Joseph T. Bentley
Encyclopedia
Joseph Taylor Bentley was the tenth general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1958 to 1962.
Born in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
, Bentley graduated from Brigham Young University
and worked as a teacher and educational administrator in the U.S. state of Utah
and Mexico. In 1953, he began teaching in the accounting department at BYU and eventually became an assistant to Ernest L. Wilkinson
, the president of the university.
In 1956, Bentley became the first president
of the Northern Mexican Mission
of the LDS Church, which was created by dividing the Mexican Mission.
In 1958, Bentley succeeded Elbert R. Curtis
and became general superintendent of the LDS Church's YMMIA. He served for four years, until he was succeeded in 1962 by his first assistant G. Carlos Smith
. Bentley's other assistants during his tenure included Carl W. Buehner
and future LDS Church apostles Alvin R. Dyer
and Marvin J. Ashton
.
In 1972, Bentley was appointed the president of the newly-created Argentina
East Mission, which was created by dividing Argentina into two missions. In 1976 Bentley was called as first counselor in the Provo Temple presidency.
Bentley married to Kathleen Bench in the Salt Lake Temple
in 1928. Bench died in 1998, four years after Bentley.
Born in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Bentley graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and worked as a teacher and educational administrator in the U.S. state of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Mexico. In 1953, he began teaching in the accounting department at BYU and eventually became an assistant to Ernest L. Wilkinson
Ernest L. Wilkinson
Ernest Leroy Wilkinson was an American academic administrator and prominent figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was president of Brigham Young University from 1951 to 1971 and also oversaw the entire LDS Church Educational System. Prior to this, Wilkinson was a lawyer...
, the president of the university.
In 1956, Bentley became the first president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Northern Mexican Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the LDS Church, which was created by dividing the Mexican Mission.
In 1958, Bentley succeeded Elbert R. Curtis
Elbert R. Curtis
Elbert Raine Curtis was the ninth general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1948 to 1958. He was succeeded in the leadership of the YMMIA by Joseph T...
and became general superintendent of the LDS Church's YMMIA. He served for four years, until he was succeeded in 1962 by his first assistant G. Carlos Smith
G. Carlos Smith
George Carlos Smith Jr. was the eleventh general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1962 to 1969.-Biography:...
. Bentley's other assistants during his tenure included Carl W. Buehner
Carl W. Buehner
Carl William Buehner was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1952 to 1961 and was the Republican Party candidate for governor of Utah in the 1968 election....
and future LDS Church apostles Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin Rulon Dyer was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a member of the church's First Presidency from 1968 to 1970....
and Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin Jeremy Ashton was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1971 until his death....
.
In 1972, Bentley was appointed the president of the newly-created Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
East Mission, which was created by dividing Argentina into two missions. In 1976 Bentley was called as first counselor in the Provo Temple presidency.
Bentley married to Kathleen Bench in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
in 1928. Bench died in 1998, four years after Bentley.