M. Russell Ballard in VentureLand

Celebrated in death as a business visionary and spiritual giant, M. Russell Ballard’s entrepreneurial record tells a far more complicated story. This report examines the ventures, failures, and myths that shaped one of Mormonism’s most powerful figures and his connection to the Tim Ballard controversy.

Before becoming a full-time church employee, Russell Ballard was a serial, wannabe entrepreneur. He engaged in one failed business venture after another, almost all get-rich-quick schemes and some involving suspected stock fraud. This report will shed new light on his highest profile business failure, The Valley Music Hall, that was co-developed by television personality Art Linkletter in the 1960s.

Just prior to this report being published Ballard passed away and his funeral was held November 17. Eulogies included the same false claims about his business acumen that he had been making for decades. After inheriting his father’s new car dealership in the 1950s he quickly took it to the brink of bankruptcy. However, reporting on Ballard’s death The LDS Church-owned Deseret News said Ballard Motors was “one of the most successful car dealerships in the state.”

Not to be outdone, The Salt Lake Tribune, which also did no fact-checking, reported it was “the country’s most successful dealership.” Just prior to his death Russell Ballard was being dragged into the controversy swirling around Tim Ballard (no relation) who stands accused of financial fraud and sexual assault in connection with his multi-million-dollar child sex slave rescue nonprofit.