The LDS Church in Italy: The 1966 Rededication by Elder Ezra Taft Benson

Authors

James A. Toronto
Richard N. Holzapfel

Keywords

Mormon studies, Italy, Ezra Taft Benson, missionary

Abstract

Since the early years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Italy has attracted the attention of Church leaders as a proselyting field. It is the practice of Church leaders to dedicate a land to the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and this article briefly describes the 1850 dedication of Italy by Apostle Lorenzo Snow, followed by a report of a second dedication in 1966 by another Apostle, Ezra Taft Benson. Elder Benson, as president of the European Mission, was warmly welcomed in Italy because of his prior work as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, when he helped relieve Italian food shortages. The article includes photos taken at the dedicatory event and excerpts of the dedicatory prayer. The prayer shows Elder Benson's love and concern for the Italian people as children of God.

Recommended Citation

Toronto, James A. and Holzapfel, Richard N. (2012) "The LDS Church in Italy: The 1966 Rededication by Elder Ezra Taft Benson," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 51: Iss. 3, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol51/iss3/4