Hank Smith: 00:02 Hello, everyone. Welcome to another FollowHIM Favorites. You know the drill. John and I are sharing a single story to go with this week’s Come, Follow Me lesson.

John Bytheway: 00:11 Hank, when I got home from my mission, I’m older than you, President Ezra Taft Benson became a president of the church. This is a story about him. Now, he had something very unique in his life. He was actually in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cabinet as the Secretary of Agriculture while he was a member of the 12.

Hank Smith: 00:30 Never happen today. I can’t see that ever happening.

John Bytheway: 00:32 They’re so busy. This is what Sheri wrote in her book, Prophets Can See Around Corners. This starts on page 84.

  00:39 In 1959, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, then a member of the 12, was serving simultaneously in US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cabinet as Secretary of Agriculture. In that capacity, he undertook a trip to Moscow at the height of the Cold War.

  00:55 Okay, think not Russia. Think Soviet Union.

  00:59 At the height of the Cold War, the relationship between the US and the Soviet Union was frosty.

  01:04 I got to tease Sheri about that. Height of the Cold War, it was frosty. That’s good, Sheri. I see what you did there.

  01:10 Secretary Benson’s plane was believed to be only the second US Air Force plane to fly into Moscow since World War II. Though Secretary Benson visited Moscow to meet with the Soviet Minister of Agriculture and to inspect the state of soviet farming, from the time he arrived, he repeatedly requested that he be allowed to visit one of the two Protestant churches in Moscow. His hosts ignored his request for days. Finally, as his entourage headed for the airport to depart, Elder Benson insisted they stop en route at the Central Baptist Church. Reluctantly, his hosts agreed. Secretary Benson and his group caused quite a stir as they entered the church and found a service in progress.

  01:54 One newsman described the scene. Every face in the old sanctuary gaped incredulously. As we were led down the aisle, they grabbed for our hands as we proceeded to our pews. Their wrinkled old faces looked at us pleadingly. They gripped our hands like frightened children. Without warning, the minister invited Elder Benson to speak. Never before had he addressed an audience quite like this one, but he did what apostles do. He testified of Jesus Christ. “Our Heavenly Father is not far away,” he promised. “He is our Father. Jesus Christ, the redeemer of the world watches over this earth. Be unafraid, keep His commandments, love one another, pray for peace, and all will be well.”

  02:40 Elder Benson then encouraged them to pray for help. “I believe very firmly in prayer,” he said. “I know that it is possible to reach out and tap that unseen power which gives us strength in time of need.” He concluded, “I leave you my witness as a church servant for many years that truth will endure. Time is on the side of truth. God bless you and keep you all the days of your life.”

  03:03 That’s the end of the quote from President Benson. There was not a dry eye in the church or among Elder Benson’s party as they entered their cars. Cynical Newsmen who had complained about going to church with Ezra wept openly.

  03:17 One member of the press wrote, “Imagine getting your greatest spiritual experience in atheistic Russia. This Methodist backslider,” the reporter was talking about himself, “Who occasionally grumbles about having to go to church, stood crying unashamedly, throat lumped, chills running from spine to toes. It was the most heart-rending and most inspiring scene I’ve ever witnessed.”

  03:41 Reporters were not the only ones affected by Elder Benson’s testimony in Moscow. Members of the Central Baptist Church were as well. So Sheri says, “I related this story later at the North Salt Lake Utah Stake and the stake president, President Taylor, told me, as a member of BYU’s Young Ambassadors way back in 1978, they had visited that church. And when the church’s pastor learned the group was from Brigham Young University and were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he invited them to his office. “Come with me.”

  04:14 There, the BYU group was stunned to see a framed picture of Elder Benson. The pastor told the young ambassadors about Elder Benson’s visit many years before, that his message had had such a profound effect on the congregation that Elder Benson’s picture had been there ever since. And then Sheri concludes, “When apostles testify of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost carries that message into the hearts of those willing to hear, and the impact can be long-lasting.” Cool story, huh?

Hank Smith: 04:45 If there’s anybody out there listening who doesn’t understand why that would be a big deal in Russia, you need to go talk to your grandparents.

John Bytheway: 04:53 Yeah. In the Soviet Union and the Cold War, they might not know what a Cold War is, so-

Hank Smith: 04:58 Yeah. It wasn’t sneezing back and forth. It was-

John Bytheway: 05:00 Yeah. It was spies and, oh man, it was not a hot war. Cold War is different. So how cool that President Benson would go there, get up, and say testify of Christ and say your prayers and things are going to be okay.

Hank Smith: 05:13 Yeah. And these Christians in that country, what a wow moment for them. Oh, what a great story. John, and from our former guest, Sheri Dew, I love it. Hey, come join us on our full podcast. It’s called FollowHIM. You get it wherever you get your podcasts. We’re with Dr. Matt Townsend this week, and you’re going to love it. And then come back here next week. We’ll do another FollowHIM Favorites.