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ENDOWMENT NOTES
(These notes were used to prepare the endowment manuscript for John Carmack, 1990.)
Section 7 (D&C, 1835)
Revelation given December 27, 1832.
19. Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you: cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you; tarry ye, tarry ye in this place, and call a solemn assembly, even of those who are the first laborers in this last kingdom; and let those whom they have warned in their travelling, call on the Lord, and ponder the warning in their hearts which they have received, for a little season.–Behold and lo, I will take care of your flocks and will raise up elders and send unto them.
20. Behold, I will hasten my work in its time; and I give unto you who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment, that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves; and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean; that I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation: that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise which I have made unto you, when I will.
21. Also, I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth. And I give unto you a commandment, that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom; teach ye diligently, and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that is expedient for you to understand; of things both in heaven, and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been; things which are; things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home; things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations; and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries, and of kingdoms, that ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again, to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
22. Behold I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned, to warn his neighbor. Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads. He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken.
23. Therefore, tarry ye, and labor dilligently, that you may be perfected in your ministry, to go forth among the Gentiles for the last time, as many as the mouth of the Lord shall name, to bind up the law, and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come; that their souls may escape the wrath of God, the desolation of abomination, which await the wicked, both in this world, and in the world to come. Verily, I say unto you, let those who are not the first elders, continue in the vineyard, until the mouth of the Lord shall call them, for their time is not yet come; their garments are not clean from the blood of this generation.
36. Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you; and as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom: seek learning even by study, and also by faith. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; that your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.
37. Therefore, cease from all your light speeches; from all laughter; from all your lustful desires: from all your pride and lightmindedness, and from all your wicked doings. Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time, and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken, that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.
38. See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous, learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires; cease to be idle, cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated: and above all things, clothe yourselves with the bonds of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace: pray always, that you may not faith until I come: behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto himself: Amen.
39. And again, the order of the house prepared for the presidency of the school of the prophets, established for their instruction in all things that are expedient for them, even for all the officers of the church, or in other words, those who are called to the ministry in the church, beginning at the high-priests, even down to the deacons: and this shall be the order of the house of the presidency of the school: He that is appointed to be president, or teachers, shall be found standing in his place, in the house, which shall be prepared for him. Therefore, he shall be first in the house of God, in a place that the congregation in the house may hear his words carefully and distinctly, not with loud speech. And when he cometh into the house of God, (for he should be first in the house; behold this is beautiful, that he may be an example.)
40. Let him offer himself in prayer upon his knees before God, in token, or remembrance, of the everlasting covenant, and when any shall come in after him let the teacher arise, and with uplifted hands to heaven; yea, even directly, salute his brother or brethren with these words:
41. Art thou a brother or brethren, I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token, or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship in a determination that is fixed, immovable and unchangable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God, in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.
42. And he that is found unworthy of this salutation, shall not have place among you; for ye shall not suffer that mine house shall be polluted by them.
43. And he that cometh in and is faithful before me, and is a brother, or if they be brethren, they shall salute the president or teacher with uplifted hands to heaven with this same prayer and covenant, or by saying, Amen, in token of the same.
44. Behold, verily I say unto you, this is a sample unto you for a salutation to one another in the house of God, in the school of the prophets. And ye are called to do this by prayer and thanksgiving as the Spirit shall give utterance, in all your doings in the house of the Lord, in the school of the prophets, that it may become a sanctuary, a tabernacle, of the Holy Spirit to your edification.
45. And ye shall not receive any among you, into this school save he is clean from the blood of this generation: and he shall be received by the ordinance of the washing of feet; for unto this end was the ordinance of the washing of feet instituted.
46. And again, the ordinance of washing feet is to be administered by the president, or presiding elder of the church. It is to be commenced with prayer; and after partaking of bread and wine he is to gird himself, according to the pattern given in the thirteenth chapter of John’s testimony concerning me. Amen.
