A Labor of Love: The Nineteen Forty-Six European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson

by Ezra Taft Benson

In December 1945 Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve was called as president of the European Mission, and the following month he left for Europe. In the normal course of things, that assignment would not have been viewed as particularly noteworthy. But conditions in Europe in 1946 were anything but normal, and what became known as his "emergency mission" there would go down in Church annals as one of the most distinctive, demanding, unusual missions in this dispensation. President Benson had been uniquely prepared for this mission. He brought to the assignment years of experience in Washington, D. C., where he had worked at the highest levels of government. He had excellent organizational skills and stamina exceeding that of many men, was a prodigious worker, and possessed deep faith in the overriding power of the Lord Jesus Christ. President Benson went to Europe, leaving his family behind; and for eleven months while, under the Lord's direction, he performed miracles in behalf of Saints an ocean away, Sister Benson did the same in Salt Lake City as she kept their family of six children on an even keel and mustered the energy and time to give her husband as much support as she could from a distance. Though separated by many miles, their relationship sustained each other. The Bensons' letters to and from each other and their journal entries, as well as other official accounts of that period, tell the story of that adventurous but trying year. They also reveal the depth of their convictions to the Lord as well as their devotion to each other. In microcosm, they represent the essence of Ezra Taft and Flora Benson. A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson is a story about love-the love of a husband and wife for the Lord and for each other, the love of the Saints for their brothers and sisters an ocean away, the love of the Brethren for one of their colleagues away on a demanding assignment, and the love of the Lord for his people.

Genres: Lds, History, Biography, Church, Religion

263 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

The thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both of the administrations of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. Because Kimball was the older of the two, he was given seniority over Benson in the Quorum. Succession to the presidency of the church is by chronological order of ordination to apostleship, allowing Spencer W. Kimball to become president of the church years earlier than Benson. Upon Spencer W. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson became the president of the church.

Benson suffered poor health in the last years of his life from the effects of blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks, and was rarely seen publicly. He was hospitalized in 1992 and 1993 with pneumonia.

Benson died of congestive heart failure in his Salt Lake City apartment at the age of 94. Funeral services were held June 4, 1994 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley. He was buried near his birthplace in Whitney, Idaho, at the Whitney City Cemetery.

Reviews

[Jileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weird story of how I first came to know of this book. Years ago I bought it for someone else (cheater!) but always hoped to read it. And then at a recent Stake Conference, someone had cleaned out all their church books and put them on tables, free to take. This book was there. Of course I grabbed it up!

I cannot even imagine the devastation in Europe after WW II. And it is hard for me to grapple with all that Elder Benson saw, witnessed, heard about, and then tried to help in those war-torn countries.

I appreciated the inclusion of not only Elder Benson’s journal but also of his wife’s journal and both their letters. While some of the details get a little repetitive it is still a powerful message of God opening a way for help to millions of people.

[Jacob Lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book a long time ago and I didn’t read it because it looked boring. I was about to donate it to the thrift store when I figured I should give it a chance first. I am glad I did. Elder Benson was called to go to Europe after WWII to look after the spiritual and physical needs of the European Church members, to reorganize the missions in Europe, and to prepare for full-time missionaries to return to Europe. It was a monumental task. This book provides a first-person account of Elder Benson’s 11-month mission. It is mostly his journal entries, with sections from Sister Benson’s journal and their correspondence with each other. I was astonished at the hardships that the Europeans were suffering still a year after the war ended. People were still starving and dying of exposure because of lack of basic shelter and clothing. Transportation and communication were a disaster. But this book records the miracles that happened, both through the Lord opening doors and because members of the Church had already filled storehouses of food and clothing to send. It is an important episode in Church history, and it is delightful to read about it in the Bensons’ own words. Another selling point for the book is that it includes Sister Benson’s perspective. She was left with 4 kids still at home and had to deal with one getting seriously ill and then with her own health problems. It is important to be able to see how much of a burden she bore by sacrificing her husband’s presence to bless others across the world. This book makes me more grateful for the Bensons, the sacrifice of ordinary Church members, and the blessings of peace and prosperity, not to mention the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book concludes with a beautiful talk that Elder Benson gave in April 1947 general conference about his mission. If a whole book is too long for you, read that.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entries from Ezra Benson's journal during his ten months in 1946 meeting with the members of the church in war-torn Europe. Such an eye-opening read to realize what horrific conditions so many Europeans lived under following the war. In addition to meeting with the members and reorganizing their missions, Elder Benson was responsible for the distribution of tons of food and clothing the church was sending to Europe. (Very similar to the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart companies as people in Europe were homeless and dying of starvation.) The USA government and European governments were in disbelief that the LDS church back in the USA had so many life-saving goods all ready to be shipped to their members in Europe. One of the reasons Elder Benson was chosen among the Twelve to spend almost a year in such a disrupted and difficult place was that he was younger than most of the other apostles and had the health to endure the rigors such a mission would require. He left behind him a devoted wife and six children. Portions of their letters back and forth during this time are included and are tender and sweet to read.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reading was my farewell to arms, (for this school year). Made up entirely of diary entries, letters and mission reports. My eyes were open to the destitution of the saints in Europe; the greater success in missionary work during the war; and the love ETBenson and his wife had for each other. I liked it.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing, being able to see the hand of the Lord had with the people of Europe after WWII.

I think of this book often and love to reread it every few years to keep myself in check.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book described all kinds of awesome miracles that led to missionary work moving forward in Europe after World War II. I liked that it included perspectives from Pres. Benson and from his wife back home who he left for a year.

[Cori Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so interesting, a first hand look at post wwII Europe. I loved it though it was hard for me to get through, it's written as excerpts from letters so the flow is thrown off a lot. I'm glad I read it though.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book of the mission after WWII where Elder Ezra Taft Benson & Bro Babel went in and met the needs there. I remembered this book today, and want to find a copy for my kids to read...and probably me again too!

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirational at points, really boring at points. Overall, not the best book I have read by an Apostle, but I enjoyed it well enough.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!

[Jason Burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not quite as captivating as I had hoped it would be.

[Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it only took me 3 years to read this book. It wasn't because it wasn't good. Mostly because I don't read much and there wasn't an audiobook for this one. :-) Love reading about how the church help rebuild things in there own little way after the war. I loved how loyal and faithful the member were in waiting for Elder Benson for hours and hours. Can't imagine being away from my family for such a long time and under such conditions.

[David Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The events in this book cross paths with my father's time in Europe during and after the war.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great account of Benson's involvement with helping European saints after the last war there. I especially was interested in the German stories since I lived in the Frankfurt area in the mid-70s.