Eduardo Balderas

Eduardo Balderas (1907-09-14 – 1989) was the leading translator of Latter-day Saint scripture and other marterials into Spanish. He served as the chief Spanish translator for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) for almost 50 years. Along with Rey Pratt, Balderas was also most responsible for translating the hymns of LDS Church into Spanish.

Balderas was born in Mexico City to José Apolinar Balderas and María Centeno. His family moved to Torreón México when he was a young child. They latter moved to El Paso, Texas. It was in El Paso in 1918 that the family joined the LDS Church. [Conrey Bryson, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=159b94bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Saints at ‘the Pass’,”] "Ensign", Dec. 1991, 67–68.] Balderas married Rhea Ross, a native of Payson, Utah.

In 1934, Balderas was brought on by Antoine R. Ivins to help in translating the "Doctrine and Covenants" into Spanish. This project was completed in 1948. By the same time Balderas had completed the translation of the "Pearl of Great Price" into Spanish on his own; this was completed under church assignment, but he was the only person on the project. In 1939, Balderas became the first person employed full-time by the LDS Church as a translator. [Justus Ernst, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=82933219c786b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “‘Every Man … in His Own Language’,”] "Ensign", July 1974, 23.] He also worked on the first translation of the temple Endowment ceremony into a language other than English, specifically Spanish, in cooperation with Antoine R. Ivins. [ [http://www.familyforever.com/temples/temples/mesa.htm The Mesa Arizona Temple] .] In 1961 Balderas helped Marion G. Romney improve his abilities in Spanish so he could more effectively function as the area supervisor for the church in Mexico. [Howard, F. Burton. "Marion G. Romney: His Life and Faith" (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988) p. 207] Balderas was still working as a translator for the church in 1974, also giving lessons on how to use the church's "Liahona" magazine in a church lesson. [ [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9b67d2b9ae76b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Relief Society Conference Emphasizes Spirit of Compassion,”] "Ensign", Jan. 1974, 130.]

Besides his work as a translator, Balderas also wrote articles in English for church publications about the translation process and also about the success of the Spanish-language sessions at the Mesa Arizona Temple. He wrote an article on translating the scriptures into Spanish that was published in the "Ensign" in September 1972. The previous month, Balderas had served as Church President Harold B. Lee's interpreter at the Mexico Area Conference of the church. [Jay M. Todd, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=c3e70b2e72c1c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “The Remarkable Mexico City Area Conference,”] "Ensign", Nov. 1972, 89.] Balderas also wrote "A Brief History of the Mexican Mission, 1874-1936" which was published in the Spanish "Liahona" in August 1956. [Jack McAllister, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=a678aeca0ea6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “The Unlikely Daniel Webster Jones: First Spanish Translations from the Book of Mormon,”] "Ensign", Aug. 1981, 50.]

Among his other church assignments were service as a stake patriarch and as a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple. He served as an officiator in the Mesa Arizona Temple as well, helping there during excursions of Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saints.

Notes

References

* "LDS Church News", 1941-05-24, p. 5.
* Gordon B. Hinckley, "Salt of the earth...", "LDS Church News", 1947-10-25.