Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Early Life and Education

Born on February 6, 1951, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Elder Ronald Anderson Rasband grew up in a humble and devoted home. He often speaks of the influence of his parents, Rulon and Verda Rasband.¹  He served a full-time mission in the Eastern States Mission (headquartered in New York City), an experience that ignited his passion for sharing the gospel.² 

He attended the University of Utah, where his career took off before he could complete his degree (he was later awarded an honorary doctorate in business and commerce by Utah Valley University). In 1973, he married Melanie Twitchell in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of five children and have numerous grandchildren.³ 

Professional Career

Elder Rasband's career started as a sales representative at Huntsman Chemical Corporation. He joined the company in its infancy in 1976 and worked his way up through the ranks to become the President and Chief Operating Officer. 

Recent Teachings

In his October 2025 general conference talk, and in a September 2025 BYU devotional, Elder Rasband discussed The Family: A Proclamation to the World. 

In his conference talk, he testified that "The proclamation has a divine origin, so we must treat it with the reverence deserving words from God."

He concluded with an invitation and a promise:

"With all my soul, I plead with you to live close to Him and His Beloved Son. I promise as you do so, the Spirit will inspire and guide you and help you feel in your heart Their promised peace that 'passeth all understanding.'"⁴ 

• ^{1. https://www.facebook.com/RonaldARasband/photos/my-parents-rulon-and-verda-rasband/844547100369552/}
• ^{2. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/ronald-a-rasband?lang=eng}
• ^{3. Ibid.}
• ^{4. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/21rasband?lang=eng}