Ezra Taft Benson
| Ezra Taft Benson | |
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| 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| November 10, 1985 – May 30, 1994 | |
| Predecessor | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Successor | Howard W. Hunter |
| President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| December 30, 1973 – November 10, 1985 | |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 7, 1943 – November 10, 1985 | |
| End reason | Became President of the Church |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 7, 1943 – May 30, 1994 | |
| Reason | Deaths of Sylvester Q. Cannon and Rudger Clawson |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Jeffrey R. Holland ordained |
| 15th United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office | |
| January 21, 1953 – January 20, 1961 | |
| Predecessor | Charles F. Brannan |
| Successor | Orville L. Freeman |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 4, 1899 Whitney, Idaho, United States |
| Died | May 30, 1994 (aged 94) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Resting place | Whitney Cemetery 42°04′40″N 111°50′28″W / 42.0778°N 111.84110°W |
| Education |
Secondary Education, 1918, Oneida Stake Academy Bachelor's in Animal Husbandry and Agronomy, 1926, Brigham Young University Master’s in Agricultural Economics, 1927, Iowa State College |
| Spouse(s) | Flora Smith Amussen Benson (1926–1992, her death) |
| Children | Reed Benson Mark Benson Barbara Benson Beverly Benson Bonnie Benson Flora Beth Benson |
| Parents | George T. Benson Sarah D. Benson |
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Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was an American farmer, government official, and religious leader who served as United States Secretary of Agriculture during both presidential terms of Dwight D. Eisenhower and as thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1985 until his death in 1994.
Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of eleven children. He was the great-grandson of Ezra T. Benson, who was appointed by Brigham Young a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1846. Benson began his academic career at Utah State Agricultural College (USAC, modern Utah State University), where he first met his future wife, Flora Smith Amussen. Benson alternated quarters at USAC and work on the family farm.
Benson served an LDS Church mission in Britain from 1921 to 1923. It was while serving as a missionary, particularly an experience in Sheffield, that caused Benson to realize how central the Book of Mormon was to the Restored Gospel message and converting people to the LDS Church. On his mission, he served as president of the Newcastle Conference.
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