11 Jan.: “A visit from the heavens.”
“You will see that the Lord commanded us in Kirtland to build an house of God, & establish a school for the Prophets, this is the word of the Lord to us, & we must–yea the Lord helping us we will obey, as on conditions of our obedience, he has promised us great things, yea even a visit from the heavens to honor us with his own presence, we greatly fear before the Lord lest we should fail of this great honor which our master proposes to confer on us, we are seeking for humility & great faith lest we be ashamed in his presence.” (Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps, 11 Jan., 1833. In Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 263)
14 Jan.: The Lord commanded us to build a house.
“The Lord commanded us, in Kirtland, to build a houise of God, and establish a school of Prophets [and] the Lord helping us, we will obey.” (Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps, 14 Jan., 1833; HC 1:316)
14 Jan.: Temple and gathering to be in Zion.
“Zion is the place where the temple will be built, and the people gathered.” (Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith, “From a Conference of Twelve High Priests, to the Bishop, his Council, and the Inhabitants of Zion,” 14 Jan., 1833; HC 1:320)
4 May: Jared Carter proposes what becomes Kirtland Temple
“. . . it is now March in the the [sic] year 1833 we had no place to worship in Jared Carter went around with a subscription paper to get signers I signed two dollars he made up a little over thirty and presented it to Joseph the Lord would not except it and gave a command to build a Temple also an other [order?] for any gather to move to Kirtland.” (Levi W. Hancock autobiography; LDS Archives; Ouellette)
“A conference of High Priests assembled in Kirtland May the 4th 1833 and appointed Jared Carter moderator who opened the conference with prayer after which Bro Jared arose and stated the necessity of building a school house for the purpose of accomodating the Elders who should come in to receive their education for the ministry . . .” (Kirtland High Council Minutes, 4 May, 1833)
6 May: Revelation concerning Kirtland Temple.
“And let the first lot on the south be consecrated unto me for the building of an house for the Presidency, for the work of the Presidency, in obtaining revelations; and for the work of the ministry of the Presidency, in all things pertaining to the Church and kingdom. . . .
And it shall be wholly dedicated unto the Lord for the work of the Presidency.” (HC 1:346-347)
1 Jun.: Commandment to build temple for “endowment”.
“The same day [June 1st] I received the following: . . .
And for this cause I gave unto you a commandment that you shouild call your colemn assembly, that your fastings and your mourning might come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, which is by interpretation, the Creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.
Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high;
For this is the promise of the Father unto you, therefore I command you to tarry, even as mine apostles at Jerusalem;
Nevertheless my servants sinned a very grievous sin, and contentions arose in the School of the Prophets, which was very grievous unto me, saith your Lord; therefore I sent them forth to be chastened.
Verily I say unto you, it is my will that you should build an house. If you keep my commandments, you shall have power to build it;
If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness. . . .
And let the lower part of the inner court be dedicated unto me for your sacrament offering, and for your preaching, and your fasting, and your praying, and the offering up of your most holy desires unto me, saith your Lord.
And let the higher part of the inner court be dedicated unto me, for the school of mine Apostles, saith Son Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or in other words, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord. Amen.”
(HC 1:349-352)
17 Aug.: Non-Mormon account of planned Kirtland Temple.
Chardon Spectator and Geauga Gazette, Chardon, Ohio, Saturday, August 17, 1833, N.S. vol. III, no. 4, whole no. 251.
“MORMONITES. . . .
At Kirtland, they have contemplated erecting a building of stone on a magnificent plan, to be called, after the one erected by King Solomon, ‘The Temple.’ Doubtless, this would have far exceeded the temple of Solomon in magnificence and splendor.”
