Adam S. Bennion

ADAM S. BENNION, A. M. Whose appointment recently to the Superintendence of the Church Schools, marks an epoch in the progress of these important educational insti- tutions.

New Head of Church Schools Professor Adam S. Bennion, one of the leading educators of the state, who was appointed superintendent of the Latter- day Saints Church school system on July 1, 1919, was born at Taylorsville, Salt Lake county, December 2, 1886. His father died when the boy was only two years old, and his training, therefore, devolved upon his mother, Mary Ann Bennion, to whose tender love and devoted sacrifice, he says, he owes his

1066 IMPROVEMENT ERA all. Through her inspiration, young Bennion was prompted to travel eleven miles to and from the University of Utah, for seven years while a student there. During the worst weather, he was taken to the car at Murray, in the morning, and met there at night, so as not to miss a day's schooling, but generally he walked the two miles to the car line. In this way persever- ance and punctuality were vividly impressed upon his mind. Elder Bennion has the advantages of a thorough education. He first attended the public schools of Salt Lake county, and then passed through the high school, and afterwards studied in the University of Utah, where he received the degree of A. B. in 1908. In 1912, he obtained the degree of A. M. at the Columbia University, New York. During the summer of 1916, he studied in Chicago, and during 1917-18 he attended the Uni- versity of Utah Law School, while doing work as a teacher in the University. He has also taken a correspondence course in business administration, from the Lasalle University. Elder Bennion has filled several positions in the Church. From 1904 to 1907 he was a member of the superintendency of the Taylorsville Sunday school, and teacher in the Y. M. M. I. A. From 1907 to 1915, except during the time he spent in the East, he served in the superintendency of the Granite stake Sunday schools. In 1915, he became a member of the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union, and in 1919, of the General Board of Religion classes. He has also had a wonderful ex- perience as a teacher. From 1908 to 1911, he was connected with the Latter-day Saints high school, and the following five years, was principal of the Granite high school. From 1917 to 1919 he served as assistant professor of English at the Univer- sity of Utah. Elder Bennion, while a teacher in the Latter-day Saints University, married Minerva Young, a charming daughter of General and Mrs. Richard W. Young. They have been blessed with three winsome children, Phyllis, Adam, and Richard. The literature of Utah has been enriched with several con- tributions from Professor Bennion's facile pen. The best known of these is, What It Means to be a "Mormon." No doubt the services of Elder Bennion will result in great advancement to the Church schools, and his many friends, and the Saints generally wish him joy and satisfaction in the import- ant work before him, in all of which the editors of the Era heartily join.