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

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 M. Russell 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.”

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

— M. Russell Ballard (@BallardMRussell) November 2, 2023

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 is 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.