Melvin Russell Ballard Jr. (born October 8, 1928) is an American businessman and religious leader who is currently the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since 1985. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Ballard is accepted by church members as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Currently, he is the third most senior apostle in the church.
Video M. Russell Ballard
LDS Church service
Ballard was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Melvin Russell Ballard Sr. and his wife, Geraldine Smith. As a young man, Ballard served as a missionary in England from 1948 to 1950. He met his wife while they were studying at the University of Utah. In 1974, Ballard was called as president of the church's Canada Toronto Mission. While serving as a mission president, he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1976; he completed his three-year term as mission president as a member of the Seventy.
Following the death of apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Ballard was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 6, 1985, and ordained an apostle on October 10, 1985.
Ballard is the grandson of apostles Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum M. Smith. Through Smith, Ballard is a descendant of Hyrum Smith, brother of church founder Joseph Smith.
Following the January 2018 death of church president Thomas S. Monson, the church's First Presidency was reorganized, with Russell M. Nelson as president. Nelson selected Dallin H. Oaks, the next senior apostle and new quorum president, as First Counselor in the First Presidency. As a result, Ballard became the quorum's acting president, as the next senior apostle not in the First Presidency.
Maps M. Russell Ballard
Business activities
Professionally, Ballard was involved in several enterprises, including automotive, real estate, and investment businesses. He was the top-selling salesman for his father's Nash car dealership when he left it in the early 1950s to pursue other business interests. In 1956, Ballard returned and took over the Ballard Motor Company from his father. During this period he also served in the United States Army Reserve, resigning his commission as a first lieutenant in 1957.
During the late 1950s, Ballard was recruited by the Ford Motor Company to become the first Edsel car dealer for Salt Lake City. After praying for guidance, he had the "clear impression" not to sign the franchise. He did anyway and incurred a huge loss, "without doubt the darkest period" of his business career.
One highlight of his business career was his presidency of the Valley Music Hall in Bountiful, Utah, which offered family entertainment. There Ballard worked with Art Linkletter, Danny Thomas, Bob Cummings, and other Hollywood celebrities who were advisers to the enterprise. Although the music hall failed financially, investors recovered their money when the LDS Church purchased the building.
Family
On August 8, 1951, Ballard married Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake Temple; they are the parents of seven children. One of their daughters is married to Peter Huntsman, who is the brother of Jon Huntsman Jr., former governor of Utah, and the son of Jon Huntsman Sr.
Works
- Books
See also
- Church Educational System
- Council on the Disposition of the Tithes
Notes
References
- Lubeck, Kathleen (March 1986), Ensign: 6 http://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/03/elder-m-russell-ballard-true-to-the-faith
- "Elder Melvin Russell Ballard Jr., Of the First Quorum of the Seventy", Ensign, May 1976
External links
- "General Authorities: Elder M. Russell Ballard", lds.org
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: M. Russell Ballard
- Newsroom of LDS Church
Note: There are currently two vacancies in this Quorum due to the October 1, 2017 death of Robert D. Hales, the subsequent death of Thomas S. Monson on January 2, 2018, and the reorganization of the First Presidency on January 14. Those vacancies are anticipated to be filled during the April 2018 General Conference.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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