BALLARD, Melvin Joseph^{[1, 2, 3]}

1873 - 1939  (66 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	BALLARD, Melvin Joseph
  Birth	9 Feb 1873	Logan, Cache, Utah, United States   [4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  WAC	17 Jun 1896	LOGAN
  _TAG	Locked By FS
  Death	30 Jul 1939	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States   [5, 6]
  Burial	3 Aug 1939	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I44800	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Family ID

  F23596

  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	JONES, Martha Annable ,   b. 7 Nov 1873, Farmington, Davis, Utah, United States Farmington, Davis, Utah, United Statesd. 12 Jan 1952, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 78 years)
  Children	+ 1. BALLARD, Melvin Russell ,   b. 5 Feb 1897, Logan, Cache, Utah, United States Logan, Cache, Utah, United Statesd. 22 Dec 1982, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 85 years)
  Family ID	F14444	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

• Photos		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

• Notes

  Melvin J. (Joseph) Ballard Brother to Jennie Lulu Ballard Griffin Mother of Oriel Janet Griffin Clegg Mother of Janet, Jean, Vaughn, Morris, Bill, and Emily (Living children 2011) Taken from a website about Melvin J. Ballard 1873 - 1939 spacer<="" td="" height="1" width="300"> Born 1873 Logan, Cache County, Utah Baptized 1881 Received Aaronic Priesthood and ordained Deacon 1884 Received Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained Elder 1895 Married Martha A. Jones 1896; Logan Temple; eight children Ordained Seventy 1896 Special Mission to Eastern States 1896 Mission to Northern States 1896-1898 Ordained High Priest 1900 President of Northwestern States Mission 1909-1919 Ordained Apostle and sustained to the Twelve 1919-1939 Died 1939 Salt Lake City, Utah Melvin Joseph Ballard, Apostle, was born Feb. 9, 1873, at Logan, Cache county, Utah, the son of Bishop Henry Ballard and Margaret McNeil. His parents, who emigrated to Utah in 1852, were numbered among the old sturdy pioneers, who endured the hardships incident to travel over the plains with ox teams and who assisted in the establishment of the great Western empire, making the "desert blossom as the rose" and laying upon the rocks a foundation that will weather every storm during the ages to come. They were exceptionally unassuming and succeeded in living the divine law as nearly perfect as seems possible to mortals. A few years prior to the birth of Melvin, much sickness and numerous deaths visited the home of the Ballards until it appeared at times as if they were forsaken, yet never a word of complaint fell from their lips, nor did they ever deny the power of God, who, in the midst of all these trials and sorrows, had comforted them with a testimony that God lives and overrules to bring about the perfection of his obedient children.Upon one of these sad occasions, when the clouds of darkness hovered long about them, the mother, with a "broken heart and a contrite spirit," bowed in solemn supplication before her Father, and received the assuring comfort that she should be given a son who would be numbered as one of the Apostles of the Lamb, and to her last day she maintained that this would come to pass just as it had been revealed to her. This knowledge was one of the many blessings which sustained and cheered her long years of toil and sacrifice.The boyhood days of Melvin were spent upon his father's farm, and in attending school as time and means permitted. He was a devoted worker and possessed a studious mind, aiming to qualify himself for what he felt to be his life's mission, the salvation of his fellow-men. He succeeded well in acquiring a common school education in the midst of difficulties. The divine art, music, made up a large part of his nature, the development of which brought joy mingled with tears to thousands of souls, and no one in his home county was more gratefully and lovingly remembered in this respect than was he. Few funerals were held where the sadness of the occasion was not made brighter by the sympathetic strains of melody as they pierced into the very hearts of those who needed comfort.Melvin was baptized and confirmed on his eighth birthday by his father. In 1884 he was ordained a Deacon. In this capacity, as a boy, he first learned obedience in the operations of the Priesthood. He was prompt in attending his quorum meetings, in caring for the Ward meeting house, keeping it clean, making fires, and in doing whatever was essential for the comfort of those who attended Ward gatherings. In those days it was customary for the Deacons quorums throughout the Church to chop wood for the widows and poor among the people, and in this work young Melvin took great delight. Especially was it his custom to spend a part of each Christmas day, with a sleigh as a vehicle, in distributing gifts which had been given through his father, the Bishop, for the blessings and comfort of the widows and orphans and those in need.As a Priest, to which office he was ordained, Dec. 27, 1891, by his father, he manifested the same zeal and love for God's work that he had done while acting as a Deacon. In this calling he traveled as a teacher among the Ward members and received his first experience as a preacher of the gospel. His love for this constantly increased, and he endeared himself in the hearts of the people until they looked upon him as indeed a bearer of glad tidings.Elder Ballard entered the Brigham Young College and graduated with the class of 1894 in the business course, following which he became a member of the faculty and taught music. The Higher Priesthood was conferred upon him Feb. 5, 1895, at which time he was ordained an Elder, and succeeded in magnifying his holy calling to the entire satisfaction of those who presided over him. At about this time he became acquainted with Miss Martha A. Jones and they were married in the Logan Temple June 17, 1896.On the sixth of July, 1896, Elder Ballard was ordained a Seventy by Apostle John