M. Russell Ballard

M. Russell Ballard

1928–2023 (95 years)

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Biography

M. Russell Ballard was an apostle from 1985 until his death in 2023 at age 95. The great-great-nephew of early apostle Melvin J. Ballard and a descendant of Hyrum Smith, Ballard came from Mormon aristocracy and built a successful automobile business before his calling.

Ballard was known for his practical, businesslike approach to church administration. He wrote “Our Search for Happiness,” a book explaining Mormon beliefs to non-members, and was frequently assigned to public relations and media-facing responsibilities.

He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 2018 until his death, a position with significant administrative responsibility. Ballard was known for encouraging members to share their faith on social media and for moderating his tone on some social issues in his later years.

His 2017 talk at BYU encouraging church employees and educators to be transparent about difficult church history (“inoculation”) represented a shift in church approach to challenging historical issues.

Ballard died in November 2023 after 38 years as an apostle, having served under six church presidents.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball 1895–1985 (90 years) Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson 1899–1994 (94 years) Howard W. Hunter Howard W. Hunter 1907–1995 (87 years) Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley 1910–2008 (97 years) Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson 1927–2018 (90 years) Russell M. Nelson Russell M. Nelson 1924–2025 (101 years)

Wives (1)

#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Barbara Bowen Aug 28, 1951 212217

Children (7)

With Barbara Bowen (7 children)

  1. Clark Ballard
  2. Holly Ballard
  3. Meleea Ballard
  4. Tammy Ballard
  5. Stacey Ballard
  6. Brynn Ballard
  7. Craig Ballard

Related Posts (24)

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“My own pioneer forefathers and mothers were among those faithful pioneers who pulled handcarts, rode wagons, and walked to Utah. They, like Sister Jane Manning James, had deep faith in every one of their footsteps as they made their own trek.” - M. Russell Ballard, General Conference, October 2017 | wasmormon.org "We don't have to question anything in the church. Don’t get off into that." - LDS Apostle, M. Russell Ballard, Provo YSA Devotional, October 24, 2015 | wasmormon.org "It’s wonderful to know what we know. We're so blessed. We don't have to wonder why we're here for. We don't have to question anything in the church. Don’t get off into that. Just stay in the Book of Mormon. Just stay in the Doctrine and Covenants. Just listen to the prophets. Just listen to the apostles. We won't lead you astray. We cannot lead you astray." - LDS Apostle, M. Russell Ballard, Provo YSA Devotional, October 24, 2015 | wasmormon.org "You beautiful girls, don't wander around looking like men. Put on a little lipstick now and then and look a little charming. It's that simple. I don't know why we make this whole process so hard." - LDS Apostle, M. Russell Ballard, YSA Devotional, 2015 | wasmormon.org "You could have [the gold] plates, you could turn the pages, you could look at them, you could hold them, and you wouldn't know any more after that experience whether or not the book is true than you would have before... You will not get to know it by trying to prove it archaeologically, or by DNA, or by anything else, in my judgment... I don't believe that's how people will ever come to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God... Religious truth is always confirmed by what you feel." - Elder M. Russell Ballard, LDS Apostle addresses the question of whether there is scientific proof of The Book of Mormon | wasmormon.org "I don't believe that's how people will ever come to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I remember an experience that I had as a mission president some years ago when I presided over the affairs of the church in Eastern Canada. I had met with about 30 different ministers of different religions, and then I let them ask me questions. The very first question I was asked was by a fine minister who said, "Mr. Ballard, if you just give us the gold plates and let us see that they exist, then we would know that the Book of Mormon is true." I looked at him and said, "Father, you know better than that. You're a man of the cloth. You know that God has never revealed religious truth to the heart and soul of a man (or a woman) except by the power of the Spirit. Now, you could have those plates, you could turn the pages, you could look at them, you could hold them, and you wouldn't know any more after that experience whether or not the book is true than you would have before. My question to you is, have you ever read the Book of Mormon?" He said, "No, I haven't." That's how people will come to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. You will not get to know it by trying to prove it archaeologically, or by DNA, or by anything else, in my judgment. Just pick it up, read it, and pray about it, and you will come to know. Religious truth is always confirmed by what you feel. That's the way Heavenly Father answers prayers." M. Russell Ballard, LDS Apostle addresses the question of whether there is scientific proof of The Book of Mormon, 2007 | wasmormon.org "If any one of you is faltering in your faith, I ask you the same question that Peter asked: “To whom shall [you] go?” If you choose to become inactive or to leave the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where will you go? What will you do?" - Elder M. Russell Ballard, 2016 | wasmormon.org Complaint 71: The Davis County Investigation, according to OUR’s own internal documents, revealed that Elder M. Russell Ballard and other authorities from the Mormon Church, provided Mormon tithing records to OUR to help OUR target wealthy donors and wealthy Mormon Church Wards. - Complaint in Tim Ballard Case, Davis County Investigation | wasmormon.org