SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — After the first chapel was built in San Bernardino, Calif., in 1933, a large art glass window depicting the First Vision and over a dozen small windows or icons showing various aspects of Church history were installed. They were considered a real treasure to the members who had sacrificed for the chapel and its windows during the difficult Depression years.
The windows will become part of the new Redlands California Temple.
Church membership grew in the region. In 1935 President Heber J. Grant, accompanied by Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve, organized the San Bernardino Stake on February 3, as the 111th stake of the Church. The building was finally dedicated on October 9, 1943. In 1960, it was deemed necessary to sell the building — windows and all — because it had no off-street parking for the growing wards.
Once the building was sold, San Bernardino Ward Bishop Charles W. Eastwood tried to buy the First Vision window but the pastors of the Protestant faith that had bought the building would not allow its removal. Finally, in 1978, after repeated requests, a new pastor allowed it to be taken if it would be replaced with amber glass.
Some time later, the icons were also obtained and put into storage.
Brother Eastwood and his wife, Laurie, became the custodians of the window and began to search for an artisan to restore the dirty and broken panes of art glass. Sister Eastwood, daughter of famous Latter-day Saint artist Minerva Teichert, had a special interest to see these works of art preserved.
Meanwhile, Brother Eastwood, now patriarch of the Highland California Stake, solicited private donations for the restoration work.
The First Vision window was finally installed in the Pacific Chapel in San Bernardino and unveiled on March 7, 1979.
When the Redlands California Temple was announced, Sister Eastwood initiated efforts to obtain the window for permanent display in the temple.
"I felt impressed that this exquisite piece of art should be in the temple," recounted Sister Eastwood. "In the temple thousands will enjoy its beauty and message."
The icons have also now been restored by John Heiss of the Upland California Stake. Brother Heiss spent hundreds of hours taking apart, cleaning, repairing and reassembling each small window. Time has made the windows very fragile and hard to handle but his long years of experience with art glass helped him to save every window. They will be on display as part of the Redlands California Temple open house tour Aug. 9-Sept. 26, except Sundays. The temple will be dedicated Sept. 14.
