In December of 1945,
Ezra Taft Benson was called to preside
over the European mission in the aftermath of World War 2.
His assignment was to reopen
missions throughout Europe and to distribute food,
clothing, and bedding to suffering Saints.
Serving for 11
months elder Benson traveled across Germany,
Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Scandinavia.
Meeting in bombed out
schoolhouses and meeting houses with Saints who had lost
homes, loved ones, and help.
The scenes of starvation
and destruction never faded from his memory.
Time after time when permission
to enter war torn countries or to distribute supplies
seemed impossible to obtain, elder Benson appealed to
the Lord to open the way. Barriers were
ultimately dissolved and thousands of tons of
Church welfare supplies found their way to
the Saints of Europe.
Nearly 40 years later Ezra Taft
Benson was blessed to return to Germany for the dedication
of the Frankfurt Temple. . As President of the
Church Ezra Taft Benson oversaw the dedication's
of nine temples.