Henry Smith and on the following day he was set apart as a missionary to labor with Elders Brigham H. Roberts and George D. Pyper to hold meetings in the larger cities of the United States. This special mission was continued for several months, and upon the return of Elder Roberts and Pyper to Utah, Elder Ballard was assigned to the Northern States Mission, where he labored with his usual energy. He was appointed president of the Southern Illinois Conference, in which capacity he served until honorably released to return home in December, 1898.In 1899, he assisted in organizing the Logan Knitting Factory, one of the leading factories of the State. He also assisted in organizing the Logan Commercial Club which was later united with the Booster's Club under the name of Commercial-Boosters Club. He served two terms as president and director of that organization. During the same year he was set apart as one of the presidents of the 40th quorum of Seventy, which position he filled with signal honor. In January, 1899, he held a week's discussion with one of the ministers of the Reorganized Church upon the question of succession, and succeeded in establishing in the hearts of the hearers the fact that the authority of the Priesthood is with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Brother Ballard was ordained a High Priest, April 23, 1900, by Apostle Francis M. Lyman, and by him set apart as a counselor to the Bishop of the Logan Second ward, where he labored untiringly until 1906, when he was called as an alternate High Councilor in the Cache Stake of Zion, in which position he was afforded an opportunity of enlarging upon his usefulness because of a larger field in which to labor. At this time he had become a recognized speaker of exceptional ability, and his services were sought after by Bishops and presidents of auxiliary associations in his own and adjoining Stakes of Zion.During the winter of 1902-1903 he was called upon a short mission to Boise, Idaho, and assisted President Joseph W. McMurrin in organizing the scattered saints into a branch, which they successfully accomplished to the joy and comfort of many who had been long deprived of the blessings of an organization. Many public meetings were held which resulted in bringing several into the fold of the Redeemer. This small beginning later resulted in the organization of the Boise Stake of Zion.Notwithstanding his strenuous religious and business activities, he found time to serve in a civil way as a city councilman, and as a member of the civic organizations of the city and county. For three years he served upon the Stake Board of Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association and Religion Classes; acted for many years as chorister of the Logan Second Ward, and was chairman of the Cache Stake Tabernacle choir for seventeen years, and assisted in installing a $15,000 pipe organ. While engaged primarily in Stake work he always found time to assist in a Ward capacity, for he was a devoted teacher in the Sunday school and president of the Y. M. M. I. A. for several years.Being called to preside over the Northwestern States Mission he was set apart for this very responsible position April 6, 1909. During his ten years of presidency, he presided over hundreds of young men and women missionaries, all of whom loved him with exceptional devotion. Thousands of saints also regard him as a man of God, devoted to the uplift of humanity. His friends are legion in the Northwest and are numbered among the leading business and professional men. Many chapels were built under his direction, and the spiritual and financial condition of the saints improved.Elder Ballard was ordained an Apostle, Jan. 7, 1919, by President Heber J. Grant to fill a vacancy caused by the reorganization of the First Presidency. The appointment of Elder Ballard as a member of the Council of Twelve, in harmony with the revelation to his mother before his birth, was further evidence of the beautiful harmony that comes through the operations of the Spirit of God through his humble and devoted children. His appointment gave universal satisfaction, and he entered upon his new duties with the love and affection of the saints everywhere. Brother and Sister Ballard were the parents of eight children.After faithful service in the Quorum of the Twelve for twenty years, Elder Ballard died July 30, 1939 at Salt Lake City, Utah. BibliographyThe LDS Biographical Encyclopedia2005 Church Almanac, p. 65Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation Selected Discourses and Writings TITLE LOCATION & DATE We Stand in a Most Enviable Position This General Conference address was delivered by Melvin J. Ballard ten years before being called to the Twelve. He was then the newly called President of the Northwestern States Mission. General Conference, April 1909 Remarkable Evidences A memorial service for Preident Joseph F. Smith, and associated with General Conference which had been delayed two months because of a world-wide pandemic of influenza. The pandemic is estimated to have killed over fifty million people. General Conference June 1919 Scourges amd Judgements Other than the address delivered at the Memorial Service for President Joseph F. Smith, this is the first General Conference address delivered by Elder Ballard after his call to the Twelve. The recently ended World War I and the ongoing world-wide inflenza pandemic (which delayed holding General Conference by two months) may have influenced his choice of topics. General Conference June 1919 "How Beautiful upon the Mountains . . ." General Conference April 1922 "Wherefore, Prepare Ye, Prepare Ye . . ." General Conference April 1925 A Word of Warning and Testimony General Conference October 1928 A Great Experiment General Conference October 1931 The Sermon of our Lives General Conference October 1934 Gathering of the People from All Nations General Conference April 1937 Our Declaration to All Men This is the last General Conference address delivered by Elder Ballard prior to his death four months later. General Conference April 1939 Hosted by

