2. BIOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION
Elder Ballard was born „Melvin
Russell Ballard, Jr. in October
8, 1928.
Born and Raised in Salt Lake
City, Utah.
He is now 84 years old.
3. EDUCATION & OCCUPATION
Elder Ballard studied at the University of Utah. While in college, his fraternity brothers called him “the
bishop.” They knew that, whatever the situation, he would be true to his standards and uphold his faith.
Professionally, Elder Ballard became involved in several enterprises, including automotive, real estate, and
investment businesses. He was the top-selling salesman for his father‟s car dealership when he left it in the early
1950s to pursue other business interests. In 1956 he returned and took over the Ballard Motor Company from his
father. In the late 1950s, he won the right to be the Edsel car dealer for Salt Lake City. His dealership became the
most successful in the country. During this period he also served in the United States Army Reserve, resigning his
commission as a first lieutenant in 1957.
4. FAMILY LIFE
Elder Ballard Married Barbara Bowen, in
the Salt Lake Temple in 1951. They have
been married 62 years and are still happily
Married.
Elder and Sister Ballard have Seven
children, five daughters and two sons.
5. “I knew from the beginning that I wanted to marry her,” he says.
6. CALLINGS AND CHURCH
POSITIONS
Elder Ballard was ordained a member of the 12 Apostles in 1985 and
thus is close to 30 years in the calling.
Elder Ballard has served the Church in many ways throughout his
tenure; he has been a bishop twice, he was called as the President of the
Toronto Canada Mission in 1974, two years later he was called as a
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. In Feburary of 1980 he was
called to the Presidency of the Seventy and served there for 5½ years
until he was called as a member of the Twelve.
7. MISSIONARY TO MISSION
PRESIDENT
In 1949, as a 21-year-old missionary, he was called as first
counselor in the presidency of the British Mission.
In 1974, he was called as president of the Canada Toronto
Mission, where he was serving when called to the First Quorum of
the Seventy in April of 1976.
8. LESSONS LEARNED FROM HIS
EXAMPLE & SPECIFIC
TEACHINGS
In the late 1950s, he won the right to be the Edsel car dealer for Salt Lake City. His
dealership became the most successful in the country. But in the end the Edsel failed and
the motor company, and dealers around the country, lost hundreds of millions of dollars.
“It was a devastating experience,” he said. “The first part of my business career it seemed
like everything worked. I was a little intolerant, I think, of those who were having trouble
in business. But then I had trouble, and that helped me gain an empathy and
understanding for people who struggle similarly. “To me, failure is only when you quit
trying,” he said. “If you keep working at a task and try to do what‟s right and honest,
ultimately it works out.”
9. In his talk titled, “Be Anxiously Engaged” Elder Ballard counsels us
to strive for daily acts of service. This struck me personally as I have
witnessed the impact that daily service can have on out lives. When we
are anxiously engaged it is easier to hold fast to the rod and remain
worthy of Heavenly Fathers Love.
In his talk “That the Lost May Be Found” Elder Ballard talks about
those who have lost their way and how we can get back on track by
prioritizing, doing things in the right order, husbands and wives, being
equal partners in their marriage, and using the family resources of the
Church. These four things are to be used as our spiritual GPS to guide us
back to our loving Heavenly Father.
10. HOBBIES & INTERESTS
Elder Ballard enjoys mechanics and automotive, he even used to
be a top car sales man for his fathers dealership.
Elder Ballard also enjoys writing and reading, he has written 8
books.
11. “I have strong convictions that those who are really anchored
in their faith in the Restoration and the mission of the Prophet
Joseph, and in the revelations that have come to the Church
through him, which confirm and declare that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God and that the gospel is upon the earth, will be able to
handle whatever life passes to them.”
- M. Russell Ballard
12. GROUP & WORK CITED:
Suzi Hathaway
Ben Leapai
Chaz Frazier
Chris Hunt
Kyle Taylor
Mormon Messages
LDS. org
