I have read pretty much everything President Benson has written and have found nothing racist, ultra right wing or conspiratorial in his writings. Nothing but love for God, church and family and a great love and respect for the US constitution and a warning of things to come which has proven prophetic. But most of all and most important is that the Holy Spirit has confirmed to me that he was a chosen servant of god, witnessed and strengthened one day as I was traveling to Star Valley Wyoming shortly after President Benson died, as we were approaching Preston where the turnoff to Whitney is we could see flowers everywhere and my wife said lets stop and see Pres. Benson's grave, so we turned of the highway and went to the cemetery in Whitney, there were literally hundreds if not thousands of flower memorials and other things but as we got out of the car and approached the gravesite the spirit that was their was unbelievable, one of the most powerful spiritual experiences, feelings of my life and I knew that he was a man of god.
MatDecember 11, 2020
I'm not sure how Mark Skousen, presumably a relative of Cleon Skousen, is considered an unbiased reviewer. Cleon Skousen's and Ezra Taft Benson's political views have a lot of overlap. Cleon Skousen's politics are something Matthew Harris discusses, not entirely favorably. I appreciate the exhaustive research Matt Harris has done and plan to purchase this book.
It is helpful to understand what went on behind the scenes in church leadership and the efforts of Apostle Benson's senior leaders to reign in his political activism which was often done over the pulpit. A recognition that not all church leaders were in agreement helps free me up to develop my own moral frameworks as an active member of the church who sometimes sees political issues differently than some of the church leaders. When we work to create a voting block among church members, creating a cultural attitude that only certain right-wing political views are considered acceptable, we end up losing some of our valued young people, among other valued members. I wish for a big tent within the church where we welcome people with different views and different backgrounds. Matthew Harris points out that church leaders such as Spencer Kimball and many others recognized the importance of remaining politically neutral, allowing church members to consider varied political viewpoints and that this was crucial to the growth of the church. The more the church becomes exclusively aligned with one political viewpoint we alienate members and prospective members.
Sue TowheyNovember 17, 2020
President Benson was sounding the alarm to prepare us for this day. He was a patriot and a defender of our Constitution and a fine example for each of us. The book's author has an agenda and isn't trying to hide it. Thankfully, we have discernment. Thank you for your article and review of this book. Faith and religion is in the cross-hairs today. We have to find the strength to hold firm to the values we have been taught, especially now.
Richard WinmillNovember 17, 2020
For me the story of Ezra Taft Benson is beautiful and I love it precisely because it is also a story of repentance. Skousen's most important statement Is this: "...Church counselors and colleagues eventually succeeded in softening Elder Benson’s political views when he became president of the Church in late 1985. ...the Lord guided him in a different direction; his focus as President of the Church was reading and distributing the Book of Mormon, not fighting Communism, and opening up missionary work in former Iron Curtain countries. " I love President Benson the better, because he "re -pented" or re-thought his work and we are the better for that re-thinking. I love Elder McConkie for the same reason. That these men as apostles, prophets seers and revelators were able to say: "I was wrong." blesses our lives two-fold. First in the example of reprentence and second in the beauty of their prophetic work.
Dave WindsorNovember 16, 2020
We could sure use President Benson today as .more and more otherwise good .members of the church are being deceived by secret combinations who seek power by any means and seek to destroy our freedom to worship God as our conscience dictates.
John R. CarpenterNovember 16, 2020
Not surprisingly Matt Harris gushes overtly in his book: "Hugh B. Brown: Mormonism’s Progressive Apostle."
His socialist leaning political views are becoming more and more pronounced with each class and book he produces. He is no longer even trying to be objective.
RenaeNovember 16, 2020
I have seen a decided turn to the right in Utah politics during my life. But most zi attribute to the Demicratic Party's support for abortion rights. I believe what extremism attributable to President Benson's comments remain could be better fought by more widely publishing stories of the efforts of other Church leaders counter his more extreme political beliefs. Also, to trying to educate our members as to all the beliefs we espouse, not just to a few. It is easy to ascribe secret combinations to the other political party if we are unaware of the errors in our own party. And, as current events are making clear, some education on personality disorders such as narcissistic personality disorder, would be helpful. The constitution just might hang by a thread because of the mental illness suffered by a Republican president.
Maryann TaylorNovember 16, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this article, and the title bothers me. Posing a question with a negative connotation suggests a judgement of guilt. The title also invites us to be suspicious of wrong doing. I hope everyone read the entire article to understand the details of the situation. The intent of this article was obviously to give President Benson a fair "hearing." However, I wonder if it only added fuel to the fire for those who are constantly seeking to criticize the leaders of the church.
