Ariel S. Ballif

Who was Ariel S. Ballif?

Ariel Smith Ballif, Sr. was a professor of sociology at Brigham Young University, mayor of Provo, Utah and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ballif was born in Logan, Utah to John Lyman Ballif and his wife, the former Emma Smith. In 1925 Ballif married Artemesia "Arta" Romney, who was a daughter of George S. Romney and a sister of Marion G. Romney. They had five children, including Ariel S. Ballif Jr., Jae R. Ballif and Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill, who also became professors in Utah.

Ballif earned his bachelors degree from BYU and then an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. From 1927-1930 Ballif served with his wife as a missionary in New Zealand, serving as principal of the Maori Agricultural College for most of that time.

Ballif joined the faculty of BYU in 1938 and served as chairman of the sociology department for a number of years..

Ballif served as a bishop, a Stake President and a Stake Patriarch. He also served as president of the New Zealand Mission from 1955-1958, thus being mission president at the time the New Zealand Temple was built.

Ballif was elected to the Provo City Council in 1958, and from 1960-1961 he was mayor of Provo.