Ezra T. Benson

Ezra T. Benson

1811–1869 (58 years)

Hometown: Mendon, Massachusetts

Biography

Ezra T. Benson (not to be confused with his great-grandson Ezra Taft Benson who became prophet) was an apostle from 1846 until his death in 1869. A Massachusetts native, he was among the early converts who gathered with the Saints.

Benson practiced polygamy with eight wives. He served on the pioneering vanguard company that entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. He was the great-grandfather of the future prophet who bore his name.

His apostolic service during the settlement period helped establish the church in the Mountain West.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Brigham Young Brigham Young 1801–1877 (76 years)

Wives (8)

Ezra T. Benson was a polygamist with 8 marriages.

Marriage Age Comparison

8 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Pamelia Emma Andrus Jan 1, 1832 222024
2 Adeline Brooks Andrus Apr 27, 1844 303334
3 Desdemona Wadsworth Fullmer Jan 26, 1846 363420
4 Eliza Ann Parry Jan 15, 1850 2238166
5 Lucinda Burton Sep 2, 1852 2741143
6 Elizabeth Gollaher Jun 4, 1853 2142215
7 Mary Knight Nov 10, 1855 2544196
8 Ane Marie Magnusdr Larsen Sep 15, 1866 2355322

Children (30)

With Pamelia Emma Andrus (4 children)

  1. Charles Augustus Benson (b. Jul 9, 1837)
  2. Pamelia Emma Benson (b. Feb 22, 1842)
  3. Isabella Benson (b. Mar 9, 1846)
  4. Charlotte Taft Benson (b. Jul 4, 1850)

With Adeline Brooks Andrus (4 children)

  1. George Taft Benson (b. May 1, 1846)
  2. Florence Adeline Benson (b. Sep 17, 1851)
  3. Nellie Benson (b. Nov 30, 1851)
  4. Frank Andrus Benson (b. Oct 16, 1853)

With Eliza Ann Parry (6 children)

  1. Alice Eliza Benson (b. Aug 11, 1848)
  2. John Perry Benson (b. Sep 24, 1849)
  3. Malina Adelaide Benson (b. Sep 21, 1851)
  4. Orrin William Benson (b. Oct 4, 1853)
  5. Carrie Stella Benson (b. May 22, 1860)
  6. Abbie Della Benson (b. Oct 16, 1862)

With Lucinda Burton (3 children)

  1. Lucinda Benson (b. Jan 1, 1856)
  2. Albert Benson (b. Jan 1, 1858)
  3. Infant Benson (b. Jan 1, 1863)

With Elizabeth Gollaher (5 children)

  1. Fredrick Gollaher Benson (b. Jan 17, 1855)
  2. Brigham Young Benson (b. Dec 17, 1858)
  3. Luella Gollaher Benson (b. Nov 12, 1860)
  4. William C. Benson (b. Nov 11, 1862)
  5. Hyrum Smith Benson (b. May 3, 1864)

With Mary Knight (6 children)

  1. Louisa Benson (b. Jun 29, 1852)
  2. Moroni Benson (b. Nov 5, 1861)
  3. Lorenzo Taft Benson (b. Aug 3, 1863)
  4. Joseph Benson (b. Jul 13, 1865)
  5. Ida May Benson (b. Apr 16, 1867)
  6. Don Carlos Benson (b. Sep 29, 1869)

With Ane Marie Magnusdr Larsen (2 children)

  1. Walter Taft Benson (b. Jun 17, 1867)
  2. Henry Taft Benson (b. Mar 19, 1869)

Related Images

Homemaking is the highest, most noble profession to which a woman might aspire. - Ezra Taft Benson, LDS Church President, The Honored Place of Woman, 1981 | wasmormon.org “Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children... have your children and have them early.” - Ezra Taft Benson, LDS Church President, To the Mothers in Zion, 1987 | wasmormon.org “The counsel of the Church has always been for mothers to spend their full time in the home in rearing and caring for their children.” - Ezra Taft Benson, LDS Church President, To the Mothers in Zion, 1987 | wasmormon.org “Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mother’s place is in the home! I recognize there are voices in our midst which would attempt to convince you that these truths are not applicable to our present-day conditions. If you listen and heed, you will be lured away from your principal obligations. Beguiling voices in the world cry out for "alternative life-styles" for women. They maintain that some women are better suited for careers than for marriage and motherhood. It is a misguided idea that a woman should leave the home.” - Ezra Taft Benson, LDS Church President - As Living Prophet, 1981 | wasmormon.org "Learn to keep your eye on the prophet. He is the Lord’s mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today. Let his inspired counsel take precedence. Let his inspired words be a basis for evaluating the counsel of all lesser authorities... This Church is not being directed by the wisdom of men." Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, Chapter 11: Follow the Prophet | wasmormon.org "It seems to us that it ought to be possible to work this situation out without causing any feelings on the part of anybody. If the white sisters feel that they may not sit with them or near them, we feel very sure that if the colored sisters were discreetly approached, they would be happy to sit at one side in the rear or somewhere where they would not wound the sensibilities of the complaining sisters. We will rely upon your tact and discretion to work this out so as not to hurt the feelings on the part of anyone." - Letter to President Ezra T. Benson, Washington D.C. Stake President, From the First Presidency Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay, Dated 23 June 1942 | wasmormon.org "If you allow the people of the church to turn you against the church, then you were not worthy to be in the church in the first place" - Ezra Taft Benson, speaking to Natalie Palmer-Taylor, a black mother upset that her child was a target of a racial epithet from another member, 1988 | wasmormon.org "Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, etc. Our missionaries are not as effective unless they are “hissing forth” with it." - Ezra Taft Benson, Church President | wasmormon.org Cartoon representing Two centuries of Book of Mormon Historicity Debates from Sunstone Article. Two Centuries of Book of Mormon Historicity Debates 19th Century: Mormons use Native American and Mesoamerican ruins as evidence of Book of Mormon civilizations. Early 20th Century: Skeptics point out anachronisms in the Book of Mormon such as wheels and horses. Apologists search for archeological evidence of Book of Mormon civilizations. Mid-20th Century: The original Book of Abraham papyrus is discovered to actually be a funerary text, helping to throw more doubt on the ancient origins of the Book of Mormon. Orthodox scholars propose a "limited geography" of the Book of Mormon. Orthodox scholars begin looking for "Old World" parallels to the Book of Mormon. Late 20th Century: The LDS Church disciplines revisionist scholars. President Ezra Taft Benson's focus on the Book of Mormon initiates more scholarly attention and anti-Mormon polemics. FARMS counters attacks on the Book of Mormon. Early 21st Century: DNA studies seem to rule out Israelitish ancestry of Native Americans. The Internet spawns an explosion of critical and apologetic material.