18 Aug.: Preparation for endowment.
“You know that the chirch have treted lightly the commandments of the Lord and for this cause they are not worthy to receive them yet god has suffered it not for your sins but that he might preprare you for a grateer work that you might be prepared for the endowment from on high.” (Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps and others, 18 Aug., 1833. In Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 286)
31 Aug.: Reference to New Testament “endowment.”
“Luke 24:44, 50 reads thus, ‘Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoveth Christ to suffer, and rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and ye are witnesses of these things, and behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in Jerusalem, until ye be endowed with power from on high.’ Hence we discover that they were to preach repentance and remission of sins, and he that believed their testimony and was baptized should be saved. But they were to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high.
Acts first chapt. and eight first verses, corroborates the foregoing. Christ, ‘Being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ And further, ‘Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ The power spoken of above, we find explained in the 20th chapt. of John’s testimony, 22nd and 23rd verses in these words: ‘And when he had said this, he {Christ} breathed on them, and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.[‘] Thus we see that besides the signs that were to follow them that believed, they {the apostles} had this power granted to them also, even the power to remit and to retain sins, upon such conditions as the Holy Ghost should direct, when they should receive it. Agreeably to the instructions of their Lord, the disciples waited at Jerusalem; and as is recorded in the 2nd chapt. of Acts on the ‘day of pentecost they were all with one accord in one place,’ when, as was promised, the Holy Ghost was poured out upon them, and they began to speak with new tongues–and then they began their ministry, according to the directions given them. It may be proper before going further to notice, that the kingdom of God was now to be preached to all nations, and that Peter had the keys of the kingdom of heaven, conferred upon him, as recorded in Mat. 16:19. ‘And I will give unto thee {Peter} the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.’ Hence we discover that Peter had great power given into his hands, & so had all the apostles, according to John’s testimony, as above quoted. Consequently, when they were endowed with power from on high, and were to commence their mission, Peter standing up with the eleven, began to declare unto them the things of God; showing that Jesus was the Christ, and that they had taken, and with wicked hands had crucivied and slain the Lord of glory; and that he had risen from the dead–in proof of which he quoted the prophecies which they dared not dispute, and thus convinced them that Jesus was the Christ; and being convinced of the fact, truth brought with it conviction, as it always will when received: they saw at once that they had committed sin that had no sacrifice for in the law of Moses, consequently they, with one accord, cried out, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter having the keys of the kingdom, was ready to tell them what they must do: he said unto them: ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.’ And according to the account, about three thousand were received into the kingdom the same day–having received the remission of their sins, as well as the gift of the Holy Ghost, they were made to rejoice and praise God.” (Edward Partridge, 31 Aug., 1833, in M&A 1(4):59-60, Jan., 1835)
1834: Jan.: Prepare for an endowment.
“Though the Lord said this affliction came upon you because of your sins, polluting your inheritances, etc., yet there is an exception of some, namely, the heads of Zion; for the Lord said, Your brethren in Zion begin to repent, and the angels rejoice over them. You will also see an exception at the top of the second column of this revelation; therefore this affliction came upon the Church to chasten those in transgression, and prepare the hearts of those who had repented, for an endowment from the Lord.” (Letter of the First Presidency to the Scattered Saints, Jan., 1834. HC 1:474-476)
6 May: Oliver comments on forthcoming endowment.
6 May, 1834: Presidency (Kirtland) to John F. Boynton (Saco, Maine)
“Copy of a letter to John F. Boynton of Saco, Maine: written by Oliver Cowdery for the Presidency
Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1834.
Dear Brother:
Circumstances are such that wisdom directs for bro. Greene to go to Canada, and we have counselled that bro. Jared Carter go to the east, to attend the conference at Saco. The object of bro. Jared’s mission is principally to obtain subscriptions for the hosue of the Lord in Kirtland. He may advise concerning going to Zion also. We want you to travel & hold conferences in the church with brother Jared & use your influence with his to obtain means for the purpose of building this house. We want you to understand that the Lord has not promised to endow his servants from on high only on the condition that they build him a house; and if the house is not built the Elders will not be endowed with power, and if they are not they can never go to the nations with the everlasting gospel. Within that house God will pour out his Spirit in great majesty and glory; and encircle his people with fire more gloriously and marvelously than at Pentecost, because the work to be performed in the last days is greater than was in that day. Therefore, all who desire let them make their covenant with Sacrifice, that they may be prepared against the day of burning. The work is to be a short one and every faculty and tallent should be brought into requisition to forward the great work. You will see then, that you are required to use your best endeavors to forward the business, by assisting brother Jared with your labors.
