Melvin J. Ballard
Encyclopedia
Melvin Joseph Ballard was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was born in Logan
, Utah Territory
. His grandson, M. Russell Ballard
, was also ordained an apostle.
Prior to his birth, his mother had an experience that led her to believe her son would be an apostle. In his patriarchal blessing, this was reaffirmed.
When Church President Heber J. Grant
was pondering whom to call to replace the vacancy caused by the passing of former Church President Joseph F. Smith
, he decided to call on his good friend Richard W. Young, as many suspected he would. As he met with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to announce his decision, he found himself saying that the Lord wanted Melvin J. Ballard to serve instead. He used this experience to teach about inspiration and to testify that the Lord calls the leaders in the church.
Ballard served for several years as president
of the Northwestern States Mission
of the church.
Ballard was ordained an apostle and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on January 7, 1919. He served in the Quorum until his death in Salt Lake City from leukemia
. Sylvester Q. Cannon
was called to fill the vacancy caused by his passing. Ballard opened up missionary work in South America
in 1925 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ballard graduated from Brigham Young College
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...
, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. His grandson, M. Russell Ballard
M. Russell Ballard
Melvin Russell Ballard, Jr. is an American businessman and a religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to serve in the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1985. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Ballard is accepted by the church members as a...
, was also ordained an apostle.
Prior to his birth, his mother had an experience that led her to believe her son would be an apostle. In his patriarchal blessing, this was reaffirmed.
When Church President Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
was pondering whom to call to replace the vacancy caused by the passing of former Church President Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, he decided to call on his good friend Richard W. Young, as many suspected he would. As he met with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to announce his decision, he found himself saying that the Lord wanted Melvin J. Ballard to serve instead. He used this experience to teach about inspiration and to testify that the Lord calls the leaders in the church.
Ballard served for several years 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 Northwestern States 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...
of the church.
Ballard was ordained an apostle and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on January 7, 1919. He served in the Quorum until his death in Salt Lake City from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. Sylvester Q. Cannon
Sylvester Q. Cannon
Sylvester Quayle Cannon was the sixth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1925 and 1938 and a member of church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from October 6, 1939 until his death. He was the son of George Q...
was called to fill the vacancy caused by his passing. Ballard opened up missionary work in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in 1925 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ballard graduated from Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College was a college and high school in Logan, Utah. It was founded by Brigham Young on 6 August 1877, 23 days before he died. He deeded several acres of land to a board of trustees for the development of a college. This was just two years after he founded Brigham Young Academy in...
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...
.