Ezra Taft Benson

The Benson Grist Mill is a rugged monument to a dynamic pioneer past

Curiosity has no age limit, and for children and former children interested in Utah's agricultural and mechanical past — 150 or so years ago, when this territory was the settlers' prospective "State of Deseret" — pioneer Ezra T. Benson's grist mill site is just the ticket.

Missionary preparation — unleashing your potential

Studying Book of Mormon prophets Nephi and his younger brother Jacob helps young men and women prepare for full-time missionary service as well as everyday teaching moments. Weekly goal: Flee situations or people that encourage sexual sin.

Becoming as a child is the door to heaven

Humility is not weakness, submissiveness is not surrender — at least not in the worldly sense. Childlike virtues are not childish. For Christians, becoming “as a child” is the door to heaven.

Gardens teach children important life lessons

Young children love gardening, and it's a great activity to help them learn important lessons. It's also an activity encouraged by prophets and numerous church leaders. With spring just weeks away, now is the time to prepare for this year's garden.

Book of Mormon translation: Italian

Elder Lorenzo Snow organized the Italian mission in 1850 and supervised the translation of the Book of Mormon into the Italian language. "Il Libro di Mormon" was published in 1852.

The translators of the Book of Mormon

Since Joseph Smith published the first English edition of the Book of Mormon in 1830, several individuals have assisted in translating the sacred volume into 77 languages.

Landmark talk by President J. Reuben Clark set standard for church education

While the LDS Church commemorates the seminary centennial, it’s been almost 75 years since President J. Reuben Clark, then a member of the LDS Church’s First Presidency, delivered an address that set forth the standard for education in the chu

Food storage important to more than Mormons

While Mormons have been counseled by their church leaders for years to have food storage, many people who are not members of the LDS Church have been jumping on the covered bandwagon and experiencing the benefits of it.

Embracing the power of the Book of Mormon

Among the hallmarks of Ezra Taft Benson's tenure as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was his stirring summons to reemphasize the Book of Mormon.

Setting goals: Advice from Elder John A. Widtsoe still relevant more than a century later

These regulations are still relevant today as we plan our lives and use our time wisely.

Book remembers BYU's forgotten 1951 NIT champions

"The Forgotten Champions." It is a book title that fits the tale of the late Stan Watts' squad and its glorious 1951 National Invitational Tournament championship.

Why I am a stay-at-home mom

Being a stay-at-home mom was not a haphazard choice. It was something I wanted for me and for my children, not something I thought might be fun. For me, it was all part of the package of motherhood.

Oldest native Utahn celebrates her 106th birthday

Virginia Lewis said she heard rumors that her grandchildren were planning a party. Even if she doesn't think it's an accomplishment, they think reaching 106 is cause for celebration.

At BYU, Pres. Thomas Monson relates how Harvard's Clayton Christensen got Book of Mormon testimony

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson pinned a large portion of his devotional address at BYU on Tuesday on the story of how Harvard business professor Clayton Christensen received his testimony of the Book of Mormon while a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.

Globe columnist: An 'epochal' moment for Mormons in public life

Perception of Mitt Romney election to presidency would be similar to that of John F. Kennedy, scholar says

If Mitt Romney were to be elected president of the United States in 2012, the concern that some voters now have with his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would dissipate, said Newell Bringhurst.

Author uses humor, scriptures in 'Bad Guys in the Book of Mormon'

Dennis Gaunt, author of "Bad Guys in the Book of Mormon," uses humor, scriptures and quotes from LDS Church leaders to write an insightful book on how to avoid becoming the bad guy.

Behind the music: 'I Hope They Call Me on a Mission'

Newel K. Brown's song "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission" has touched the hearts of millions worldwide.

Historic Idaho building to be restored

PRESTON, Idaho — A preservation group says a $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor will allow restoration to begin on the facade of a landmark 120-year-old school building in southern Idaho.

Defending the Faith: Keeping our eye on the president of the church

There's little challenge in having modern prophets, and very little point to it, if they're only allowed to ratify our opinions and endorse our behavior. If they always agreed with us, wouldn't they be redundant?

