negative views about the publication, a book that President Kimball himself liked. (5)
In the 1970s Elders Petersen, Benson, and Packer had highlighted the dangers of secularizing Church history. In 1976 to BYU and to teachers in the Church Educational System, Elder Benson gave talks critical of Church history writing that underplays revelation and emphasizes the frailties of great men. (6)
Benson declined as "impractical and impossible" efforts by "a resurrected 1976 Committee" for him as vice-presidential candidate with former Texas governor John B. Connally as candidate for U.S. president. (7)
-- 08 Jan 1976
David B. Haight is ordained an Apostle, replacing Hugh B. Brown, who had passed away.
-- January 9, 1976
[Benson" warned a small mountain community that its efforts to provide housing for low-income persons is socialistic and will attract "undesirable" persons... [he] urged the Town Council of Heber City to "reject such socialistic programs as subsidized (low-income) housing. Is Heber City prepared to attract into its community undesirable tenants that gravitate toward communities where low-income housing is available?" ... Councilmen said privately that Benson's letter - and the copies he sent to the presidents of two Mormon stakes (dioceses) in Heber City - left them "confused and disturbed. ..." (8)
Endnotes:
1 - The Relief Society general presidency sent a copy of President Benson's letter to stake Relief Society presidents in Utah. Derr, Cannon and Beecher, Women of Covenant, 371; Martha Sonntag Bradley, "The Mormon Relief Society and the International Women's Year," Journal of Mormon History 21, no. 1 (spring 1995): 126; Jill Mulvay Derr, Janath Russell Cannon, and Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 366–74; Linda Sillitoe, "Women Scorned: Inside the IWY Conference," Utah Holiday 6 (August 1977): 26–28, 53–69; Linda Sillitoe, "A Foot in Both Camps: An Interview with Jan Tyler (chair of the conference)," Sunstone 3, no. 2 (January/February 1978): 11; Dixie Snow Huefner, "Church and Politics at the Utah IWY Conference," Dialogue 11, no. 1 (spring 1978): 58–75; D Michael Quinn, The Mormon Heirarchy: Extensions of Power (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1997), 378–84 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
4 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
5 - Arrington, Adventures of a Church Historian, 150 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
6 - Sheri Dew, Ezra Taft Benson: A Biography (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987), 454–55 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
7 - Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 446 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
8 - "Ezra Taft Benson Condemns Subsidized Low-Income Housing," Provo Daily Herald (In Letter to Heber Council) Jan 9, 1976 (provided by Joe Geisner)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Organizers of the Utah International Women's Year conference wanted it to be a grassroots.
Church Relief Society Barbara Smith proposed to Church leaders that the Relief Society send a letter to the stake Relief Society presidents in Utah urging Mormon women to participate and suggesting that ten from each stake attend. But Elder Benson, president of the Twelve, opted instead to have the bishops in Utah urge the women in their wards to become informed on the issues and "to encourage at least ten women and hopefully many more from each ward to attend the convention." This letter was distributed through regional representatives and stake presidents to each bishop but was sent in the name of the Relief Society presidency. In hindsight, both the specification of a quota from each ward and the priesthood direction created the impression that this was a call to arms.
The Relief Society general presidency did not instruct women to take any particular position on the issues to be raised. They arranged for a series of articles in the Deseret News to educate readers on the issues, expecting women to study the issues and follow their own judgment, informed by their understanding of Church principles (Barbara Smith urged women to join others "fighting pornography, homosexuality, abortion and other social evils"). But in the absence of other instruction, conservative groups like the John Birch Society, Eagle Forum, and Conservative Caucus filled the vacuum and undertook through "information meetings" to recruit and organize Mormon women to follow their lead in the conference, sometimes implying that they had Relief Society or Church approval.
These groups adopted the basic position that all proposals at the conference had hidden implications that were part of the agenda of extreme feminists and urged that they should all be defeated, even if they looked benign.
On June 24 more than twelve thousand women converged on the Salt Palace, twice as many as in the state of California. Organizers were flabbergasted to find the conference overwhelmed by Mormon women who were there on assignment. Some organizers felt that, although the Church had been asked to encourage attendance, the huge numbers effectively sabotaged the conference. Rudeness, shouting down of speakers, and extreme polarization reigned.
