2. Melvin Russel Ballard Jr. was born on October
8th, 1928 to Melvin Russell and Geraldine Smith
Ballard. He was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah
Elder Ballard is the grandson of apostle
Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum M.
Smith and is a descendant of Hyrum
Smith, brother of church founder Joseph
Smith, Jr.
As a young man he served as
a missionary in England from
1948 to 1950
3. He met his wife while they were studying at
the University of Utah. Elder Ballard married
his sweetheart Barbara Bowen in the Salt Lake
Temple on August 28th, 1951.
The have two sons
and five daughters
They have been
married for 61 years.
“What matters most is what lasts the longest
and families are forever.”
― M. Russell Ballard
4. Professionally, Ballard became 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.
1958 Edsel Ranger
“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.”
5. Elder Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr., prominent in
Salt Lake business, was called as president of
the Canada Toronto Mission in 1974. Having
served a mission to Britain, he returned to Salt
Lake where he accepted calls to the Holladay
12th Ward bishopric and the Mt. Olympus and
Monument Park Stake high councils. Elder
Ballard attended the University of Utah before
entering business.
After serving as bishop twice, he was called to the
First Quorum of the Seventy in April of 1976 and
Served from February 1980 to October 1985.
1976 members of the First Quorum of the
Seventy are (from left) Elders Carlos E. Asay, M.
Russell Ballard, Jr., John H. Groberg, and Jacob de
Jager
Currently, he is the sixth most senior apostle
among the ranks of the church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints.
As a young bishop M. Russell Ballard served
alongside his counselors,
executive secretary and clerks.
Melvin Russell Ballard
6. “
“So the bad news is that family breakdown is causing a host of societal
and economic ills. But the good news is that, like any cause and
effect, those ills can be reversed if what is causing them is changed.
Inequities are resolved by living correct principles and values. Brothers
and sisters, the most important cause of our lifetime is our families. If
we will devote ourselves to this cause, we will improve every other
aspect of our lives and will become, as a people and as a church, an
example and a beacon for all the peoples of the earth.”
― M. Russell Ballard
7. We have both
been in the existence
of this great apostle.
Elder Ballard came to our stake a few
years ago, and shared with us many
experiences that his family had while
on vacation together.
He expressed how important it is to
MAKE the time to do things with
your family and to make memories.
8. Remember, you can be exalted without a
college degree. You can be exalted without
being slender and beautiful. You can be exalted
without having a successful career. You can be
exalted if you are not rich and famous. So
focus the best that you can on those things in
life that will lead you back to the presence of
God - keeping all things in their proper
balance.”
― M. Russell Ballard
“It may not always be easy, convenient or politically correct to stand for truth
and right, but it is the right thing to do. Always. ”
― M. Russell Ballard
9. References
M.Russell Ballard. (updated 22 April 2013). retrieved 06-13-13, from wikipedia Web Site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Russell_Ballard
M.Russell Ballard Quotes. (2013). retrieved 06-12-13, from Good Reads Web
site:http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/295595.M_Russell_Ballard
FYI-For Your Information. (June 1976). retrieved 06-12-13, from https://www.lds.org/new-era/1976/06/fyi-for-your-
information?lang=eng
CarGurus. (2006-2013). retrieved 06-12-13, from 1958 Edsel Ranger Web Site:
http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/1958-Edsel-Ranger-Pictures-c17360_pi35701173
General Authorities M.Russell Ballard. (2-21-12). retrieved 06-11-13, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints Web Site: http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/1958-Edsel-Ranger-Pictures-c17360_pi35701173
Abide with Me. (12-2009). retrieved 06-15-13, from Hymn Arrangements Web Site:
http://hymnarrangements.blogspot.com/2009/12/abide-medley.html