Your brethren in the new covenant.
(Signed) Sidney Rigdon, President H.P.
(Signed) N. K. Whitney, Bishop
(Signed) Oliver Cowdery, High Counsellor
To John F. Boynton
Saco, Maine.”
(Oliver Cowdery letterbook, pp. 45-46; Huntington Library)
22 Jun.: Fishing River Revelation.
“Therefore, in consequence of the transgression of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion, that they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience and know more perfectly, concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands; and this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high: for behold, I have prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them, inasmuch as they are faithful, and continue in humility before me: therefore, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion: for behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil, I will fight your battles. . . .
Verily I say unto you, it is expedient in me that the first elders of my church should receive their endowment from on high, in my house, which I have commanded to be built unto my name in the land of Kirtland; and let those commandments which I have given concerning Zion and her law, be executed and fulfilled, after her redemption. There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy; and it shall be manifested unto my servant, by the voice of the Spirit, those that are chosen, and they shall be sanctified: and inasmuch as they follow the counsel which they receive, they shall have power after many days to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion.” (22 Jun., 1834, “History of Joseph Smith,” in T&S 6(22):1104, 1105, 1 Feb., 1846)
“Received a revelation that it was not wisdom to go to Jackson county at this time and that the armies of Israel should become very great and terrible first, and the Servants of the Lord be endowed with power from on high previous to the redemption of Zion. Thus our fond hopes of being redeemed at this time were blasted at least for a season. the first Elders were to receive their endowment at Kirtland Ohio in the house of the Lord built at that stake.” (John Whitmer, The Book of John Whitmer Kept by Commandment)
23 Jun.: People chosen to receive “endowment”.
“On the 23rd; resumed our march for Liberty, Clay county, taking a circuitous course round the heads of Fishing River, to avoid the deep water. When within five or six miles of Liberty, we were met by Gen. Atchison and other gentlemen who desired us not to go to Liberty, as the feelings of the people were so much enraged against us. At their communication we wheeled to the left, and crossing the prairie and wood and, came to Sidney Gilbert’s residence, and encamped on the bank of Rush Creek, in Bro. Burgharts field. During this a council of High Priests assembled in fulfilment of the revelation given the day previous, and the following individuals were called and chosen as they were made manifest unto me by the voice of the Spirit, and Revelation, to receive their endowment.
Edward Partridge was called and chosen, to go to Kirtland and receive his endowment with power from on high, and also, to stand in his office of Bishop to purchase lands in the State of Missouri.
Wm. W. Phelps was called and chosen, and it was appointed unto him for to receive his endowment with power from on high, and help to carry on the printing establishment in Kirtland, until Zion is redeemed.
Isaac Morley and John Corrill were called and chosen, and it was appointed unto them to receive their endowment with power from on high in Kirtland and assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house and preach the gospel.
John Whitmer and David Whitmer were called and chosen, and appointed to receive their endowments in Kirtland and continue in their offices.
Algernon S. Gilbert, was called and chosen, and appointed to receive his endowment in Kirtland, and to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house, and to proclaim the everlasting gospel until Zion is redeemed. But he said he ‘could not do it.’
Peter Whitmer Jun., Simeon Carter, Newel Knight, Parley P. Pratt, Christian Whitmer, and Solomon Hancock were called and chosen; and it was appointed unto them to receive their endowment in Kirtland, with power from on high; to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house; and to preach the everlasting gospel.
