M. Russell Ballard, Latter-day Saint apostle, dies at 95
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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — M. Russell Ballard, the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died on Sunday, Nov. 12, according to church officials. He was 95 years old.
Ballard reportedly returned home after a brief hospital stay where he “attended to duties” before passing away at 11:15 p.m. on Sunday, surrounded by loved ones, according to officials.
“We worked together closely, and I always loved his warm manner,” said President Dallin H. Oaks, who sat beside 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.”
Ballard was born in Salt Lake City on Oct. 8, 1928. He became an Apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1985 just before his 57th birthday. He was announced as Acting President in January 2018. According to the church, Ballard was one of 15 men who oversaw the growth and development of the church worldwide.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox expressed his condolences through a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, saying he and his wife were deeply saddened by the passing of a dear friend.
“He spent a lifetime of service trying to make the world a better place for everyone. We are forever grateful for the goodness and light he brought to this world,” said Cox.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mitt Romney called Ballard a great leader and a spiritual giant, saying, “He kindly offered us wise personal counsel on our life choices. To him, we owe decades of our extraordinary journey through life.”
He is survived by his seven children, 43 grandchildren, 105 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. His wife, Barbara Ballard, passed away in October 2018 at age 86 after a long battle with health issues, including Alzheimer’s.
Funeral details are pending and will be released by church officials at a later date.