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The Lampoon agrees that using a signature machine is the only practical way a prophet of the Lord can sign thousands of rote documents intended to have a personal touch, but using a machine to sign legal documents is another matter.
President Ezra Taft Benson, a man whose life demonstrated this closeness to the Master, died of heart failure Monday, May 30, 1994, at the age of ninety-four. He passed away at 2:35 P.M. in his apartment in Salt Lake City. Family members had visited him during the days before his passing, singing hymns and favorite songs to him. - July 1994 Ensign
Sermons and proceedings of October 1-2, 1994, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 164th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 1
“We are at a time in the history of the world and the growth of the Church,” said President Howard W. Hunter at the Sunday closing session of the October general conference, “when we must think more of holy things and act more like the Savior would expect his disciples to act. We should at every opportunity ask ourselves, ‘What would Jesus do?’ and then act more courageously upon the answer. We must be about his work as he was about his Father’s. We should make every effort to become like Christ, the one perfect and sinless example this world has ever seen. …
“Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience.
“Let us share with our children the spiritual feelings we have in the temple. And let us teach them more earnestly and more comfortably the things we can appropriately say about the purposes of the house of the Lord.
“Let us prepare every missionary to go to the temple worthily and to make that experience an even greater highlight than receiving the mission call. Let us plan for and teach and plead with our children to marry in the house of the Lord. Let us reaffirm more vigorously than we ever have in the past that it does matter where you marry and by what authority you are pronounced man and wife.
“All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead lead to the holy temple. This is because the temple ordinances are absolutely crucial; we cannot return to God’s presence without them,” proclaimed President Hunter.
With this powerful and moving summary, President Hunter closed the October general conference, which was beamed via satellite in English and in many other languages to thousands of locations around the world.
Conducting conference sessions were President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Conference proceedings included the sustaining of President Hunter, President Hinckley, President Monson, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in solemn assembly during the opening conference session on Saturday, October 1 (see pages 4-5). Also sustained were other General Authorities and the general auxiliary leaders of the Church. This included sustaining three new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (see pages 6, 103-5), granting emeritus status to one Seventy and releasing seven others (see pages 6, 103-4), calling a new Sunday School general presidency, releasing the Primary general presidency and a counselor in the Young Women general presidency, and sustaining a new Primary general presidency and a new counselor in the Young Women general presidency (see pages 6, 103-4, 106-7).
Sermons and proceedings of October 2-3, 1993, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 163rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 1
“When I think of those who carry heavy burdens, my mind goes to our beloved prophet,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, at the opening of the Sunday morning session of October general conference.
In speaking of President Ezra Taft Benson, President Hinckley said that “President Benson is now in his ninety-fifth year. He still wears the mantle of his sacred office. But his activities are seriously limited. He is unable to be with us this morning or to speak to us. We love him. We honor him. We pray for him. We sustain him. And we go forward.”
“This church,” said President Hinckley, “is established on principles that are divine. From the day of its organization, it has been led by prophets, and I solemnly testify that the Lord Jesus Christ, whose church it is and whose name it bears, will never let any man or group of men lead it astray.”
Conducting general conference sessions were President Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Sermons and proceedings of April 4-5, 1992, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 162nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, May 1992,
“How our beloved prophet and President, Ezra Taft Benson, would enjoy standing at this pulpit to open a glorious conference of the Church. President Benson, we love you, we pray for you, we are anxious to follow your inspired direction,” said President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, at the Saturday opening session of the Church’s 162nd Annual General Conference.
“This morning I pray for heavenly help as I respond to President Benson’s assignment to speak in his behalf. I shall attempt to express his thoughts and counsel, largely in his own words,” President Monson continued.
Included in that counsel were suggestions for parents:
“1. Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen.
“2. Take time to be a real friend to your children.
“3. Take time to read to your children. …
“4. Take time to pray with your children.
“5. Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. Make this one of your great family traditions.
“6. Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible.
“7. Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family.
“8. Take time to do things together as a family.
“9. Take time to teach your children.
“10. Take the time to truly love your children.” (See pages 4 and 5.)
Though President Benson did not speak at conference, he was able to attend the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions.
Conducting conference sessions were President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and President Monson.
“Report of the 161st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, May 1991, 1 It has been customary for the President of the Church to welcome you and deliver a message at the commencement of conference,” said President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, at the Saturday opening session of the Church’s 161st Annual General Conference.
“President Benson has suggested that I begin this conference with a brief message in his behalf,” he said.
“With all his noble heart, President Benson would desire to stand at this pulpit and bear to you his witness concerning the truth of this work, the gratitude he feels for your prayers, and his fervent hope that all may so live as to merit and receive the abundant blessings a loving Heavenly Father desires to bestow,” said President Monson. (See page 4.)
