Reed Benson

Reed Amussen Benson (born 1928-died 2016) is a retired Brigham Young University (BYU) professor of religion who at one time was the national director of public relations for the John Birch Society and is noted for his extreme political conservatism and his advocacy of homeschooling.

Benson is the son of Ezra Taft Benson and his wife, the former Flora Amussen. Benson was born in Salt Lake City but raised in Whitney and Boise, Idaho and in Washington, D.C. He began his studies as a student at BYU in 1945. From 1947 to 1949 he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Great Britain.

Benson wrote his 1981 Ed.D. dissertation at BYU on the development of a home school. This was one of the first doctoral dissertations written in the United States on the subject of homeschooling.

From 1975 to 1978, Benson served as president of the Louisville Kentucky Mission of the LDS Church. He was also an LDS Chaplain during the Korean War.

Benson resides in the Pleasant View neighborhood of Provo, Utah.

In 2001 Benson and his wife, May Hinckley Benson, were honored with the Elijah Award for their contribution to the advancement of Homeschooling. Benson is the father of nine children, all of whom were home schooled.