Ross Baron

Ross Baron was born and raised in Southern California. He joined the Church when he was 18 and served a mission to Argentina, Buenos Aires South which was divided, and he then served in Argentina Bahia Blanca. When he returned home, he met, fell in love with, and married Kathleen Ann Bolton in the Los Angeles Temple.

Together they have nine children (five boys and four girls). Currently, they have eighteen grandchildren.

He received a bachelor’s degree from BYU-Provo in finance, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (USC) in Religion and Social Ethics.

Brother Baron was involved in business and entrepreneurship before he went to work as a full-time Institute Director CES Coordinator in Southern California at the Glendora and Claremont Institutes for the Church. After twelve years as an Institute Director and Coordinator, He came to teach at BYU-Idaho in the summer of 2005. In 2018, he and his family were invited to teach at the BYU Jerusalem Center as a visiting professor. They were there for one year, from 2018-2019. In 2023, He was invited to be a Visiting Teaching Professor at BYU Provo in the religion department.

He has served in the Church as a gospel doctrine teacher, a young men’s president, a stake mission president, a counselor in a bishopric, a bishop, high counselor, member of a stake presidency, and a stake president.

Unique things He has done:

1. Swam across the San Francisco Bay for the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon.
2. Went on The Price is Right and won a stove, a mop, and a barrel sauna.
3. Went on the History Channel to represent the Church.
4. Participated in a radio show in Southern California where callers could ask me any question about the Church.
5. Played the drums with a group of institute students at the Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles.
6. Played the Drums at Guitars Unplugged at BYU Idaho in the Fall of 2005 and the Winter of 2006 (Our group made it to the "Best of" both semesters).
7. Played chess in the US Open Tournament in 1991 in Los Angeles. 
8. Have spoken at Christian Colleges and Universities on the Church.
9. Led 6 Community Firesides about the Church where thousands attended.  This is featured on the Website Fairlds.org