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No, That Isn’t Him – Elder Melvin J. Ballard

I’m going to be paraphrasing President M. Russell Ballard, the acting President of the Quorum of the 12. He’s speaking of his grandfather Melvin J. Ballard who was a member of the Quorum of the 12 back in the 30s. He describes how Elder Ballard died when he was just 10 years old. But the first Elder Ballard was a major influence in M. Russell Ballard’s life because he said:

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard my family talk about his love for the Lord and his unwavering devotion to the church. He spent his entire life building on the shore foundation of which Helaman spoke and I’m not aware of any shafts in the whirlwind. They were able to penetrate his faith and testimony, in fact, Elder Ballard said, “My personal quest for knowledge of the Savior was motivated to a great degree by my grandfather Ballard’s account of one of his most sacred experiences.”

And then, he goes on to describe how Melvin J. Ballard was serving as a Mission President up in Montana in the Northwest and that he had found some incredible problems, very difficult circumstances and they had no precedence to rely on, in fact, they were seemingly insurmountable challenges for the church there and Elder Ballard says,

“My grandfather literally spent hours on his knees asking for guidance and inspiration and he said during one such period when all seemed bleak and utterly hopeless, grandfather received in his words a wonderful manifestation and impression which has never left me.”

Now, what was that wonderful manifestation and impression? Well, Elder Ballard received a dream. Now later on, a few months later, he would relate that dream to the assembled brethren of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency in Salt Lake. He related the dream as follows:

“I was told there was a great privilege that was to be mine. I was led into a room where I was informed I was to meet someone. As I entered the room, I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being I have ever conceived of and was taken forward to be introduced to him. As I approached, he smiled, called me by name and stretched out his hands toward me. If I live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile. He put his arms around me and kissed me. As he took me into his bosom and he blessed me until my whole being was thrilled. As he finished, I fell at his feet and there saw the marks of the nails and as I kissed them with deep joy swelling through my whole being, I felt that I was in heaven indeed. The feeling that came to my heart then was “oh, if I could live worthy, though it would require four score years so that in the end when I have finished, I could go into his presence and receive the feeling that I then had in his presence. I would give everything that I am and ever hope to be.”

And then Elder Ballard concluded by saying, “I know, as I know that I live, that he lives, that is my testimony.”

Well, Elder Ballard says, “That experience infused my grandfather with the comfort, determination and spiritual energy he needed to deal with the problems he was encountering on his mission. In fact, it was the very next day after that manifestation that he was with one of his fellow Missionaries W. Leo Isgren, in visiting a well-to-do merchant in Helena, Montana.

Some years later, Brother Isgren told me, M. Russell Ballard, how he and my grandfather had stood together in front of a life-sized portrait of Jesus Christ that was prominently displayed in the merchant’s home. At length, grandfather turned to Brother Isgren and said,

“No, that isn’t him, the artist has made a fair representation of him, but that isn’t him. I was filled so much with the sacred feeling that I could say nothing. He continued. “After we left the home and were on our way to our next appointment, Brother Ballard stopped me and said, “Brother Isgren, I suppose you were somewhat startled at my words regarding the Savior of the world. I told him, “ That Yes, indeed! I had been very much so and then and there firsthand, he told me of his experience the previous evening.”

Then, Elder M. Russell Ballard concluded.

“While we may not all have experiences of the same magnitude or intensity, the essence of our ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is to invite all people everywhere to come unto Christ so that he can work his miracle in their lives in whatever way he chooses. For some, that miracle will mean a significant change of life and lifestyle, for others it will simply mean new purpose and understanding in lives that are already rich with faith. But for all, it will mean peace, joy and happiness beyond measure as the master touches hearts and souls with his love.”

Now, I was a little nervous in sharing that story with you because it is so sacred but it has been printed and it has been published many times and I’ve heard Elder Ballard speak of it in conference as have you but I shared it with you tonight because at the beginning of this Christmas season, please know that there are those who know of a certainty, of a surety that Jesus is the living Savior. He’s not a myth, He’s not a legend, He’s not even a figure of history. He’s real, He’s here, now and present and that when you go forward into Christmas now, into this most blessed season of the year, please do so with the idea in mind that we’re not celebrating someone of a long distant past, we’re celebrating someone here, now, in a powerful present. I hope you understand what I’m saying.