Thomas B. Marsh was called and chosen; and it was appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland, his office to be made known hereafter.
Lyman Wight was called and chosen; and it was appointed unto him to receive his endowment in Kirtland, with power from on high; and to return to Zion and have his office appointed unto him hereafter.” (23 Jun., 1834, “History of Joseph Smith,” T&S 6(22):1105-1106, 1 Feb., 1846)
27 Jun.: His holy temple must be built here.
“The ministers on the part of the Mormons state as [sine quo?] they can never surrender their lands, as God directed them there and there alone to build up his holy temple for the gathering of the scattered tribes of Israel. Thus matters stand my impressions are we shall have more smoke than fire.” (J. C. Chauncey to “Dr. Sir; Liberty Clay County, 27 Jun., 1834; the context is the march of Zion’s Camp, which is then encamped only a mile from Chauncey; RLDS Archives, f1 P31)
16 Aug.: High Council to select elders for endowment.
“I shall now procede to give you such council as the spirit of the Lord may dictate you will reccollect that your business must be done by your high council: you will reccollect that the first elders are to receive their endowment in Kirtland before the redemption of Zion you will reccollect that your high council will have power to say who of the first Elders among the Children of Zion are accounted worthy.” (Joseph Smith to Lyman Wight, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, Isaac Morley, and Others of the High Council, 16 Aug., 1834. In Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 329)
1835: 18 Jan.: Rigdon: Importance of completing temple.
“Rigdon occupied considerable time, and laid before the council at much length, the importance of assisting the church in the place to move forward the great work of preparing a place in which the Elders might be endowed.” (Kirtland High Council Minutes, 18 Jan., 1835)
21 Feb.: General charge to the Twelve.
“Remember you are not to go to other nations, till you receive your endowment. Tarry at Kirtland until you are endowed with power from on high. You need a fountain of wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence such as you never had. Relative to the endowment, I make a remark or two, that there be no mistake. The world cannot receive the things of God. He can endow you without worldly pomp or great parade. He can give you that wisdom, that intelligence and that power which characterized the ancient saints and now characterised the inhabitants of the upper world. The greatness of your commission consists in this; you are to hold the keys of this ministry.” (Kirtland High Council Minutes, 21 Feb., 1835)
Feb.: Reference to New Testament “endowment.”
“We have previously seen what part the Spirit took in preparing the apostles for their respective callings and mission–how necessary it was for them to receive it; for unless they had received it they never could have built up the kingdom of heaven, or church of Christ; and that without it all the knowledge and information which they had received from others, not even that received from the Lord himself personally, both while in the flesh, and after his resurrection from the dead excepted, would not have availed to enable them to execute their high commission; for in addition to all that they had seen, and heard, and handled, of the word of life, they must receive this gift, or work for the Lord they could not. You must tarry at Jerusalem, says the Savior, until you are endowed with power from on high, that is, until you receive the Holy Spirit, and then, and not till then, you shall go forth and proclaim the gospel to all nations.” (Sidney Rigdon, “Faith of the Church,” M&A 1(5):69, Feb., 1835)
12 Mar.: Twelve agree to 1st mission w/o endowment.
“This evening the Twelve assembled, and the council was opened by President Joseph Smith, Jun., and he proposed we take our first mission through the Eastern States, to the Atlantic Ocean, and hold conferences in the vicinity of the several branches of the Church for the purpose of regulating all things necessary for their welfare.
