President Ballard Honors Sen. Harry Reid as a Faithful and Caring Disciple of Christ

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others on Saturday to honor the life of Latter-day Saint and former United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

President Ballard shared with the Reid family the love of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The First Presidency first extended condolences on December 28, 2021, the day of the senator’s death.

While Sen. Reid, a native of Searchlight, Nevada, was at times “all business,” President Ballard said he was also “a man of faith — in word and in deed.” Sen. Reid and his wife, Landra, joined the Church soon after their marriage at age 19. From the beginning, “they have been faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, with a firm belief that we are all brothers and sisters, children of a loving Father in Heaven,” the Apostle said.

President Ballard shared some of his personal interactions with the former Democratic senator from Nevada.

“In more recent years, we shared a similar plight,” the 93-year-old Church leader said. “We each lost sight in one eye at about the same time — he in his right eye and me in my left. We used to remind each other that we could walk down the street, arm in arm. He could help me see things on the ‘left,’ and I could help him see things on the ‘right!’”

Sen. Reid faithfully carried out Christ’s command in the New Testament to serve “the least of these,” President Ballard said. He cared for “those who were less fortunate, hungry, sick, or those who had any number of challenges. … Of Harry Reid’s religious leaders, many have commented that he was the best minister in their congregation. Even during his years as one of the nation’s most powerful political leaders, he always made time to minister ‘to the least of these,’ and he did it one by one.”

President Ballard quoted a speech on service Sen. Reid gave at Brigham Young University in 2007.

“Many have chosen to pursue an educational direction pointed toward a lucrative field,” the senator said. “There is nothing wrong with seeking a career that will bring you financial success. But never forget the clarion call of [the Book of Mormon prophet] King Benjamin: ‘When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.’”

President Ballard left the Reid family with his “assurance that Harry has returned to the God who gave us life and awaits his joyful reunion with you after this life. And through the perfect and eternal Atonement of Jesus Christ, you and your family can be reunited.”