Ballard - In Response to the Call - October 1985

Elder Ballard is called to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles in October 1985.  He shares a brief testimony of the work that he has been called to perform and the privileged it is to be called of God to go forth.

• The past nine and a half years, as I have been sent on errands for the Lord throughout the earth, have caused me to know that this Church is filled with righteous, good, dedicated men. Each of us obediently learns that we will come forth as we are called, to try to do the very best we can in our callings, whether it be home teacher, whether it be stake president, or whether it be General Authority.
  

He shares his knowledge that this is God's church.  He also shares that Christ is close to the work that is being done within His church.

• I have learned during the past nine and a half years that this is our Heavenly Father’s church. The errands that I have been sent on to act in the name of the Lord enable me to witness to you today that I know, as I know that I stand before you, that Jesus is the Christ, that he lives. He is very close to this work and very close to all of us who are asked to perform the work throughout the earth in his name.

He acknowledges those that have come before him in life and the effect they have had on his life.

• The veil between here and the hereafter is rather thin. I acknowledge that it has been a great blessing in my life to be born of goodly parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who have given everything they have been asked to give to the building of the kingdom of God upon the earth.

He asks for faith and prayers on his behalf.  He expresses his love for this family and asks for prayers from the church members so he can serve in a way that is pleasing to God.

• I would ask for an interest in your faith and prayers. I express my affection to my wife and my children, who sustain me in whatever the Lord might ask me to do. I am grateful for this abundant blessing and pray humbly that I might serve you, the membership of this Church, in a way that would be pleasing and acceptable unto our Heavenly Father.

Elder Ballard's call to the apostleship comes with much humility on his part.  You can read into the nervousness that he feels yet the confidence that God is in charge and he knows that with God, he can do what is being asked of him.  As we continue to study talks by Elder Ballard, I look forward to seeing how the prayers of the saints cause him to grow and become a great leader in the church.