President M. Russell Ballard home after hospital stay for respiratory issues

President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, waves at attendees at the Conference Center in April 2023. President Ballard was recently released from the hospital.

President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, waves at attendees at the Conference Center in April 2023. President Ballard was recently released from the hospital. (Ryan Sun, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is home after spending time in the hospital with respiratory issues.

President Ballard, 95, posted the information about his hospital stay on his social media accounts.

"Following a wonderful and inspiring general conference, last week I suddenly found myself in the hospital with respiratory issues," he wrote. "However, I have since been released from the hospital and returned home where I am attending to duties as I am able."

President Ballard spoke extemporaneously at the church's international general conference on Oct. 1 because of poor eyesight, for which he gave a self-deprecating explanation.

"My eyes aren't what they used to be," he said. "I went and saw the eye doctor, and I said, 'I can't see the teleprompter.' And she said, "Well, your eyes are old. They're not going to change."

"So I'll do the best I can," he said.

He bore a tender testimony of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.

The text and video of his talk are available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

President Ballard has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since 1985 and a general authority since 1976.

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Tad Walch, Deseret NewsTad Walch
Tad Walch covers The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has filed news stories from five continents and reported from the Olympics, the NBA Finals and the Vatican. Tad grew up in Massachusetts and Washington state, loves the Boston Red Sox and coaches fastpitch softball.

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