M. Russell Ballard

M. Russell Ballard
Photo of M Russell Ballard standing behind a podium giving a speech.
Ballard speaking at the BYU Church History Symposium in 2012
Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles[1]
January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14)[2] – November 12, 2023
Called byRussell M. Nelson
SuccessorJeffrey R. Holland
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 6, 1985 (1985-10-06) – November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
LDS Church Apostle
October 10, 1985 (1985-10-10) – November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
ReasonDeath of Bruce R. McConkie
Reorganization
at end of term
Patrick Kearon ordained
Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
February 22, 1980 (1980-02-22) – October 6, 1985 (1985-10-06)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
End reasonCalled to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
First Quorum of the Seventy
April 3, 1976 (1976-04-03) – October 6, 1985 (1985-10-06)
Called bySpencer W. Kimball
End reasonCalled to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Military career
Service/branchUnited States Army Reserve
RankFirst lieutenant
Personal details
BornMelvin Russell Ballard Jr.
(1928-10-08)October 8, 1928
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
DiedNovember 12, 2023(2023-11-12) (aged 95)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Utah
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse(s)
Barbara Bowen
(m. 1951; died 2018)
Children7
Signature 
Signature of M. Russell Ballard

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]

  1. ^ Due to quorum president Dallin H. Oaks serving as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
  2. ^ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (January 16, 2018). "President Russell M. Nelson". Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
  3. ^ "M. Russell Ballard". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  4. ^ 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..