The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-02-25

by day and many times by nigh
standing guard to prevent the on
slaught of fiendish moboorats
At the exodus from Illinois, Err
r. Benson and family moved out will
the first company in 1916. william
Huntington presided at Mt Pisgah
and to him Ezra T. Benson was ap
pointed a counsellor.
While at Pisgah he was notified Of
his appointment to the Apostleship tC
fill the vacancy in the Council OF the
Twelve made by the apostacy Of Johi
Il. Page. He moved on to the main
camp of the saints in Council Bluffs
and at this place was ordained to the
spostleship, July 10th, 1916.
From Council Bluffs he went on a
brief mission to the east, returning
November 9th, 1876. In the following
spring he was selected by President
Young as one of the honored company
of 143 to pioneer the great west and
| find the home which God had held in
reserve for his people. When Brother
Benson, years before, felt the spirit
uring him westward little did he
dream how great the import of such
impression. That in the west he
should find the true plan of salvation
and carry the standard of the gospel
still westward 1,50O miles, plant tho
stars and stripes on Mexican soil,
and be himself one of the first men in
founding the greatest commonwealth
of people ever founded in our great
republic.
Soon after his arrival In the val.
ley he returned to meet the compan-
les of Saints enroute and inform them
that place of location had been
found. He accompanied them to their
destination and then returned to
Winter Quarters with the pioneers
He next performed successful mis-
sion in the east, being absent several
months
On January 18th, 1S47, he with 9th
ers was named in a revelation to the
Prophet Brigham Young to organize
companies of Saints for their pilgrim.
age to the Far West. Let my ser
wants, Ezra T. Benson and Erastus
Snow, organize a company" was the |
word of the Lord to His mouthpiece on !
the earth.
Upon returning from his mission to
the east he was appointed to preside
in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, |
where he was associated in the man.
agement of the church in that region
with Apostles Orson Hyde an.i George
A. Smith Concluding his labors in
Iowa he moved to Salt Lake valley
in lS49.
Enroute he was seriously ill, but by
the prayers of the camp, while fasting, !
the power OF God was manifested and |
he recovered. Again in 1851 he was |
sent TO Pottawattamie County, Iowa, !
to gather up the Saints and help
move them to the body of the church
From this mission he returned in
1862.
While at home in Utah he was con-
stantly at work either with his hands
to improve and develop the country,
in council with the Priesthood, or
preaching the gospel among the
Saints.
In 1856 he went on mission to |
Europe, where he was associated with |
Apostle Orson Pratt in the presidency |
Of the British mission.
He returned home the following
year. Elder Benson was not consid- |
cred as great public speaker, yet he
was vigorous and earnest. When the |
weather was oppressively warm 1t Is
said he would take off his coat while |
preaching and remark to the cOngre-
cation that he believed in comfort
more than style" In 1860 he was cal
led to preside over the Saints In
Cache Valley. He made this his home
the remainder of his natural life, be-
ing the apostle of the northern coun-
try.
He was wise in council, Industrious
and exemplary, and source of great
strength to the people in colonizing
and building settlements in that val
ley. In the early settlement Of Cache,
IL was so cold that II was hardly deem.
ed feasible for being occupied. Today
1t is the best watered and has under
cultivation a greater percentage of it's
land than any other valley in Utah.
He went to the Sandwish Islands
with Apostle Lorenzo Snow, Elders
Joseph f. Smith, Alma l.. Smith and
VIM. w. Cuff, to regulate the affairs
nf ha la