[6][7] For three years while he was a teenager, Renlund lived with his parents in Sweden where his father was a building missionary for the LDS Church.

In 2000, he also became director of the Heart Failure Prevention and Treatment Program at Intermountain Health Center in Salt Lake City.

In addition to his time as a bishop, Renlund has served in many positions in the LDS Church, including ward Sunday School president and high councilor.

He was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve along with Ronald A. Rasband and Gary E. Stevenson, filling vacancies created by the 2015 deaths of L. Tom Perry, Boyd K. Packer and Richard G. Scott.

[14] Renlund also spoke at a medical conference held in Vatican City in April 2018, describing the church's views on religion improving the health of individuals.

[15] In August 2017, Renlund participated in a "Face-to-Face" online event with youth members of the LDS Church in Africa.

Ruth Renlund was a personal injury trial lawyer and a partner of the law firm of Dewsnup, King & Olsen.