Show c v v y 'i i m ' e n Standard-Examine- - 1 t r f Ogden y 1 rn r n Services Programs Commentary 1 July B to speak at Dee Mormons salute pioneers of 1 847 1 HE GREAT-GRANDSO- N of one of the original pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young on July 1 847 will speak at a community fireside at the Dee Events Center Sunday at 6:30 pm Ezra Taft Benson president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints is expected to pay tribute to the trek pioneers who made a thousand-mil- e to escape religious persecution in the Midwest The Mormons have grown in numbers and prospered since then The church now claims 54 million members Benson's Apostle Ezra T Benson was in the first party of Mormons Benson 84 is the ranking apostle of the church sustained to this presiding position in 1973 after serving 30 years as a member of the Twelve According to church tradition he is first in line to become president prophet seer and revelator of the Mormons His parents were among the early settlers of southern Idaho in the small community of Whitney As a young man he was active in scouting priesthood work and in auxiliary organizations of the church He attended the Oneida Stake Academy at Preston Idaho and later Utah State University After serving as a missionary in Great 3 Britain in he continued his education at Brigham Young University graduating with honors He received his master's degree at Iowa State University where he was elected to the Honor Society of Agriculture Later he did graduate work at the University of California He has held many positions in the church and also was Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower He is the author of several books and numerous articles His conservative political philosophy is reflected in his book Our Three Great Loyalties" in which he quoted 24 ' 3 ' ' ' great-grandfath- er - 1921-192- "God-Family-Count- G ry: See BENSON on 3C LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson of the LDS Church Council of the Twelve Apostles OOTS today 12c |