M. Russell Ballard

December 12, 2022 07:00 AM MST
Would you let your elementary school–age children pick your next family car? President M. Russell Ballard shares a delightful story about the importance of family councils.
5 Min Read
In a devotional on Sunday, November 13, 2022, President Nelson shared his ABCs of personal preparation for worship in a temple.
1 Min Read
September 26, 2022 01:00 PM MDT
Get to know the current members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve with these books and talks authored by our beloved leaders.
1 Min Read
May 19, 2022 09:57 AM MDT
Here are five stories that show some of the sweetest insights into President M. Russell Ballard’s life, testimony, and ministry.
5 Min Read
May 02, 2022 04:30 PM MDT
Here is President Ballard's advice for leveraging the power of patriarchal blessings in our lives.
2 Min Read
March 30, 2022 04:49 PM MDT
President Ballard gave his first talk after very little notice—he didn't even have enough time to prepare notes.
2 Min Read
February 01, 2022 11:32 AM MST
In a new animated video, the all-too-familiar sense of overwhelm is addressed and put into a gospel perspective.
2 Min Read
January 19, 2022 07:55 AM MST
Alongside a photo of his late wife, Barbara, and the sculpted busts of three previous Church leaders, President Ballard also keeps an Oreo cookie on his desk. Here's why:
1 Min Read
January 10, 2022 03:00 PM MST
Brandon Flowers added the melody from the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” at the conclusion of the song “Be Still,” which he performed at Senator Harry Reid’s memorial service.
3 Min Read
December 08, 2021 10:24 AM MST
Near the end of his mission, then-Elder M. Russell Ballard felt compelled to buy a women’s pink sweater set he saw in a street shop, but he had no idea to whom he would give it until later.
8 Min Read
October 29, 2021 01:26 PM MDT
All three men shared emotion-filled stories and testimonies as they’ve visited the land where they had so many powerful witnesses to the truth of the gospel and where their spiritual roots began to deepen as young men.
2 Min Read
October 28, 2021 11:36 AM MDT
Just one day before they would complete their MTC training in Preston, England, a group of elders and sisters were visiting local Church history sites when they had three surprising visitors.
1 Min Read
By  Emily Abel
October 27, 2021 12:50 PM MDT
President M. Russell Ballard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and Elder Quentin L. Cook have all returned to what could be called their old “stomping grounds”—the British Isles.
3 Min Read
October 06, 2021 11:55 AM MDT
Even when he and his companion crashed their tandem bike and a howling dog interrupted their sermon, nothing could stop Elder Ballard from the Lord’s work.
6 Min Read
September 22, 2021 11:00 AM MDT
14 missions were asked to field test Preach My Gospel. When the results came in, it was back to the drawing board for the writers.
8 Min Read
September 21, 2021 04:16 PM MDT
From listening to her grandmother tell stories about the Prophet to teaching about his life for over three decades, Black has many reasons why she considers Joseph to be a phenomenal man.
1 Min Read
March 31, 2021 06:40 PM MDT
A Church News video released on March 31 looks back at the past year of the pandemic with words of assurance from President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
1 Min Read
December 15, 2020 07:24 PM MST
In a new video released by Church News, President M. Russell Ballard remarks that in his 45 years as a General Authority, he’s traveled the world and there are not many places he hasn’t been—but “the greatest thing probably that ever happened was finding her and marrying her.”
1 Min Read
December 09, 2020 08:05 PM MST
You may have never heard of Topsfield, Massachusetts, but the small town of 6,500 residents now has a historic marker that honors the family of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
1 Min Read
November 06, 2020 03:06 PM MST
Editor’s note: “This week from the pulpit” highlights recent messages by General Authorities, General Officers, and leaders of the Church.
3 Min Read
October 20, 2020 11:51 PM MDT
President Ballard went on to express appreciation for the prophets he has had the opportunity to learn from in over 40 years of full-time Church service.
