Elder M. Russell Ballard, who is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is a well-known figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The founder of Operation Underground Railroad, a group devoted to battling human trafficking, is Tim Ballard, a former federal agent. Despite the fact that they may both adhere to the same religion, there is no known family connection between them.
Is Tim Ballard Related to Elder Ballard?
They are not related even if they have the same last name. “I’ve never used Elder Ballard’s name. Ever! I’ve never treaded on his name to ask for anything. I’ve never had any business dealings with him. He’s like a grandfather to me,” Tim Ballard said.
Tim Ballard, the creator of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R. ), has been censured by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is now speaking out. Ballard addressed a crowd of followers while on tour in Boston and urged them to send his taped words to the media.
“It’s not true, nothing you hear is true,” Ballard says at the beginning of the clip. He occasionally displayed passion by yelling at the cameras. He occasionally became emotional and lowered his voice. Tim Ballard said, “This is breaking down my family like you can’t believe.”
Friday, the Church issued a statement to FOX 13 News and other media, calling Tim Ballard’s actions “morally unacceptable.” Tim is totally convinced that he is intended to be the “Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church,” according to the statement, which was made in response to documents obtained by VICE News outlining a criminal investigation against Tim Ballard and his foundation. Tim Ballard apparently obtained “psychic readings” and communication with the prophet Nephi “to get intel.”
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The Church further claimed that Tim Ballard had violated his friendship with President M. Russell Ballard, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles’ acting leader.
Tim Ballard expressed his shock at the condemnation, especially given that his bishop and stake president “knew nothing about” it. “I pray to God the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints wasn’t part of this,” Ballard said. “I don’t know yet. I don’t know.”
There have been speculations about Tim Ballard running for Congress ever since Senator Mitt Romney declared he would be resigning. “It was leaked to the press that I was going to run for US Senate,” Ballard explained. “Do you think that’s a coincidence?”
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Friendship Between President Ballard and Tim Ballard
Their friendship was once a symbol of their shared objectives. Both shared a common goal: to eradicate s*x trafficking. Collaboration on projects highlighted their relationship, but partnerships evolve with the times.
For Tim Ballard, the year 2023 was characterized by controversy. He left Operation Underground Railroad as a result of allegations of s*xual misconduct. While O.U.R. has refuted the allegations against Tim, they are still conducting investigations because they are adamantly against s*xual assault. Concerns regarding these accusations have also been expressed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Who is Tim Ballard?
American novelist, lecturer, and activist named Timothy Ballard. He founded the anti-s*x trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) and served as its first CEO. Ballard’s writing served as the basis for the Jim Caviezel-starring American thriller Sound of Freedom from 2023. In 2023, he quit O.U.R. after receiving allegations of s*xual misconduct.
California native Ballard attended La Caada High School until 1994 when he graduated. He served a two-year mission to Chile as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He continued his education at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and political science. After that, he graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Arts in international politics from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, which is now a part of Middlebury College.
Who is Elder Ballard?
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is now headed by American businessman and religious figure Melvin Russell Ballard Jr., who was born on October 8th, 1928.
He joined the Twelve Apostles’ Quorum of the Church in 1985. Churchgoers acknowledge Ballard as a prophet, seer, and revelator since he is a Quorum of the Twelve members. He currently holds the position of the church’s third-oldest apostle.
Melvin Russell Ballard and Geraldine Smith, Ballard’s parents, were living in Salt Lake City, Utah when she was born. In his early years, Ballard worked as a missionary in England between 1948 and 1950, when he served as a mission president counselor.
While attending the University of Utah, he met his future wife. Ballard held a number of positions within the LDS Church in the years that followed, including two terms as a bishop. As the head of the church’s Canada Toronto Mission, Ballard was appointed in 1974.
In 1976, while serving as a mission president, he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy; as a member of the seventy, he finished his three-year tenure as mission president. As a seventy-year-old, he worked on a variety of projects, including serving as the church’s magazine editor from 1980 to 1984.
From 1980 to 1985, he served as a member of the Seventy. Ballard served as a general authority and as the executive director of the church’s missionary department as well as president of the international mission.