Ariel S. Ballif
Encyclopedia
Ariel Smith Ballif, Sr. was a professor
of sociology
at Brigham Young University
(BYU), mayor of Provo, Utah
and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Ballif was born in Logan, Utah
to John Lyman Ballif and his wife, the former Emma Smith. In 1925 Ballif married Artemesia "Arta" Romney, who was a daughter of George S. Romney
and a sister of Marion G. Romney
. They had five children, including Ariel S. Ballif Jr., Jae R. Ballif
and Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill, who also became professors in Utah.
Ballif earned his bachelors degree from BYU and then an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California
. From 1927-1930 Ballif served with his wife as a missionary
in New Zealand
, serving as principal of the Maori Agricultural College for most of that time.
Ballif joined the faculty of BYU in 1938 and served as chairman of the sociology department for a number of years..
Ballif served as a bishop, a Stake President and a Stake Patriarch. He also served as president
of the New Zealand Mission
from 1955-1958, thus being mission president at the time the New Zealand Temple was built.
Ballif was elected to the Provo City Council in 1958, and from 1960-1961 he was mayor of Provo.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU), mayor of Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Ballif was born in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
to John Lyman Ballif and his wife, the former Emma Smith. In 1925 Ballif married Artemesia "Arta" Romney, who was a daughter of George S. Romney
George S. Romney
George Samuel Romney was the president of Bannock Stake Academy, now Brigham Young University–Idaho, at the end of the First World War. He was a key figure in helping it to survive the postwar depression. Before its latest rename it was known as Ricks College.Romney was a member of The Church of...
and a sister of Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney
Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
. They had five children, including Ariel S. Ballif Jr., Jae R. Ballif
Jae R. Ballif
Jae R. Ballif was a provost of Brigham Young University .Ballif was the son of Ariel S. Ballif and his wife, Artemesia Romney Ballif. Artemesia was the daughter of George S. Romney and Artemesia Redd and the sister of Marion G. Romney. Jae's brother Ariel, Jr...
and Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill, who also became professors in Utah.
Ballif earned his bachelors degree from BYU and then an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. From 1927-1930 Ballif served with his wife as a missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, serving as principal of the Maori Agricultural College for most of that time.
Ballif joined the faculty of BYU in 1938 and served as chairman of the sociology department for a number of years..
Ballif served as a bishop, a Stake President and a Stake Patriarch. He also served as president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the New Zealand Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
from 1955-1958, thus being mission president at the time the New Zealand Temple was built.
Ballif was elected to the Provo City Council in 1958, and from 1960-1961 he was mayor of Provo.