1 Min Read
September 22, 2020 06:51 PM MDT
In-person ministering has been impacted by the pandemic, especially in regard to travel restrictions, closed borders, and social distancing. But that doesn’t mean Church leaders aren’t keeping in touch with Latter-day Saints. In a recent interview with Church News, President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared how they are keeping up to date with Latter-day Saints virtually.
2 Min Read
July 20, 2020 07:55 PM MDT
President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, joined the series on how he hears the voice of God by sharing a powerful testimony of how He felt guidance from the Lord while serving as a missionary in England.
1 Min Read
By  LDS Living
November 01, 2019 02:58 PM MDT
While speaking to Church members in Boston, Massachusetts, President M. Russell Ballard shared how his ancestor's near-death shows the hand of the Lord in his life and American history.
1 Min Read
By  LDS Living
October 28, 2019 02:11 PM MDT
“That’s the spirit of those who are in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including the First Presidency,” President M. Russell Ballard said in a new Church News video. “We love one another. We sustain one another. And it’s a big assignment that we’ve got. We just have the assignment, you know, to convert the whole world. There’s only 7 billion that we’re trying to get to—not an easy task. And we feel as brothers in the gospel of Jesus Christ charged and commissioned to carry the name of Jesus Christ and His Church to the world.”
1 Min Read
By  LDS Living
October 22, 2019 12:02 PM MDT
President M. Russell Ballard shares his first name with his grandfather, Elder Melvin J. Ballard. Elder Ballard passed away when young Russell was not quite 11 years old. Since President Ballard's family was not active in the Church while he was growing up, he never heard his grandfather speak in general conference or give an address.
1 Min Read
October 21, 2019 02:00 PM MDT
About statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith that President M. Russell Ballard keeps in his office, President Ballard shares, “I look at them, and I think I hear them say, ‘Get going boy, and do something worthwhile. Tell the world what’s happened.’ So to me, I get nudged big time when I see them and see what they did and what they gave. Then I feel obligated to do everything I can to declare and to teach that the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is once again upon the earth.”
1 Min Read
October 21, 2019 01:15 PM MDT
President M. Russell Ballard urged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New England on Sunday evening to “join a new movement” by inviting their neighbors, colleagues and friends on social media to pray for the United States, its leaders and its families.
1 Min Read
September 04, 2019 06:12 PM MDT
Let me make sure that you understand this important point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions or investigating our history, doctrine, and practices. The Restoration began when Joseph Smith sought an answer to a sincere question.
1 Min Read
July 25, 2019 01:00 PM MDT
The following article was originally published on LDS Living in October 2015.
1 Min Read
July 12, 2019 01:29 PM MDT
"Women have remarkable influence," President M. Russell Ballard recently posted on Instagram. "You sisters have been divinely endowed with a unique kind of discernment and strength that differs in some ways from the gifts our Heavenly Father gave His sons. These differences are intentional and eternal. They don’t make you better than a man, nor do they make you inferior to him. They just make you different—wonderfully, deliberately, everlastingly so."
1 Min Read
June 26, 2019 08:21 PM MDT
One of President M. Russell Ballard's most spiritual moments came as he spoke of two special ancestors.
1 Min Read
May 22, 2019 04:59 PM MDT
M. Russell Ballard, President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ, addressed nearly 700 Church members and friends at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi, India on May 19, 2019—his first visit ever to the country. He expressed his love for the people of India.
3 Min Read
By  LDS Living
March 05, 2019 03:00 PM MST
Recently the Ensign shared a beautiful article byBarbara Morgan Gardiner about connecting daughters of God to His priesthood power. This article has been shared by several apostles on Facebook, along with messages about the power of women and how they access priesthood power in their lives.
1 Min Read
January 05, 2019 02:58 PM MST
What helpful advice from President Ballard that will help us as we set our goals and priorities for the new year.
1 Min Read
December 29, 2018 03:10 PM MST
In 1969 I traveled to Mexico with three business associates. All three were outstanding businessmen, and each had amassed a considerable fortune; in fact, one was widely reported to be one of the richest men in the entire world. The four of us sat together in the lavish executive compartment of a private jet—a billionaire, two millionaires.