Though President Benson did not feel strong enough to speak at conference, those in attendance were thrilled to see him at the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions. He watched the other conference proceedings on television at his residence.
Conducting conference sessions were President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and President Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Sermons and proceedings of October 6-7, 1990, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 160th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Nov. 1990, 1 “President Benson has asked that I say a few words on his behalf,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, at the opening session of the 160th Semiannual General Conference of the Church.
“In doing so, I quote his own language. …
“ ‘If you will follow the admonitions of the Lord and heed the counsel of His chosen servants in their callings as prophets, seers, and revelators, I promise you that love at home and obedience to parents will increase; faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel and they will gain power and strength to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them.’
“ ‘With all my soul I testify that this work will go forward till every land and people have had opportunity to accept our message. Barriers will come down for us to accomplish this mission, and some of us will see this done. Our Heavenly Father will cause conditions in the world to change so that His gospel can penetrate every border.’ ” (See page 4.)
Hospitalized following surgery a few days before conference, President Benson was able to watch conference proceedings on television while convalescing in his hospital room.
Conducting the sessions were President Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Speaking in the closing session, President Monson spoke also of President Benson: “There is a loneliness in the empty chair between President Hinckley and me, and we feel it in our hearts. I wish I could take you with President Hinckley and me to President Benson’s hospital room, which we visited a few days ago. I think the picture of tranquillity and love which was there would be very beneficial for all members of the Church to see. President Benson lay on his hospital bed, his left hand held by a noble son and his right hand by a beautiful daughter as she read to him from the Book of Mormon. In the background, a recording of Tabernacle Choir music played softly. It was just a little bit of heaven.” (See page 87.)
Sermons and proceedings of April 1-2, 1989, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 159th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, May 1989, 1 “Pride is the universal sin, the great vice,” declared President Ezra Taft Benson in his address opening the 159th annual general conference.
“The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means ‘hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.’ It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.
“Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done,’ ” said President Benson.
“The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness. It is the broken heart and contrite spirit,” said the President. (See pages 4, 6.)
President Benson presided at the two-day general conference. President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the sessions.
In the Saturday afternoon session, President Monson announced historic administrative action. “With the continued rapid growth of the Church, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have determined that the time has come to take additional steps to provide for the expansion and regulation of the Church. We announce, therefore, the organization of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, to become effective immediately,” he said.
“The initial membership of the Second Quorum of the Seventy will be those General Authorities currently serving under a five-year call. Additional Brethren will be added to the Second Quorum of the Seventy from time to time and will serve as Seventies and as General Authorities also under a five-year call. - Report of the 159th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sermons and proceedings of September 30-October 1, 1989, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 159th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 1
“I would like to speak to the elderly in the Church and to their families and to those who minister to their needs,” said President Ezra Taft Benson in his address opening the 159th Semiannual General Conference.
He then suggested eight areas in which the elderly can make the most of their senior years: (1) Work in the temple and attend often; (2) collect and write family histories; (3) become involved in missionary service; (4) provide leadership by building family togetherness; (5) accept and fulfill Church callings; (6) plan their financial future; (7) render Christlike service; and (8) stay physically fit, healthy, and active.
To families of the elderly, President Benson declared: “We encourage families to give their elderly parents and grandparents the love, care, and attention they deserve. … Remember, parents and grandparents are our responsibility, and we are to care for them to the very best of our ability. …
“Let us also learn to be forgiving of our parents, who, perhaps having made mistakes as they reared us, almost always did the best they knew how,” said the President.
“Finally, we would urge priesthood leaders of the elderly to be sensitive to the Spirit of our Father in Heaven in assessing and meeting the spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial needs of the elderly. We trust you will utilize your counselors, Melchizedek Priesthood quorum leaders, and Relief Society leaders, home teachers, and visiting teachers in this great responsibility, for we must fulfill these duties without reluctance or hesitation,” he said. (See page 4.)
President Benson presided at the two-day general conference. Conference sessions were conducted by President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and by President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Sermons and proceedings of October 1-2, 1988, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 158th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, 1
“The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to ‘sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out [His] elect.’ (Moses 7:62.) This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching, and our missionary work,” declared President Ezra Taft Benson in the opening session of October general conference.
“My beloved brothers and sisters, we hardly fathom the power of the Book of Mormon, nor the divine role it must yet play, nor the extent to which it must be moved,” he said.
“I do not know fully why God has preserved my life to this age, but I do know this: that for the present hour He has revealed to me the absolute need for us to move the Book of Mormon forward now in a marvelous manner. You must help with this burden and with this blessing which He has placed on the whole Church, even all the children of Zion,” said President Benson. (See p. 4 for article.)