  
  

• Sources

  [S203] Ancestry.com, Unknown, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Rec), Year: 1920; Census Place: Salt Lake City Ward 4, Salt Lake, Utah; Roll: T625_1865; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 140; Image: 425. Birth date: abt 1874 Birth place: Utah Residence date: 1920 Residence place: Salt Lake City Ward 4, Salt Lake, Utah http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1920usfedcen&h=36983455&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt [S83] Ancestry.com, Unknown, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Wa), Year: 1910; Census Place: Portland Ward 8, Multnomah, Oregon; Roll: T624_1286; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0191; Image: 952; FHL microfilm: 1375299. Birth date: 1873 Birth place: Utah Residence date: 1910 Residence place: Portland Ward 8, Multnomah, Oregon http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1910uscenindex&h=23424349&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt [S32] Unknown, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Trees. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=32128504&pid=2198 [S226] Ancestry.com, Unknown, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data - United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Admin), Registration Location: Cache County, Utah; Roll: ; Draft Board: . Birth date: 9 Feb 1873 Birth place: Residence date: Residence place: Cache, Utah http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=ww1draft&h=26003122&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt [S550] Ancestry.com, Salt Lake City, Utah Cemetery Records, 1848-1992, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - This index was created from cemetery inscriptions and records from the Salt Lake City Cemetery located at 200 N. Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.Original data: This index). Birth date: 1873 Birth place: Logan, Utah Death date: 30 Jul 1939 Death place: Salt Lake City, Utah http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=slcem_ga&h=4418&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt [S86] Utah State Historical Society, comp., Unknown, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.Original data - Utah State Historical Society. Utah Cemetery Inventory. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: 2000.Original data: Utah State Historical Society. Utah Cemetery Inventory. Salt Lake C). Birth date: 1873 Birth place: Logan,Utah Death date: 30 July 1939 Death place: Salt Lake City,Utah http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=utahburials&h=248977&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt