Elder Ronald A. Rasband was born in Salt Lake City on February 6, 1951, and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 3, 2015. He served as a young full-time missionary in the Eastern States Mission and attended the University of Utah. He married Melanie Tuchel in 1973 and they are the parents of five children.
He joined Huntsman Container Company in 1976 as a sales representative and was appointed president and chief operating officer of Huntsman Chemical Corporation in 1987. He and Sister Rasband served as mission leaders in the New York New York North Mission from 1996 to 1999.
Prior to his call as an Apostle, Elder Rasband served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. He served as a counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency, president of the Salt Lake City, Utah Area, and executive director of the temple department. He also served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, overseeing three regions: Western North America, Northwestern North America, and Utah.
In honor of Elder Rasband’s 75th birthday, here are nine quotes from Elder Rasband over the past year.
1. Trust him
“I share this truth with all my soul. You, each one of you, can do this. I testify that the Lord has a work to do in each of you. When you trust in Him, He will produce more from you than you can imagine.”
— Dedication at Provo Missionary Training Center, January 27, 2026
2. “You’re part of it too.”
“I testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love you. . . . This is His work, and you are a part of it.”
— Devotion with missionaries at Temple Square Mission, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 9, 2026
3. Friendship
“In many cases, those ‘angels around us’ (D&C 84:88) are our friends who, like you, have chosen to live a Christlike life of love, kindness, loyalty, trust, and faithfulness. In the process, they are helping to build God’s kingdom on earth. As lofty as it sounds, friendship is essentially a higher calling.”
— Utah Valley Institute Devotional, December 4, 2025
4. Family Declaration
“Our Heavenly Father has given proclamations to families to lead us to return to Himself and be filled with learning, love, strength, purpose, and eternal understanding.”
— “The Family Proclamation—Word from God,” October 2025 general conference
5. Discernment and engagement
“Everyone is vulnerable. In the days and years to come, we will need the greater insight and dedication found in the proclamation (on the family) to ‘progress toward perfection’ and become ‘heirs of eternal life.’”
— BYU Devotional, September 23, 2025
6. Add glory and honor to the name of Christ.
“I add my testimony to yours. So tonight as we move forward, let us add glory to the name of Christ. As we build up the church of Christ and build up the kingdom of God, let us add glory to the name of Christ.”
— Message to Nauvoo Pageant Participants in Nauvoo, Illinois, July 12, 2025
7. Invite everyone to come to Christ
“You and the missionaries of the Lord will go forth and call all men to Christ with power and authority. Our desire is to do more than help God’s children begin on the hard and narrow path. Rather, we desire for all to remain as they continue to advance along the covenant path.”
— 2025 Seminar for New Mission Leaders, June 20, 2025
8. This is the work of the Lord
“Today I testify to you that this is the work of the Lord, that temples will continue to be dedicated and built throughout the world so that our wonderful members, like those here in Ivory Coast and in this temple district, may enjoy the blessings of this temple just as the early Saints did.”
— Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple Dedication Ceremony, May 25, 2025
9. Jesus Christ is the answer
“I recognize that even in the midst of the good news of the gospel, there are those who struggle with faith challenges, questions, and seemingly unanswered questions. Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is the answer. Start with Jesus Christ. Look for His hand in your life. Listen to His voice.”
— “In Front of Your Eyes” April 2025 General Conference