It was proposed that the Twelve leave Kirtland on the 4th day of May, which was unanimously agreed to.” (HC 2:209)
5 Oct.: Apostles to prepare for endowment.
“. . . in the evening attended a Council of the Twelve Apostles; had a glorious time, and gave them much instruction concerning their duties for time to come; told them that it was the will of God they should take their families to Missouri next season; also this fall to attend the solemn assembly of the first Elders, for the organization of the School of the Prophets; and attend to the ordinance of the washing of feet; and to prepare their hearts in all humility for an endowment with power from on high; to which they all agreed with one accord, and seemed to be greatly rejoiced.” (Joseph Smith, HC 2:287)
“Also [told them to] attend this fall the Solemn Assembly of the first Elders for the organization of the School of the Prophets and attend to the ordinence of the washing of feet and to prepare the[i]r hearts in all humility for an endowment with power from on high. To which they all agreed with one accord and seamed to be greatly rejoiced. May God spare the lives of the Twelve [Apostles] with one accord to a good old age for Christ the Redeemer’s sake. Amen.” (Joseph Smith diary, 5 Oct., 1835; in Faulring, An American Prophet’s Record, p. 36)
22 Oct.: We look for the great endowment.
“We look for the grate indowment to take place soon now theare will be a grate gathering of the saints to Zion next season so no more at present bu tremain your brother in Christ.” (G. M. Hinkel (Portage Co., Ohio) to R. Ruben Middleton (Washington Co., Ill.), 22 Oct., 1835; JH 22 Oct., 1835)
Oct.: Twelve undertook first mission BEFORE endowment.
“After being set apart to this holy and responsible office by those whom God had appointed for that purpose, it was thought advisable that we should take our first tour from this place easterly; consequently we made appointments for conferences in the vicinity of the several branches of the church between this and the Atlantic, as was published in the March No. of your paper. In order to fulfill these appointments, we, on the 4th of May, left the pleasant and agreeable society of our brethren in Kirtland with whom we had enjoyed many cheering and interesting seasons, and proceeded to fill our mission.” (By order of the twelve. Orson Hyde, Wm. E. McLellin, Clerks. M&A 2(1):205, Oct., 1835)
3 Nov.: Twelve to prepare for endowment.
“Thus came the word of the Lord unto me concerning the Twelve saying . . . they must all humble themselves before me, before they will be accounted worthy to receive an endowment to go forth in my name unto all nations.” (Joseph Smith diary, 3 Nov., 1835)
3 Nov.: Remarks to Elders School on endowment.
“I then went to assist in organizing the Elders School called to order and I made some remarks upon the object of this School, and the great necessity there is of our rightly improving our time and reigning up our minds to a sense of the great object that lies before us, viz, that glorious endowment that God has in store for the faithful I then dedicated the School in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Joseph Smith diary, 3 Nov., 1835)
12 Nov.: Joseph’s remarks to the Twelve.
“This evening, viz the 12th, at 6 o’clock meet [met] with the Council of 12 by their request; 9 of them were present. . . .
You want to know many things that are before you, that you may know how to prepare yourselves for the great things that God is about to bring to pass. But there is one great deficiency or obstruction in the way, that deprives us of the greater blessings; and in order to make the foundation of this Church complete and permanent, we must remove this obstruction, which is, to attend to certain duties that we have not as yet attended to. I supposed I had established this Church on a permanent foundation when I went to Missouri, and indeed I did so, for if I had been taken away, it would have been enough, but I yet live, and therefore God requires more at my hands. The item to which I wish the more particularly to call your attention to-night, is the ordinance of washing of feet. This we have not done as yet, but it is necessary now, as much as it was in the days of the Savior; and we must have a place prepared, that we may attend to this ordinance aside from the world.
We have not desired as much from the hand of the Lord through faith and obedience, as we ought to have done, yet we have enjoyed great blessings, and we are not so sensible of this as we should be. When or where has God suffered one of the witnesses or first Elders of this Church to fall? Never, and no where. Amidst all the calamities and judgments that have befallen the inhabitants of the earth, His almighty arm has sustained us, men and devils have raged and spent their malice in vain. We must have all things prepared, and call our solemn assembly as the Lord has commanded us, that we may be able to accomplish His great work, and it must be done in God’s own way. The house of the Lord must be prepared, and the solemn assembly called and organized in it, according to the order of the house of God; and in it we must attend to the ordinance of washing of feet. It was never intended for any but official members. It is calculated to unite our hearts, that we may be one in feeling and sentiment, and that our faith may be strong, so that Satan cannot overthrow us, nor have any power over us here.
