Elder Ronald A. Rasband was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 3, 2015. Born on Feb. 6, 1951, in Salt Lake City, he served as a young full-time missionary in the Eastern States Mission and attended the University of Utah. He married Melanie Twitchell in 1973. They are the parents of five children.
In 1976, he joined Huntsman Container Company as sales representative, and in 1987, he was appointed president and chief operating officer of Huntsman Chemical Corporation. He presided over the New York New York North Mission from 1996 to 1999.
Prior to his call as an Apostle, Elder Rasband served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. He served as a counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency, president of the Utah Salt Lake City Area, executive director of the Temple Department; and supervised the North America West, Northwest, and three Utah areas as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy.
In honor of his 72nd birthday, here are nine quotes from Elder Rasband in the past year.
1. ‘Your word is your bond’
“Be moral, ethical, and honest. Your word is your bond. That is what we learn from making covenants with God. We give the Lord our word, and we hold to it. Remember, another name for Jesus Christ is ‘the Word.’”
— This Week on Social, Nov. 20, 2022
2. A love for Brazil
“I know President [Russell M.] Nelson loves Brazil and the people of Brazil, so it will be a special honor for me to share with the First Presidency and the Twelve of this trip to Brazil that has captured a part of our hearts.
“We want you all to know very sincerely that we love the Lord, and we know that you love the Lord. We are so grateful to serve with you, our fellow servants, as we bring souls to Jesus Christ. We leave you with our love, our blessing, until we meet again.”
— Remarks at the end of an 11-day ministry in Brazil, Nov. 12, 2022
3. A love for Africa
“You’re learning all the time, and, for me, it’s one of the great honors of my life that I get now to face the African people on behalf of the First Presidency and Twelve with the deep love and affection I have in my heart for them.”
— Church News podcast, Sept. 6, 2022
4. Personal integrity
“I had to make of myself a man of integrity. I realized then and now that my personal integrity is what has defined me in my marriage, business, relationships and Church service.”
— Weber Institute of Religion devotional, Oct. 23, 2022
5. Share the Book of Mormon
“I promise you will be participating in ‘the greatest work on earth … the gathering of Israel’ as you are inspired to reach out to those who have been ‘kept from the truth because they know not where to find it’ (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12). They need your testimony and witness of how this book has changed your life and drawn you closer to God, His peace and His ‘tidings of great joy’” (1 Nephi 13:37).
— “This Day,” October 2022 general conference
6. Read the Book of Mormon
“I invite you to read the Book of Mormon and to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ contained in this holy book. As you do so, you can find increased joy and peace in this life and in the life to come. I know this is true.”
— This Week on Social, June 24, 2022
7. Religious freedom
“What is religious freedom? It is freedom of worship in all its configurations: freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom to act on personal beliefs and freedom for others to do the same.”
— “To Heal the World,” April 2022 general conference
8. Hold a current temple recommend
“I encouraged those with whom we met — and I encourage all those who read these words — to prepare yourselves to hold a current temple recommend so you can make and keep sacred promises with God. If we stand in holy places — specifically our homes, our chapels and God’s temples — we need not be troubled. I affirm this is true.”
— Remarks after a ministry to Asia, March 25, 2022
9. Marry well
“If you do nothing else in your life, marry well, as we did, and you will be blessed all your life. I can testify that I certainly have been.”
— BYU-Idaho devotional, Feb. 13, 2022
