Eduardo Balderas: The Father of Church Translation (1907–1989)

Eduardo Balderas (14 September 1907 – 6 January 1989), often referred to by Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saints as the "thirteenth apostle," was a pivotal figure in the globalization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Mexico City, he fled the Mexican Revolution with his family as a child, eventually settling in El Paso, Texas, where they joined the Church in 1918. His bilingual abilities and religious devotion led him to serve as a missionary in Arizona and California (1929–1931) and later work in Ciudad Juárez. During his early years, he was mentored by mission presidents Rey L. Pratt, Antoine R. Ivins, and Harold Pratt, who recognized his exceptional potential as a translator and teacher. In 1939, he accepted a position as the Church's first official full-time Spanish translator in Salt Lake City, a role he held until his retirement in 1977. Balderas was instrumental in making the gospel accessible to Spanish speakers by translating the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, a new edition of the Book of Mormon, and the temple endowment ceremony—the first non-English version of the ordinance—which allowed for the growth of 'Lamanite Excursions' to the Mesa Arizona Temple. He also translated numerous influential books by Church leaders and significantly revised the Spanish hymnbook. Beyond his translation work, he served as a patriarch, traveling extensively to provide patriarchal blessings to Spanish-speaking members. His life remains a testament to the belief that access to the 'fullness' of the gospel in one's native language is essential for spiritual progress and church growth.