The endowment you are so anxious about, you cannot comprehend now, nor could Gabriel explain it to the understanding of your dark minds; but strive to be prepared in your hearts, be faithful in all things, that when we meet in the solemn assembly, that is, when such as God shall name out of all the official members shall meet, we must be clean every whit. Let us be faithful and silent, brethren, and if God gives you a manifestation, keep it to yourselves; be watchful and prayerful, and you shall have a prelude of those joys that God will pour out on that day. Do not watch for iniquity in each other, if you do you will not get an endowment, for God will not bestow it on such. But if we are faithful, and live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God, I will venture to prophesy that we shall beg a blessing that will be worth remembering, if we should live as long as John the Revelator; our blessings will be such as we have not realized before, nor received in this generation. The order of the house of God has been, and ever will be, the same, even after Christ comes; and after the termination of the thousand years it will be the same; and we shall finally enter into the celestial Kingdom of God, and enjoy it forever.
You need an endowment, brethren, in order that you may be prepared and able to overcome all things; and those who reject your testimony will be damned. The sick will be healed, the lame made to walk, the deaf to hear, and the blind to see, through your instrumentality. But let me tell you, that you will not have power, after the endowment to heal those that have not faith, nor to benefit them, for you might as well expect to benefit a devil in hell as such as are possessed of his spirit, and are willing to keep it; for they are habitations for devils, and only fit for his society. But when you are endowed and prepared to preach the Gospel to all nations, kindred, and tongues, in their own languages, you must faithfully warn all, and bind up the testimony, and seal up the law, and the destroying angel will follow close at your heels, and exercise his tremendous mission upon the children of disobedience; and destroy the workers of iniquity, while the Saints will be gathered out from among them, and stand in holy places ready to meet the Bridegroom when he comes.
I feel disposed to speak a few words more to you, my brethren, concerning the endowment: All who are prepared, and are sufficiently pure to abide the presence of the Savior, will see Him in the solemn assembly.” (Joseph Smith, HC 2:308-310; see also Joseph Smith diary, 12 Nov., 1835)
18 Dec.: Pray for the endowment.
“Don’t reckon too much on my coming home in the spring. It may be a little after before you see me. Keep up your faith and pray for the endowment; as soon as that takes place the Elders will anxiously speed for their families.” (W. W. Phelps [Kirtland] to Sally Phelps, [Liberty, Mo.], 18 Dec., 1835; UGHM 31:30, Jan., 1940)
1836: 5 Jan.: I cannot tell when the endowment will take place.
“The whole work continually progresses, though somewhat slowly. I cannot tell when the Endowment will take place.” (W. W. Phelps to his wife, Sally, 5 Jan., 1836; JH 5 Jan., 1836)
16 Jan.: Cowdery’s account of washing.
“Met in the evening with bro. Joseph Smith, jr. at his house, in company with bro. John Corrill, and after pure water was prepared, called upon the Lord and proceeded to wash each other’s bodies, and bathe the same with whiskey, perfuned with cinnamon. This we did that we might be clearn [sic] before the Lord for the Sabbath, confessing our sins and covenanting to be faithful to God. while performing this washing unto the Lord with solemnity, our minds were filled with many reflections upon the propriety of the same, and how the priests anciencly used to wash always before ministering before the Lord. As we had nearly finished this purification, bro. Martin Harris came in and was also washed.” (Oliver Cowdery, in “Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book'”, Leonard J. Arrington, BYU Studies 12(4):416, 1972)
