| M. Russell Ballard | |
|---|---|
 Ballard speaking at the BYU Church History Symposium in 2012 | |
| Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles[1] | |
| January 14, 2018[2] – November 12, 2023 | |
| Called by | Russell M. Nelson |
| Successor | Jeffrey R. Holland |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 6, 1985 – November 12, 2023 | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 10, 1985 – November 12, 2023 | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Reason | Death of Bruce R. McConkie |
| Reorganization at end of term | Patrick Kearon ordained |
| Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| February 22, 1980 – October 6, 1985 | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| April 3, 1976 – October 6, 1985 | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Military career | |
| Service/branch | United States Army Reserve |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melvin Russell Ballard Jr. October 8, 1928 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2023 (aged 95) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Utah |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) |
Barbara Bowen
(m. 1951; died 2018) |
| Children | 7 |
| Signature | |
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Melvin Russell Ballard Jr. (October 8, 1928 – November 12, 2023) was an American businessman and religious leader who served as the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2018 until his death in 2023.[3] He had been a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since 1985. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Ballard was accepted by church members as a prophet, seer, and revelator. At the time of his death, he was the third most senior apostle in the church.[4]
- ^ Due to quorum president Dallin H. Oaks serving as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
- ^ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (January 16, 2018). "President Russell M. Nelson". Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
- ^ "M. Russell Ballard". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is determined by date of ordination, not by age or other factors. If two apostles are ordained on the same day, the older of the two is typically ordained first. See Succession to the presidency and Heath, Steven H. (Summer 1987). "Notes on Apostolic Succession" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 20 (2): 44–56. doi:10.2307/45216003. JSTOR 45216003. S2CID 254390532..