Because the national recommendations included issues such as the ERA, abortion rights, and government-funded sex education, most participants decided the entire slate of recommendations was tainted and simply rejected everything. Votes typically ran seven to nine thousand against the proposals versus one to two thousand in support. Such rejection occurred apparently without regard to the merits of individual items. For example, recommendations for better enforcement of child support, for review of union practices that were unjust to women, and for equal pay for equivalent work were defeated by margins nearly as large as the recommendation for adopting the ERA and abortion rights. Barbara Smith attended but took no active part, although she felt dismayed at the vehement and automatic reaction of so many women, influenced unduly by political extremists.
Utah's IWY conference was not the only one for which Mormon women were recruited. In Hawaii, Washington, Connecticut, Iowa, New York, and Montana, large numbers of Mormon women attended and sought to influence the state conferences to vote against endorsement of the ERA and other proposals.
The Utah IWY meeting was a public relations disaster, much greater than might have been expected given the relative insignificance of the state meeting and its delegates' votes in affecting what happened in the national meeting. (1)
-- 23 Jul 1975
First Presidency circular letter authorizes stake presidents to ordain bishops. Previously this was restricted to general authorities. (2)
-- 1975, July 24
The 28-story Church Office Building dedicated, Salt Lake City. (3)
-- 1976
Published Volume - Cross Fire: The Eight Years With Eisenhower. Doubleday (4)
In 1976 a one-volume history by James B. Allen and Glen Leonard, The Story of the Latter-day Saints, was published intended for an LDS audience. Elders Benson, Petersen, and Packer were the primary spokesmen for the view that it was not right for church-paid historians to write in a way that they felt inordinately humanized the prophets and underplayed revelation and God's intervention in human affairs. Elders Benson and Petersen addressed their complaints to the First Presidency. President Kimball acquiesced to Ezra Taft Benson's and Mark E. Petersen's strongly negative views about the publication, a book that President Kimball himself liked. (5)
In the 1970s Elders Petersen, Benson, and Packer had highlighted the dangers of secularizing Church history. In 1976 to BYU and to teachers in the Church Educational System, Elder Benson gave talks critical of Church history writing that underplays revelation and emphasizes the frailties of great men. (6)
Benson declined as "impractical and impossible" efforts by "a resurrected 1976 Committee" for him as vice-presidential candidate with former Texas governor John B. Connally as candidate for U.S. president. (7)
-- 08 Jan 1976
David B. Haight is ordained an Apostle, replacing Hugh B. Brown, who had passed away.
-- January 9, 1976
[Benson" warned a small mountain community that its efforts to provide housing for low-income persons is socialistic and will attract "undesirable" persons... [he] urged the Town Council of Heber City to "reject such socialistic programs as subsidized (low-income) housing. Is Heber City prepared to attract into its community undesirable tenants that gravitate toward communities where low-income housing is available?" ... Councilmen said privately that Benson's letter - and the copies he sent to the presidents of two Mormon stakes (dioceses) in Heber City - left them "confused and disturbed. ..." (8)
Endnotes:
1 - The Relief Society general presidency sent a copy of President Benson's letter to stake Relief Society presidents in Utah. Derr, Cannon and Beecher, Women of Covenant, 371; Martha Sonntag Bradley, "The Mormon Relief Society and the International Women's Year," Journal of Mormon History 21, no. 1 (spring 1995): 126; Jill Mulvay Derr, Janath Russell Cannon, and Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 366–74; Linda Sillitoe, "Women Scorned: Inside the IWY Conference," Utah Holiday 6 (August 1977): 26–28, 53–69; Linda Sillitoe, "A Foot in Both Camps: An Interview with Jan Tyler (chair of the conference)," Sunstone 3, no. 2 (January/February 1978): 11; Dixie Snow Huefner, "Church and Politics at the Utah IWY Conference," Dialogue 11, no. 1 (spring 1978): 58–75; D Michael Quinn, The Mormon Heirarchy: Extensions of Power (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1997), 378–84 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
4 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
5 - Arrington, Adventures of a Church Historian, 150 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
6 - Sheri Dew, Ezra Taft Benson: A Biography (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987), 454–55 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
7 - Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 446 -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