The closing session on Sunday afternoon was again highlighted by President Benson’s stirring testimony: “I testify that as the forces of evil increase under Lucifer’s leadership and as the forces of good increase under the leadership of Jesus Christ, there will be growing battles between the two until the final confrontation. As the issues become clearer and more obvious, all mankind will eventually be required to align themselves either for the kingdom of God or for the kingdom of the Devil. As these conflicts rage, either secretly or openly, the righteous will be tested,” said President Benson. (See p. 86 for article.)
Presiding at the two-day conference was President Benson. Sessions were conducted by President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and by President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Sermons and proceedings of October 3-4, 1987, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Report of the 157th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 1
“We have an increasing number who have been convinced, through reading the Book of Mormon, that Jesus is the Christ. Now we need an increasing number who will use the Book of Mormon to become committed to Christ. We need to be convinced and committed,” urged President Ezra Taft Benson at the closing session of the October general conference.
“Let us continually reread the Book of Mormon so that we might more fully come to Christ, be committed to Him, centered in Him, and consumed in Him.
“We are meeting the adversary every day. The challenges of this era will rival any of the past, and these challenges will increase both spiritually and temporally. We must be close to Christ, we must daily take His name upon us, always remember Him, and keep His commandments,” pleaded President Benson (see page 85).
President Benson presided at the two-day general conference. Sessions were conducted by President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor; and President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor, in the First Presidency.
Sermons and proceedings of April 5-6, 1986, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
“Report of the 156th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, May 1986, 1
“Watchmen, what of the night?” asked President Ezra Taft Benson of Church members in referring to the latter-day premillennial conditions in which we live today. He was addressing Church membership in the Saturday morning, April 5, opening session of the Church’s 156th Annual General Conference.
“We must respond,” he said, “by saying that all is not well in Zion. As Moroni counseled, we must cleanse the inner vessel, beginning first with ourselves, then with our families, and finally with the Church. …
“The plaguing sin of this generation is sexual immorality. This, the Prophet Joseph Smith said, would be the source of more temptation, more buffetings, and more difficulties for the elders of Israel than any other.
“President Joseph F. Smith said that sexual impurity would be one of the three dangers that would threaten the Church within—and so it does. It permeates our society. …
“Unless we read the Book of Mormon and give heed to its teachings, the Lord has stated in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 84] that the whole Church is under condemnation. …
“Now we not only need to say more about the Book of Mormon, but we need to do more with it. … 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.”
President Benson then went on to discuss the subject of pride.
“Essentially, pride is a ‘my will’ rather than ‘thy will’ approach to life,” … he said. “We have made some wonderful strides in the past. We will be lengthening our stride in the future. To do so, we must first cleanse the inner vessel by awaking and arising, being morally clean, using the Book of Mormon in a manner so that God will lift the condemnation, and finally conquering pride by humbling ourselves,” said President Benson in his stirring remarks in the opening session of conference.
President Benson presided at the two-day general conference, which culminated in the Solemn Assembly during which President Benson was sustained by the Church membership as “prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” The Solemn Assembly was held during the Sunday afternoon general session of conference.
Following the sustaining, President Benson spoke movingly, saying, “Christ is our ideal. He is our exemplar. What manner of men and women should we be? Even as He is. The best measure of true greatness is how Christlike we are. The Book of Mormon declares that ‘every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.’ And ‘whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil.’ (Moro. 7:13, 17.) Let us use that standard to judge what we read, the music we hear, the entertainment we watch, the thoughts we think. Let us be more Christlike,” President Benson pleaded.
I, EZRA TAFT BENSON, do hereby certify that I am the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religious association, and by virtue of such office I am the Corporation Sole of THE CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, a Corporation Sole, organized under the laws of the State of Utah; that I am the person designated in The Articles of Incorporation of said Corporation Sole to sign and exectute deeds and other instruments of writing and to transact all of the business of said Corporation Sole pursuant to the provisions of Title 16, Chapter 7, Section 8, Utah Code Annotated, 1953; that pursuant to Section 16-7-8, therefore, I hereby designate and appoint THOMAS S. MONSON, counselor in The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to act as an agent authorized and empowered to execute deeds and other instruments of writing for and on behalf of said Corporation Sole.
This power of attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the Principal. This power of attorney grants plenary power to the Attorney-in-Fact to peform all acts that the principal could perform and shall be binding as if performed by the Principal, including authority to appoint, terminate and define the scope of authority to subagents. The power of attorney granted herein expressly confers powers on the designated Attorney-in-Fact to appoint sub agents or terminate the agency of any subagent during the period of the grantor's disability or incompetence in fact, whether or not judicially declared and whether or not the subagent was appointed during a period of grantor's competence. This power of attorney shall be construed and governed under the laws of the State of Utah.
DATED this 23rd day of May 1989, at Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ezra Taft Benson
_______________________
EZRA TAFT BENSON, Corporation Sole
of the Corporation of the President
of The Chruch of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
