Thousands gathered in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on Nov. 17, 2023, for the funeral service of President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President Ballard died Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at the age of 95.
President Ballard’s large family — which includes seven children, 43 grandchildren, 105 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild — and every member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders gathered at the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City for the graveside service.
Following is a photo tribute to President Ballard:
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The casket is carried from the Salt Lake Tabernacle during the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sing during the funeral of President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Funeral services are held for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Funeral services for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sing during the funeral of President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The casket is moved during the funeral of President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, enters the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the funeral of President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Craig Ballard speaks during the funeral for his father, President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Family members grieve during the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles comfort each other during the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Elder Neil L. Andersen, both of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, walk to the funeral services for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The casket is moved during the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News A U.S. flag is draped over the casket during the funeral for President M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The procession arrives for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The pallbearers bring the casket of President M. Russell Ballard to the gravesite in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Harriet Uchtdorf; Sister Kristen Oaks; and President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, attend the graveside service for President M. Russell Ballard in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News President M. Russell Ballard’s casket is brought to the gravesite in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Ella Dastrup, a great-granddaughter, places a small flower on the casket of President M. Russell Ballard after the graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Young family members listen to President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News President M. Russell Ballard’s daughter, Holly Clayton, is presented with the U.S. flag as other daughters, Stacey Murdock, right, and Meleea Roper, back, look on at his graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, pauses for a moment and looks back at the casket of President M. Russell Ballard during the graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News President M. Russell Ballard’s casket is brought to the gravesite in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hugs President M. Russell Ballard’s daughter, Holly Clayton, after the graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News A member of the military stands near the casket of President M. Russell Ballard as the graveside service begins in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The performing group, Gentri, sings at President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News SSG Aaron Reynolds of the 23rd Army Band Utah National Guard, plays taps for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Military members conduct a flag presentation at President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Military members conduct a flag presentation at President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Family members and Church leaders arrive for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Family members arrive for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Family surround the casket for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The procession arrives for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Family gather for President M. Russell Ballard’s graveside service in the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News