8 - "Ezra Taft Benson Condemns Subsidized Low-Income Housing," Provo Daily Herald (In Letter to Heber Council) Jan 9, 1976 (provided by Joe Geisner)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 7 May 1974
-- 7 May 1974
First Presidency reiterated that black male members could attend elders quorum meetings in the same way that prospective elders could, and while it would be permissible for black members to hold leadership positions in the auxiliary organizations, preference should be given to calling them to teaching or clerical positions so as to avoid any misunderstanding. (1)
-- 6 Sep 1974
The First Presidency announced that the Church was divesting itself of its 15 hospitals in three western states and turning them over to a non-Church, non-profit organization, Intermountain Health Care. The Church completed the legal steps for divesting the hospitals on March 21, 1975. (2)
-- November 4, 1974
At a November 1974 rally just before the election, his passion prevailed and in an extemporaneous expression, Elder Benson publicly endorsed the American Party. He noted that the Church was non-partisan, but he said he believed the American Party was established on divine, eternal principles. And he said: 'Never in decades have I read a set of principles of any party that come so close to the philosophy which I have and which I think my own Church people have. . . . He went on to assert that "the real hope" of a nation in crisis lay with people such as those gathered at the rally.64 Newspaper accounts of these statements caused a great stir, particularly when a radio report erroneously said the statements had President Kimball's approval. Calls flooded the Church phone lines. Kimball hurried to his office to draft a statement reiterating, without direct reference to the specific incident, that "we take no partisan stand as to candidates or parties, and any person who makes representations to the contrary does so without authorization."65 The next day, election day, the First Presidency asked Elder Benson to meet with them. They "discussed at great length his unfortunate remarks" and counseled him that "all General Authorities must speak with one voice and . . . [not] take any partisan position in politics, either as to candidates or parties." (3)
-- November 5, 1974
The Mormon church reaffirmed a statement on election eve that it takes no political stand following remarks supporting the American party by church leader Elder Ezra Taft Benson ... he believes the part was established on divine and eternal principles. (4)
-- November 24, 1974
... The John Birch Society has been smeared and misrepresented by the communist and liberal press in this country. I consider the Birch Society the most effective secular organization in America in the fight against socialism and godless communism. ... (5)
-- 25 Nov 1974
[I]n 1974 there was a reversal of the policy against allowing BYU's Daily Universe to give any mention of the Birch Society. On 25 November the Universe published a favorable article about the Birch Society. The Smith-Lee administrations had continued the policy established by McKay in 1964 against "allowing" articles in the BYU newspaper about the Birch Society. In 1974 the student newspaper's content was still monitored by BYU's administration, but ultra-conservative partisanship no longer met the kind of First Presidency opposition that existed from [Hugh B.] Brown's appointment as counselor in 1961 to [Harold B.] Lee's death in 1973. (6)
-- December 6, 1974
Elder Benson sent to President Kimball a letter with two (BYU) Daily Universe articles that spoke favorably about Dialogue. Elder Benson labeled them "inappropriate." He also sent a copy of Dialogue with several passages marked in red. The marked passages had to do with the scapegoating of John D. Lee for the Mountain Meadows massacre, Juanita Brooks's feeling she had not received Church callings after publishing her book Mountain Meadows Massacre because she was considered "an apostate," the possibility of a revelation to change the Church's stand on priesthood for blacks, applauding a New Era discussion of homosexuality, artwork labeled "grotesque," and an article by Lowell Bennion with Elder Benson's notation attached: "You asked about Lowell Bennion. He is teaching in the High Priests Quorum in his ward. I would hate to have him teaching anything to anyone in my ward." (7)
-- 1975
Brigham Young University honored him by establishing the Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute in 1975 to help relieve world food problems and raise the quality of global life through improved nutrition and enlightened agriculture practices. (8)
Benson's resurgent activism was unsuccessful during 1975 in obtaining approval for the Birch Society's president to be a speaker at BYU. (9)
-- 21 May 1975
Benson reflected, "I had this bad habit—I guess you call it bad," he explained, "of laying things on the line economically just as hard and cold as I could based on the facts, so they'd register with people, and not giving them a lot of soft soap, try and build up good will immediately." (10)
-- 7 Jun 1975
President Spencer W. Kimball announces his resignation from management positions of church corporations to more fully serve spiritual needs of church. His associates in Presidency and Twelve continue extensive corporate management roles until 1996. (11)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency (Kimball, Tanner, Romney) to Ezra Taft Benson, May 7, 1974 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
2 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
3 - "Benson Tells Party Support," Salt Lake Tribune, November 4, 1974, 29; "American Party Told, 'Stand Firm,'" Deseret News, November 4, 1974, B14; Spencer W. Kimball, Journal, November 4-5 1974; "LDS Presidency Reaffirms 'Nonpartisan Politics,'" Salt Lake Tribune, November 5, 1974, 17 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
4 - "LDS Church Affirms Policy on Elections," Idaho State Journal, Nov 5, 1974 (provided by Joe Geisner)
5 - Ezra Taft Benson to Mr. Paul Olsen, November 24, 1974 (provided by Joe Geisner)
6 - David O. McKay to Earl C. Crockett, 4 June 1964, and Crockett memorandum, 11 Dec. 1965, Wilkinson Papers; LaVarr G. Webb, "In John Birch Society[,] Fanatics Are Hard to Find," Brigham Young University Daily Universe "Monday Magazine,"25 Nov. 1974,4-6,10; Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 196,262-63. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
7 - Ezra Taft Benson, memo to Spencer W. Kimball, December 6, 1974, Kimball Papers -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
8 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
9 - President's meeting -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
10 - Ezra Taft Benson, Oral History, Interviewed by Maclyn Burg, May 21, 1975, 23–24, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas. For context and full cite, see Gary James Bergera, '"Rising above Principle": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 1', Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Fall 2008, v 41)
11 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
First Presidency reiterated that black male members could attend elders quorum meetings in the same way that prospective elders could, and while it would be permissible for black members to hold leadership positions in the auxiliary organizations, preference should be given to calling them to teaching or clerical positions so as to avoid any misunderstanding. (1)
-- 6 Sep 1974
The First Presidency announced that the Church was divesting itself of its 15 hospitals in three western states and turning them over to a non-Church, non-profit organization, Intermountain Health Care. The Church completed the legal steps for divesting the hospitals on March 21, 1975. (2)
-- November 4, 1974
At a November 1974 rally just before the election, his passion prevailed and in an extemporaneous expression, Elder Benson publicly endorsed the American Party. He noted that the Church was non-partisan, but he said he believed the American Party was established on divine, eternal principles. And he said: 'Never in decades have I read a set of principles of any party that come so close to the philosophy which I have and which I think my own Church people have. . . . He went on to assert that "the real hope" of a nation in crisis lay with people such as those gathered at the rally.64 Newspaper accounts of these statements caused a great stir, particularly when a radio report erroneously said the statements had President Kimball's approval. Calls flooded the Church phone lines. Kimball hurried to his office to draft a statement reiterating, without direct reference to the specific incident, that "we take no partisan stand as to candidates or parties, and any person who makes representations to the contrary does so without authorization."65 The next day, election day, the First Presidency asked Elder Benson to meet with them. They "discussed at great length his unfortunate remarks" and counseled him that "all General Authorities must speak with one voice and . . . [not] take any partisan position in politics, either as to candidates or parties." (3)
-- November 5, 1974
The Mormon church reaffirmed a statement on election eve that it takes no political stand following remarks supporting the American party by church leader Elder Ezra Taft Benson ... he believes the part was established on divine and eternal principles. (4)
-- November 24, 1974
... The John Birch Society has been smeared and misrepresented by the communist and liberal press in this country. I consider the Birch Society the most effective secular organization in America in the fight against socialism and godless communism. ... (5)
-- 25 Nov 1974
[I]n 1974 there was a reversal of the policy against allowing BYU's Daily Universe to give any mention of the Birch Society. On 25 November the Universe published a favorable article about the Birch Society. The Smith-Lee administrations had continued the policy established by McKay in 1964 against "allowing" articles in the BYU newspaper about the Birch Society. In 1974 the student newspaper's content was still monitored by BYU's administration, but ultra-conservative partisanship no longer met the kind of First Presidency opposition that existed from [Hugh B.] Brown's appointment as counselor in 1961 to [Harold B.] Lee's death in 1973. (6)
-- December 6, 1974
Elder Benson sent to President Kimball a letter with two (BYU) Daily Universe articles that spoke favorably about Dialogue. Elder Benson labeled them "inappropriate." He also sent a copy of Dialogue with several passages marked in red. The marked passages had to do with the scapegoating of John D. Lee for the Mountain Meadows massacre, Juanita Brooks's feeling she had not received Church callings after publishing her book Mountain Meadows Massacre because she was considered "an apostate," the possibility of a revelation to change the Church's stand on priesthood for blacks, applauding a New Era discussion of homosexuality, artwork labeled "grotesque," and an article by Lowell Bennion with Elder Benson's notation attached: "You asked about Lowell Bennion. He is teaching in the High Priests Quorum in his ward. I would hate to have him teaching anything to anyone in my ward." (7)
-- 1975
Brigham Young University honored him by establishing the Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute in 1975 to help relieve world food problems and raise the quality of global life through improved nutrition and enlightened agriculture practices. (8)
Benson's resurgent activism was unsuccessful during 1975 in obtaining approval for the Birch Society's president to be a speaker at BYU. (9)
-- 21 May 1975
Benson reflected, "I had this bad habit—I guess you call it bad," he explained, "of laying things on the line economically just as hard and cold as I could based on the facts, so they'd register with people, and not giving them a lot of soft soap, try and build up good will immediately." (10)
-- 7 Jun 1975
President Spencer W. Kimball announces his resignation from management positions of church corporations to more fully serve spiritual needs of church. His associates in Presidency and Twelve continue extensive corporate management roles until 1996. (11)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency (Kimball, Tanner, Romney) to Ezra Taft Benson, May 7, 1974 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
2 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
3 - "Benson Tells Party Support," Salt Lake Tribune, November 4, 1974, 29; "American Party Told, 'Stand Firm,'" Deseret News, November 4, 1974, B14; Spencer W. Kimball, Journal, November 4-5 1974; "LDS Presidency Reaffirms 'Nonpartisan Politics,'" Salt Lake Tribune, November 5, 1974, 17 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
4 - "LDS Church Affirms Policy on Elections," Idaho State Journal, Nov 5, 1974 (provided by Joe Geisner)
5 - Ezra Taft Benson to Mr. Paul Olsen, November 24, 1974 (provided by Joe Geisner)
6 - David O. McKay to Earl C. Crockett, 4 June 1964, and Crockett memorandum, 11 Dec. 1965, Wilkinson Papers; LaVarr G. Webb, "In John Birch Society[,] Fanatics Are Hard to Find," Brigham Young University Daily Universe "Monday Magazine,"25 Nov. 1974,4-6,10; Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 196,262-63. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
7 - Ezra Taft Benson, memo to Spencer W. Kimball, December 6, 1974, Kimball Papers -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
8 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Ezra Taft Benson," Reed Benson and Sheri Dew, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992
9 - President's meeting -- as referenced in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
10 - Ezra Taft Benson, Oral History, Interviewed by Maclyn Burg, May 21, 1975, 23–24, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas. For context and full cite, see Gary James Bergera, '"Rising above Principle": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 1', Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Fall 2008, v 41)
11 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ezra Taft Benson, 1973, December 26
-- 1973, December 26
President Harold B. Lee d. Salt Lake City, age 74. (1)
-- 26 Dec 1973
Brown had already been released as counselor. With the deaths of Smith and Lee, the First Presidency's most strident voices against Benson's ultra- conservatism were stilled. (2)
-- December 30, 1973
The fourteen members of the Quorum of the Twelve met at 3 PM to determine whether to reorganize the First Presidency immediately, and, if so, who should succeed as president. They decided to act immediately and Ezra Taft Benson moved that the First Presidency be reorganized with Spencer W. Kimball, the apostle senior in service, as president of the Church, prophet, seer, revelator, and trustee-in- trust. (3)
-- Dec 30, 1973 - 23 July 1981
Spencer W. Kimball N. Eldon Tanner Marion G. Romney Reorganization of First Presidency after death of Harold B. Lee (4)
-- During 1973
In 1973 Benson was set apart as president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. He worked to streamline church policies and procedures. (5)
-- 1974
Published Volume - God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties. Deseret Book (6)
-- January 11, 1974
The Mormon Church said Saturday a letter from Ezra Taft Benson, president of the Council of the Twelve, opposing low-cost housing in Heber City was accidently sent on official church stationary. ... [Benson] said subsidized housing for low income families was socialistic and attracted "undesirable" persons. (7)
-- February 22, 1974
Shortly after Spencer became President, Elder Benson was asked in an interview whether a good Mormon could be a liberal Democrat. He replied, "I think it would be very hard if he was living the gospel and understood it." When the comment appeared in print, along with a statement by Elder Benson that the Church might at some point endorse political candidates, it stirred a buzz of concern and a flood of protests to the Presidency. Spencer waited several days before discussing the matter with Elder Benson, who expressed regret that he had allowed the interview and apologized for the embarrassment his statements had caused the Church. Spencer understood his worthy motives and patriotic spirit, but reminded him that as president of the Council of Twelve he should avoid involvement in politically sensitive and potentially divisive matters. The interview closed on a cordial note, although Spencer observed a bit too sanguinely in his journal, "I doubt if he will get into politics any more." President Benson's biography by Sheri Dew does not mention the incident. (8)
-- 22 Feb 1974
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article, "Support for Candidate Possible Some Day, LDS Apostle Says," quotes Ezra Taft Benson as saying that a liberal Democrat could not be a good Mormon "if he was living the gospel and understood it."
Benson resumed partisan warfare by announcing that the church might officially support political candidates. Then on the eve of the November election he publicly endorsed the ultra-conservative American Party and spoke at its rally on the Saturday before the election. This required the First Presidency to issue an immediate statement that "we take no partisan stand as to candidates or parties, and any person who makes representations to the contrary does so without authorization." (9)
-- Spring 1974
General Authorities, particularly Elder Benson, sent President Kimball marked copies of publications containing statements by Church members they considered critical or impolitic. For example, Elder Benson forwarded a Dialogue interview with Juanita Brooks about her book on the Mountain Meadows massacre and a BYU Daily Universe article mentioning Dialogue favorably. Spencer chose not to respond to such matters. Many other items forwarded to Spencer W. Kimball were ultraconservative expressions of concern for subversion of democracy in the United States. (10)
-- 11 Apr 1974
L. Tom Perry is ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, replacing Spencer W. Kimball, who had been called to the First Presidency.
Endnotes:
1 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
2 - D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - Bruce R. McConkie, "Succession in the Presidency," Speeches of the Year: BYU Devotional and Ten-Stake Fireside Addresses, 1974 (Provo, Utah: BYU Press, 1975), 20–23; N. Eldon Tanner, "The Sustaining of Church Officers," Ensign 9 (November 1979): 18 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
4 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
5 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Ezra Taft Benson, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/
6 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
7 - "Says Spokesman: Benson Wrote Letter As Wasatch Citizen, Not as LDS Official" Provo Daily Herald, Jan 11, 1974 (provided by Joe Geisner)
8 - Spencer W. Kimball, Journal, February 22, 1974 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
9 - "Support for Candidate Possible Some Day, LDS Apostle Says," Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Feb. 1974, B-l; "Benson Tells Party Support," Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Nov. 1974, 29; "Church Says Elder's Speech on Third Party 'Unauthorized,'" Ogden Standard-Examiner, 4 Nov. 1974, A-10; "American Party told, 'Stand Firm,'" Deseret News, 4 Nov. 1974, B-14. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
10 - Kimball Papers -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
President Harold B. Lee d. Salt Lake City, age 74. (1)
-- 26 Dec 1973
Brown had already been released as counselor. With the deaths of Smith and Lee, the First Presidency's most strident voices against Benson's ultra- conservatism were stilled. (2)
-- December 30, 1973
The fourteen members of the Quorum of the Twelve met at 3 PM to determine whether to reorganize the First Presidency immediately, and, if so, who should succeed as president. They decided to act immediately and Ezra Taft Benson moved that the First Presidency be reorganized with Spencer W. Kimball, the apostle senior in service, as president of the Church, prophet, seer, revelator, and trustee-in- trust. (3)
-- Dec 30, 1973 - 23 July 1981
