1990
Happy Birthday! President Benson
August 1990


“Happy Birthday! President Benson,” Friend, Aug. 1990, 38

Happy Birthday! President Benson

Here are gifts that some of you would give President Benson for his ninety-first birthday:

Love, because it’s one of the most precious things on earth.
Rebecca Bennett, age 10
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

A computer, because everybody should have one.
Chase Moser, age 6
Angeles, Philippines

A day of fun at our beach. We could run around together and build a sand castle.
Jessica Siebeneicher, age 4
Whangaparaoa, New Zealand

A puppy and a hug.
Shalea Gonsalves, age 8
Burlington, Vermont

My Little Mermaid book.
Daniel Fox, age 4
Bountiful, Utah

A quilt and flowers.
Jessica Waters, age 8
Birmingham, Alabama

A promise that I will go on a mission.
Tyler Porter, age 11
Whitney, Idaho

I’ll be extra good on his birthday.
Mariah Ashley, age 5
San Antonio, Texas

All my love, and years full of happiness.
Teagen Curtin, age 11
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia

A big hug and a big kiss. He’ll enjoy it, and so will I.
Krista Davis, age 8
Layton, Utah

I’ll pray for him every day.
Christianne Salisbury, age 10
Tallahassee, Florida

A bike so that he can race up hills like the missionaries.
David Morton, age 3
Auckland, New Zealand

A brown bear and a lamb and a yellow bird in a box tied with a ribbon, and a Winnie the Pooh book.
Autumn Doney, age 3
Williston, Vermont

A world that will listen.
Sarah Ashley, age 7
San Antonio, Texas

A bookmark, so he can find his place in the Book of Mormon.
Elizabeth Leavitt, age 6
North Salt Lake, Utah

The world.
Jonah Simmons, age 10
Birmingham, Alabama

The golden plates.
Rachael Bennett, age 9
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

My pet sheep to play with.
Jarom Reid, age 11
Auckland, New Zealand

A lot of horsies.
Melissa Surre, age 4
San Antonio, Texas

Good health.
William Hull, age 10
Whitney, Idaho

A beautiful flower.
Randi Woods, age 6
Birmingham, Alabama

A brand new suit.
Skye Nicholls, age 10
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia

A New Zealand chocolate bar—they’re yummy.
Cruchan McIver, age 7
Auckland, New Zealand

A poem that will always cheer him up in bad times.
Michael Morin, age 9
San Antonio, Texas

A smile and a hug on a warm day.
Bethany Rane, age 11
South Burlington, Vermont

A picture of my mum and dad.
Emmanita Forua, age 5
Orewa, New Zealand

A surprise party in Whitney, Idaho, where he grew up.
Arisha Moser, age 8
Angeles, Philippines

I’m going to share the gospel and give my friend a Book of Mormon.
Tania Napia, age 10
Auckland, New Zealand

A promise to always live the teachings of the gospel.
Alec Harvey, age 9
Auckland, New Zealand

I will read the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
Carey Joyce, age 6
Auckland, New Zealand

My love and an invitation to my wedding in the Washington Temple someday.
Andrea Lords, age 10
St. Essex Junction, Vermont

A kiwi, New Zealand’s native bird.
David Wilson, age 11
Whangaparaoa, New Zealand

A calendar, so he can keep track of all his meetings.
David Leavitt, age 8
North Salt Lake, Utah

I’m going to tell my friends about him and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Renata Manson, age 8
Auckland, New Zealand

Photography by Craig Dimond; Styling by Mindi Bartlett and Pam Farr