Fathers provide lifelong protection for their daughters

Protecting daughters is an almost universal desire among fathers. That sense of safeguarding reaches beyond the worries of dating and teenage years.

Prophets who lived in the Hotel Utah

Several people can recall random and memorable moments when they met the prophets who lived in the Hotel Utah. Here are some of those unique stories.

Joseph Smith Memorial Building is still a place to mark special occasions

An American Tours International group of German tourists had come to take a brief tour of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and as part of the tour spent 20 minutes or so in the FamilySearch Center. When it came time to go to the restaurant for lunch, one man remained at one of the stations.

Why the family: We must learn, teach tolerance for other faiths

The LDS missionaries we presided over years ago in London came to know that one thing we would not tolerate was criticism and disrespect for other religions.

Book Review: 'From the Heart: Charity in the Book of Mormon'

In her book, “From the Heart: Charity in the Book of Mormon,” Marilyn Arnold gives readers a closer look at the message of charity, which permeates the Book of Mormon from cover to cover.

Many headstones that carry distinct Mormon features

Stroll through the Salt Lake City Cemetery and you'll find the graves of 11 of the past presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You'll also discover a wealth of resting places for numerous LDS Church members.

Many LDS Church members' headstones carry distinct features

Stroll through the Salt Lake City Cemetery and you'll find the graves of 11 of the past presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You'll also discover a wealth of resting places for numerous LDS Church members.

The great floods of 1983 and 1952

We have all heard of the Utah flood of 1983. Many experienced it. But how many remember the flood of 1952?

President Spencer W. Kimball was a small man with a great appetite for work

One of the pleasures of going through the photo archives of the Deseret News is that it occasionally brings back personal memories of some of the people I have met — and one that I made bleed.

President Spencer W. Kimball was a small man with a great appetite for work

All 24 million words of LDS general conference

Mark Davies' \"Corpus of LDS General Conference Talks\" — found at corpus.byu.edu/gc — contains the 10,000-plus addresses given and more than 24 million words spoken during the past 160 years of semi-annual general conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

All 24 million words of LDS general conference

Talk about a body of work about talks.

Developing a testimony of the living prophets

The most memorable conference for me was when Elder Jeffrey R. Holland the newest apostle at the time bore his witness of President Hunters calling

Called to sing at general conference

It seemed from the very moment I made a decision to serve a full-time mission in the fall of 1991, my life began to be filled with firsts.

The Missionary Training Center: a timeline

Bloggers trumpet bond between Mormons and Jews

David Ben-Gurion, Israels first prime minister, once had a conversation with future LDS President Ezra Taft Benson. There are no people in the world who understand the Jews li

Spirit of the law versus the letter of the law

A guide to help us be more honest with ourselves and what is right, even though it appears to be "not wrong."

At 100, why Ronald Reagan still matters

A century after his birth, Ronald Reagan still looms large over the landscape of American politics.

Provo Tabernacle remembered for its past ... and presence

In the wake of its fiery destruction early Friday morning, the Provo LDS Tabernacle is being remembered for its past, its present and its presence.

Decades of downtown S.L. music and lights

Christmas lights first were put up around Temple Square, according to a 1997 article by Jerry Johnston, at the direction of LDS Church President David O. McKay.

Daily Gems: Hearts open to conviction

Today's Daily Gem comes from President Ezra Taft Benson.

Heavenly Father's blessings do not have 'spare days' — and neither should gratitude

There's no shortage of gratitude in the scriptures, just as there's no shortage of latter-day urgings to embrace it.

Wanda Barzee says she 'learned to be submissive and obedient'

Editor's note: Deseret News reporters have provided unofficial line by line transcripts of much of Wanda Barzee's testimony from Thursday.

Homer details eight years of being a 'squeaky wheel'

Over the next eight years William E. Homer served as public communications director, he documented his efforts to address misconceptions, provide accurate information and gradually improve attitudes toward the church by working with the San Jose Mercury News.