President Ballard served for 47 years as a general Church leader and was the longest-serving general authority in the Church.
We are saddened to announce that President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has died. After a recent brief hospital stay, he returned to his home where he attended to duties as he was able to before passing away at approximately 11:15 p.m. November 12, 2023 surrounded by loved ones. He was 95.
President Ballard became an Apostle on October 6, 1985. He was announced as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on January 16, 2018. As with the Apostles in New Testament times, today’s Apostles are called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ. President Ballard was one of 15 men who oversee the growth and development of the global Church, which now numbers more than 17 million members.
“President Ballard was never indecisive,” Church President Russell M. Nelson said. “He knew exactly what the Lord taught and how it could be applied in one’s personal life and bring joy and happiness.”
President Ballard had been briefly hospitalized in the past month, then returned to his home where he attended to duties as he was able before passing away about 11:15 p.m. Sunday.
President Ballard served for 47 years as a general Church leader, and at the time was the longest-serving general authority in the Church. He was called in 1976 to the First Quorum of the Seventy and then served as an Apostle for more than a third of a century.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
“President Ballard was never indecisive,” President Russell M. Nelson said. “He knew exactly what the Lord taught and how it could be applied in one’s personal life and bring joy and happiness.”
“We worked together closely, and I always loved his warm manner,” said President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency, who sat beside President Ballard in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for more than three decades. “He was a man to be trusted. And he was a man who trusted you.”
President Ballard is survived by his seven children, 43 grandchildren 105 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
You can read the full announcement on Church Newsroom here.
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