5 Min Read
December 27, 2018 09:32 AM MST
Amidst their world travels andbig Church changes, it's impossible to summarize all the good the prophet and apostles have done this year. But here's a glimpse into some of the most popular and touching stories and messages shared from the Brethren this year.
13 Min Read
By  LDS Living
November 23, 2018 03:14 PM MST
The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are now using Instagram to share the light of Jesus Christ with millions around the world.
1 Min Read
By  LDS Living
October 19, 2018 06:49 PM MDT
Sister Barbara Ballard, a woman who "radiated every Christlike attribute," passed away Oct. 1, 2018.
1 Min Read
Fun
October 09, 2018 09:00 AM MDT
Ever wondered what the apostles looked like growing up? Here's a glimpse at our beloved apostles as children.
1 Min Read
October 07, 2018 03:05 PM MDT
When President M. Russell Ballard stepped up to the pulpit on Sunday morning, he revealed that the talk he would proceed to give was prepared before his wife’s passing on October 1, 2018, after battling many health problems, including Alzheimer's.
1 Min Read
By  LDS Living
October 01, 2018 01:46 PM MDT
Sister Barbara Ballard passed away in her home on October 1, 2018. To celebrate the life of this wonderful woman who sacrificed so much for the Church and to build the Lord's kingdom on earth, we wanted to share some of these touching tributes President M. Russell Ballard shared about his wife over the pulpit and on social media.
4 Min Read
August 11, 2018 04:00 PM MDT
Some years ago there was a rather serious tragedy in our ward. A great woman, the wife of our former bishop and a woman beloved and respected in our ward family, contracted cancer of the worst kind. This was a vivacious, effervescent woman who lifted and inspired everyone she met. As the disease became worse, I gave her blessings. Other General Authorities gave her blessings. One of the blessings I gave was in the presence of her seventeen-year-old son. Another blessing was given to her when her son was eighteen. Our Heavenly Father, though, had something else in mind for her, and she was taken home to Him.
8 Min Read
July 28, 2018 02:00 PM MDT
Just as the sun was coming up on a brisk, spring morning in 1963, I headed to the stake center to meet my priests' quorum adviser. It was Saturday and, oh, how I longed to be almost anywhere but digging weeds at the church. I was pretty much a normal 16-year-old kid, totally into myself and involved with countless activities.
4 Min Read
By  LDS Living
July 25, 2018 06:09 PM MDT
In November 2017, Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "We need to listen to and understand what our LGBT brothers and sisters are feeling and experiencing. Certainly, we must do better than we have done in the past so that all members feel they have a spiritual home where their brothers and sisters love them and where they have a place to worship and serve the Lord."
1 Min Read
Fun
By  Yvonne Liu
July 14, 2018 09:10 AM MDT
Choosing an eternal companion is one of the most important decisions to make in this life. However, people fall in love and find their eternal companions in many different ways. Even our beloved prophet and apostles experienced times when they had butterflies in their stomachs and unrestful nights thinking about their significant others. Here are the stories of how our prophet and apostles found their eternal companions.
17 Min Read
June 05, 2018 04:23 PM MDT
“We, Mormons and Catholics, stand together in our recognition [of] freedom of religion [and] freedom of worship — the focus of the 11th article of faith in the Mormon Church,” said Cardinal Wuerl.
1 Min Read
May 12, 2018 09:49 AM MDT
We know the First Presidency and apostles sacrifice much to serve the Lord and members around the world, but sometimes we fail to recognize the women who travel with them, stand beside them, and sacrifice just as much for our Church. Learn a little more about the wives of the apostles.
14 Min Read
April 12, 2018 08:57 AM MDT
The following stories were excerpted from Our Search for Happiness and When Thou Art Converted.
6 Min Read
March 13, 2018 04:58 PM MDT
Before Jimmer Fredette became nicknamed the "Lonely God" and could score 73 points in a single game in the Chinese Basketball Association, he was frustrated and struggling in the NBA. That's when a call from an apostle changed his perspective.
1 Min Read