M. Russell Ballard

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M. Russell Ballard

Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr. (b. October 8, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah) was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 6, 1985, and ordained an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 10, 1985 following the death of Bruce R. McConkie. He is the grandson of apostles Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum M. Smith, and a descendant of Hyrum Smith, brother of church founder Joseph Smith. His addresses often deal with the Mormon pioneers and their heritage.

While a young man, Elder Ballard served as a missionary in a mission in England. He met his wife while they were studying at the University of Utah. In 1974, he was called to be the Mission president over the Canada Toronto Mission.

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 Nash 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. During this period he also served in the United States Army Reserve. When he left in 1957, he held the rank of first lieutenant.

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, and Ford Motor Company invited him and his associates to Detroit to tell other dealers how they did it. But in the end the Edsel was a failure. The motor company, and dealers around the country, lost hundreds of millions of dollars.

One of the highlights of his business career was his responsibility as president of the Valley Music Hall in Bountiful, Utah. The theater offered high-quality family entertainment, and he worked in association with Art Linkletter, Danny Thomas, Bob Cummings, and other Hollywood celebrities who were advisers to the enterprise. Although the music hall failed financially, he made sure that investors had opportunities to recover the money they had put into it.

[edit] Published works

Ballard, M. Russell (2002). As Women of God. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 2002.
--- (2002). Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Classic Talk series). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISBN B0006S3QSY.
--- (1997). Counseling with Our Councils: Learning to Minister Together in the Church and in the Family. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 1-57345-209-2.
--- (1998). The law of sacrifice and What came from Kirtland. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 1-57345-403-6.
--- (1993). Our Search for Happiness: An Invitation to Understand the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-917-5.
--- (2001). Staying the Course: Ten Keys to Gospel Commitment. Deseret Book Company. ISBN ?.
--- (1993). Suicide: Some Things We Know and Some We Don't. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-766-0.
--- (2001). When Thou Art Converted: Continuing the Search for Happiness. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 1-57345-813-9.