Spencer W. Kimball N. Eldon Tanner Marion G. Romney Reorganization of First Presidency after death of Harold B. Lee (4)
-- During 1973
In 1973 Benson was set apart as president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. He worked to streamline church policies and procedures. (5)
-- 1974
Published Volume - God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties. Deseret Book (6)
-- January 11, 1974
The Mormon Church said Saturday a letter from Ezra Taft Benson, president of the Council of the Twelve, opposing low-cost housing in Heber City was accidently sent on official church stationary. ... [Benson] said subsidized housing for low income families was socialistic and attracted "undesirable" persons. (7)
-- February 22, 1974
Shortly after Spencer became President, Elder Benson was asked in an interview whether a good Mormon could be a liberal Democrat. He replied, "I think it would be very hard if he was living the gospel and understood it." When the comment appeared in print, along with a statement by Elder Benson that the Church might at some point endorse political candidates, it stirred a buzz of concern and a flood of protests to the Presidency. Spencer waited several days before discussing the matter with Elder Benson, who expressed regret that he had allowed the interview and apologized for the embarrassment his statements had caused the Church. Spencer understood his worthy motives and patriotic spirit, but reminded him that as president of the Council of Twelve he should avoid involvement in politically sensitive and potentially divisive matters. The interview closed on a cordial note, although Spencer observed a bit too sanguinely in his journal, "I doubt if he will get into politics any more." President Benson's biography by Sheri Dew does not mention the incident. (8)
-- 22 Feb 1974
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article, "Support for Candidate Possible Some Day, LDS Apostle Says," quotes Ezra Taft Benson as saying that a liberal Democrat could not be a good Mormon "if he was living the gospel and understood it."
Benson resumed partisan warfare by announcing that the church might officially support political candidates. Then on the eve of the November election he publicly endorsed the ultra-conservative American Party and spoke at its rally on the Saturday before the election. This required the First Presidency to issue an immediate statement that "we take no partisan stand as to candidates or parties, and any person who makes representations to the contrary does so without authorization." (9)
-- Spring 1974
General Authorities, particularly Elder Benson, sent President Kimball marked copies of publications containing statements by Church members they considered critical or impolitic. For example, Elder Benson forwarded a Dialogue interview with Juanita Brooks about her book on the Mountain Meadows massacre and a BYU Daily Universe article mentioning Dialogue favorably. Spencer chose not to respond to such matters. Many other items forwarded to Spencer W. Kimball were ultraconservative expressions of concern for subversion of democracy in the United States. (10)
-- 11 Apr 1974
L. Tom Perry is ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, replacing Spencer W. Kimball, who had been called to the First Presidency.
Endnotes:
1 - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow (editor), New York: Macmillan, 1992, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History
2 - D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
3 - Bruce R. McConkie, "Succession in the Presidency," Speeches of the Year: BYU Devotional and Ten-Stake Fireside Addresses, 1974 (Provo, Utah: BYU Press, 1975), 20–23; N. Eldon Tanner, "The Sustaining of Church Officers," Ensign 9 (November 1979): 18 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
4 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
5 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Ezra Taft Benson, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/
6 - Wikipedia: "Ezra Taft Benson"
7 - "Says Spokesman: Benson Wrote Letter As Wasatch Citizen, Not as LDS Official" Provo Daily Herald, Jan 11, 1974 (provided by Joe Geisner)
8 - Spencer W. Kimball, Journal, February 22, 1974 -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
9 - "Support for Candidate Possible Some Day, LDS Apostle Says," Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Feb. 1974, B-l; "Benson Tells Party Support," Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Nov. 1974, 29; "Church Says Elder's Speech on Third Party 'Unauthorized,'" Ogden Standard-Examiner, 4 Nov. 1974, A-10; "American Party told, 'Stand Firm,'" Deseret News, 4 Nov. 1974, B-14. These are referenced in in D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) and Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3
10 - Kimball Papers -- as referenced in Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Working Draft)
LDS History Chronology: Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Ezra Taft Benson
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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