“President Benson Addresses Puerto Rican Saints,” Ensign, June 1987, 76
President Benson Addresses Puerto Rican Saints
President Ezra Taft Benson testified of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 12. He spoke in two general sessions to members gathered from the country’s four stakes.
The gathering was held in a stadium during a day-long rainstorm, during which President Benson addressed the conference from under the cover of an umbrella.
Other speakers included Sister Flora Benson; Elder Rex D. Pinegar, of the First Quorum of the Seventy; Sister Bonnie Pinegar; Bruce E. Belnap, regional representative; and Sister Phyllis Belnap. The presidents of the four Puerto Rican stakes also spoke.
President Benson quoted from the eighth article of faith: “‘We … believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.’” [A of F 1:8] He said that “God has so declared it, so have its writers, and so do all those who have read it and received a personal revelation from God as to its truthfulness.”
He pointed out that the Book of Mormon was abridged by the prophet Mormon from records kept by his people for centuries. In making his abridgment, Mormon received guidance from the Lord about what to include for readers today. President Benson noted that the book testifies of the divinity of Christ and his gospel and “confounds false doctrines. …
“We are to use the Book of Mormon as the basis for our teaching,” he said, adding that we have the task of declaring the gospel effectively.
President Benson warned that families may be corrupted by worldly influences if the Book of Mormon isn’t studied regularly in the home. He stressed that every Latter-day Saint should diligently study the Book of Mormon throughout his or her lifetime.
During the meetings, President Benson told the congregation that Puerto Rico held special memories for him because he had created the San Juan stake when he visited there in December 1980.
President Ezra Taft Benson, right, addresses members in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during rainstorm. Interpreter is at left. (Photo by Gerry Avant, Church News.)