Comments | Return to Story
CoreyJanuary 4, 2021
I have read pretty much everything President Benson has written and have found nothing racist, ultra right wing or conspiratorial in his writings. Nothing but love for God, church and family and a great love and respect for the US constitution and a warning of things to come which has proven prophetic. But most of all and most important is that the Holy Spirit has confirmed to me that he was a chosen servant of god, witnessed and strengthened one day as I was traveling to Star Valley Wyoming shortly after President Benson died, as we were approaching Preston where the turnoff to Whitney is we could see flowers everywhere and my wife said lets stop and see Pres. Benson's grave, so we turned of the highway and went to the cemetery in Whitney, there were literally hundreds if not thousands of flower memorials and other things but as we got out of the car and approached the gravesite the spirit that was their was unbelievable, one of the most powerful spiritual experiences, feelings of my life and I knew that he was a man of god.
MatDecember 11, 2020
I'm not sure how Mark Skousen, presumably a relative of Cleon Skousen, is considered an unbiased reviewer. Cleon Skousen's and Ezra Taft Benson's political views have a lot of overlap. Cleon Skousen's politics are something Matthew Harris discusses, not entirely favorably. I appreciate the exhaustive research Matt Harris has done and plan to purchase this book. It is helpful to understand what went on behind the scenes in church leadership and the efforts of Apostle Benson's senior leaders to reign in his political activism which was often done over the pulpit. A recognition that not all church leaders were in agreement helps free me up to develop my own moral frameworks as an active member of the church who sometimes sees political issues differently than some of the church leaders. When we work to create a voting block among church members, creating a cultural attitude that only certain right-wing political views are considered acceptable, we end up losing some of our valued young people, among other valued members. I wish for a big tent within the church where we welcome people with different views and different backgrounds. Matthew Harris points out that church leaders such as Spencer Kimball and many others recognized the importance of remaining politically neutral, allowing church members to consider varied political viewpoints and that this was crucial to the growth of the church. The more the church becomes exclusively aligned with one political viewpoint we alienate members and prospective members.
Sue TowheyNovember 17, 2020
President Benson was sounding the alarm to prepare us for this day. He was a patriot and a defender of our Constitution and a fine example for each of us. The book's author has an agenda and isn't trying to hide it. Thankfully, we have discernment. Thank you for your article and review of this book. Faith and religion is in the cross-hairs today. We have to find the strength to hold firm to the values we have been taught, especially now.
Richard WinmillNovember 17, 2020
For me the story of Ezra Taft Benson is beautiful and I love it precisely because it is also a story of repentance. Skousen's most important statement Is this: "...Church counselors and colleagues eventually succeeded in softening Elder Benson’s political views when he became president of the Church in late 1985. ...the Lord guided him in a different direction; his focus as President of the Church was reading and distributing the Book of Mormon, not fighting Communism, and opening up missionary work in former Iron Curtain countries. " I love President Benson the better, because he "re -pented" or re-thought his work and we are the better for that re-thinking. I love Elder McConkie for the same reason. That these men as apostles, prophets seers and revelators were able to say: "I was wrong." blesses our lives two-fold. First in the example of reprentence and second in the beauty of their prophetic work.
Dave WindsorNovember 16, 2020
We could sure use President Benson today as .more and more otherwise good .members of the church are being deceived by secret combinations who seek power by any means and seek to destroy our freedom to worship God as our conscience dictates.
John R. CarpenterNovember 16, 2020
Not surprisingly Matt Harris gushes overtly in his book: "Hugh B. Brown: Mormonism’s Progressive Apostle." His socialist leaning political views are becoming more and more pronounced with each class and book he produces. He is no longer even trying to be objective.
RenaeNovember 16, 2020
I have seen a decided turn to the right in Utah politics during my life. But most zi attribute to the Demicratic Party's support for abortion rights. I believe what extremism attributable to President Benson's comments remain could be better fought by more widely publishing stories of the efforts of other Church leaders counter his more extreme political beliefs. Also, to trying to educate our members as to all the beliefs we espouse, not just to a few. It is easy to ascribe secret combinations to the other political party if we are unaware of the errors in our own party. And, as current events are making clear, some education on personality disorders such as narcissistic personality disorder, would be helpful. The constitution just might hang by a thread because of the mental illness suffered by a Republican president.
Maryann TaylorNovember 16, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this article, and the title bothers me. Posing a question with a negative connotation suggests a judgement of guilt. The title also invites us to be suspicious of wrong doing. I hope everyone read the entire article to understand the details of the situation. The intent of this article was obviously to give President Benson a fair "hearing." However, I wonder if it only added fuel to the fire for those who are constantly seeking to criticize the leaders of the church.
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