UPDATE: LDS Church Stake Appeared to Sponsor an 'Evening with Tim Ballard'

Last year, the disgraced former Mormon Tim Ballard, under investigation for the sexual assault of multiple LDS women, was excommunicated by the LDS Church for “morally unacceptable” activities. On Saturday night, the Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake appeared to sponsor an ‘Evening with Tim Ballard’

This article is now part of ACJ’s comprehensive investigative series Derailed: Operation Underground Railroad

UPDATE 7/2/2024: Craig Whiting contacted ACJ to clarify that he, in fact, was one of the organizers of the GiveSendGo event for the Ballards, not the Eagle Mountain Cedar Stake. According to Craig, the individual who created the event on EventBrite had previously organized events for the Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake and used the same account. This oversight made it appear as though it was a stake-sponsored event. It remained this way until church authorities reached out after the event and the publication of this article.

*Tim Ballard speaking at Turning Point Action event in 2023*

Yesterday, the LDS Church’s Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake appeared to have hosted a Zoom event titled “Evening with Tim Ballard,” allowing the audience to hear from and interact with him via Zoom. Despite his grandiose claims of conducting child-rescuing operations in Mexico and South America, the shadow of his disgrace remains ever-present, leaving both current members and former members of the LDS Church stunned.

The Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake, where Tim Ballard and his family have attended for years, recently hosted an event titled “Evening with Tim Ballard,” raising eyebrows and questions about its legitimacy. Whether this event was officially sanctioned by the LDS Church or conducted independently by the stake remains unclear. ACJ is currently awaiting a response from the LDS Church’s Public Affairs Department.

According to current and former members of the LDS Church familiar with its policy, procedure, and protocol, hosting an event for an excommunicated member is not just a breach of policy but a violation of LDS Church doctrine. “Ward and stake members who knowingly hosted a church event, through a church venue or medium or even passed it off as a church-sponsored event for an excommunicated member violate not just policy, but LDS Church doctrine. I suspect there will be consequences for those with knowledge of this event and those in Church leadership who approved it as a church function—regardless of who made that decision,” stated a former LDS Church Bishop who spent 41 years with the church. “This isn’t just an ethical or procedural issue, this is a spiritual one in the eyes of the LDS Church,” he continued.

In September of last year, Vice News first reported the LDS Church’s denunciation of Tim Ballard for “morally unacceptable” activities. In an official statement, the Church asserted that Ballard had “betrayed his friendship” with M. Russell Ballard, then the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The statement clarified that M. Russell Ballard “never authorized his name, or the name of the Church, to be used for Tim’s personal or financial interests.”

In response to a detailed request for comment from Vice News, Doug Andersen, spokesman from the LDS Church’s Public Affairs Department, issued a statement that read in full:

President Ballard and Tim Ballard (no relation) established a friendship a number of years ago. That friendship was built on a shared interest in looking after God’s children wherever they are and without regard to their circumstance. However, that relationship is in the past. For many months, President Ballard has had no contact with the founder of Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). The nature of that relationship was always in support of vulnerable children being abused, trafficked, and otherwise neglected. Once it became clear Tim Ballard had betrayed their friendship, through the unauthorized use of President Ballard’s name for Tim Ballard’s personal advantage and activity regarded as morally unacceptable, President Ballard withdrew his association. President Ballard never authorized his name, or the name of the Church, to be used for Tim’s personal or financial interests.

In addition, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints never endorsed, supported or represented OUR, Tim Ballard or any projects associated with them.

President Ballard loves children, all over the world. It has been his mission and life’s work to look after them, care for them, and point them to their Savior.

The event, titled “Evening with Tim Ballard,” was billed by the Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake as “an exclusive evening with Tim talking about the past, present, future, and how we can support him going forward.”

Ballard was scheduled to appear via Zoom, addressing “members, friends, and visitors”.

‘*Evening with Tim Ballard’ Saturday, June 29, 2024 hosted by the Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake*

In an expanded description of the event, “Step into an exclusive evening with Tim Ballard, where he will delve into his personal journey, sharing insights on the challenges he has faced and his resilient response. This is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the mission and his vision for the future.”

The event promised an in-depth discussion where Ballard would recount his recent tribulations, his navigation through them, and his strategic vision for the future. Attendees were to hear about the global impact of Sound of Freedom and the reasons behind its resistance, with a tantalizing glimpse into the anticipated sequel.

Moreover, an interactive Q&A session was to provide attendees a rare chance for direct engagement with Ballard. The event touted exclusive access to Ballard in an intimate setting, the opportunity for insightful conversations on pressing issues, and the chance to network with like-minded individuals keen on making a difference.

‘*Evening with Tim Ballard’ hosted by the Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake*

This event was followed by a gathering of ward members at the Ballard residence on Sunday, confirmed by two separate members of the Eagle Mountain Cedar Pass Stake, who provided evidence to ACJ.

“I’m just stunned. Absolutely floored,” said a current Eagle Pass ward member. “He’s excommunicated for serious reasons and faces very serious criminal accusations from credible women. It’s betrayal,” he said, requesting anonymity for obvious reasons. Another ward member simply remarked, “It’s nuts.”

Earlier this week, two Sexual Violence Protective Orders were granted against Tim Ballard to Kira Lynch and Celeste Borys. These orders stem from separate lawsuits filed by Lynch and Borys, accusing Ballard of sexual assault and rape. On Friday, ACJ confirmed with the women’s attorney, Suzette Rasmussen, that “two Sexual Violence Protective Orders were granted until the hearings are held on July 8th and 11th.”