Ball's parents did not marry until after they had had children, possibly because interracial marriage was illegal in Massachusetts at the time.

[2] Ball's family was said to have been very dedicated to social activism, his father founding a local society to help black widows, and his siblings becoming abolitionists and suffragists.

[2] Historical records do not agree on Ball's race as his official racial identification changed over time.

[2][3] The following year, Ball moved to Kirtland, Ohio with other members of the church (arriving at least by September 1833).

[2] In January 1838, Ball served a mission with Wilford Woodruff in the Fox Islands in Maine.

Three months after the start of his mission, Ball returned to Massachusetts to see his mother, most likely following the death of his father.

[2] During his mission, Ball and his companions were able to baptize at least 50 people, including noted overland pioneer William Willard Hutchings.

At the same time, the group taught the concept of "spiritual wife claims" which was loosely based on polygamy.

[3] The following year, in spring 1845, after being released from his calling, he was asked to work on the construction of the Nauvoo Temple by Parley P.

[2] After Ball left the church, he and William both became involved in the Strangite sect, appearing in their records in 1848.