17 Jan.: Preparation for endowment.
“President Rigdon then arose and observed that instead of preaching the time would be occupied by the Presidency and Twelve in speaking each in their turn untill they had all spoken. The Lord poured out his spirit upon us and the brethren began to confess their faults one to the other. The congregation were soon overwhelmed in tears and some of our hearts were too big for utterance. The gift of toungs come upon us also like the rushing of a mighty wind and my soul was filled with the glory of God.” (Joseph Smith diary, 17 Jan., 1836; in Faulring, An American Prophet’s Record, p. 112)
21 Jan.: Began washings and anointings.
“At about 3. oclock P.M I dismissed the school and the presidency, retired to the loft of the printing office, where we attended to the ordinance of washing our bodies in pure water, we also perfumed our bodies and our heads, in the name of the Lord at early candlelight, I meet with the presidency, at the west school room in the Chapel to attend to the ordinance of annointing our heads with holy oil–also the councils of Kirtland and Zion, meet in the two adjoining rooms, who waited in prayer while we attended to the ordinance,–I took the oil in my left hand, father Smith being seated before me and the rest of the presidency encircled him round about.–we then streched our right hands to heaven and blessed the oil and concecrated it in the name of Jesus Christ–we then laid our hands on our aged fath[er] Smith, and invoked, the blessings of heaven,–I then annointed his head with the concecrated oil, and sealed many blessings upon him, the presidency then in turn, laid their hands upon his head, beginning at the eldest, untill they had all laid their hands on him, and pronounced such blessings, upon his head as the Lord put into their hearts–all blessing him to be our patraark [Patriarch], and to annoint our heads, and attend to all duties that pertain to that office.–I then took the seat, and father annoint[ed] my head, and sealed upon me the blessings, of Moses, to lead Israel in the latter days, even as moses led him in days of old,–also the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.–all of the presidency laid their hands upon me and pronounced upon my head many prophesies, and blessings, many of which I shall not notice at this time, but as Paul said, so say I, let us come to vissions and revelations,–The heavens were opened upon us and I beheld the celestial Kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell,–I saw the transcendant beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that Kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire, also the blasing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son,–I saw the beautiful streets of that Kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold–I saw father Adam, and Abraham and Michael and my father and mother, my brother Alvin that has long since slept, and marvled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that Kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life, before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time and had not been baptised for the remission of sins–Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me saying all who have died with[out] a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it, if they had been permited to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial Kingdom of God–also all that shall die henseforth, without a knowledge of it, who would have received it, with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that Kingdom, for I the Lord will judge all men according to their works according to the desires of their hearts–and I also beheld that all children who die before they arive to the years of accountability, are saved in the celestial Kingdom of heaven. . . .
I am mistaken, concerning my receiving the holy anointing first after Smith, we receive it in turn according to our age, (that is the presidency,)
My Scribe also recieved his anointing with us and saw in a vision the armies of heaven protecting the Saints in their return to Zion–& many things that I saw
The Bishop of Kirtland with his counsellors and the Bishop of Zion with his counsellors, were present with us, and received their, annointing under the hands of father Smith and confirmed by the presidency and the glories of heaven was unfolded to them also–
We then invited the counsellors of Kirtland and Zion into our room, and President Hyrum Smith annointed the head of the president of the counsellors in Kirtland and President D. Whitmer the head of the president, of the counsellors of Zion–
The president of each quorum then annointed the heads of his colleagues, each in his turn beginning, at the eldest
The vision of heaven was opened to these also, some of them saw the face of the Saviour, and others were ministered unto by holy angels, and the spirit of prop[h]esy and revelation was poured out in mighty power, and loud hosanahs and glory to God in the highest, saluted the heavens for we all communed with the h[e]avenly host’s,–and I saw in my vision all of the presidency in the Celestial Kingdom of God, and, many others who were present
Our meeting was opened by singing and prayer offered up by the head of each quorum, and closed by singing and invoking the benediction of heaven with uplifted hands, and retired between one and 2. oclock in the morning.” (Joseph Smith diary, 21 Jan., 1836)
“At about three o’clock P.M. I asembled in our office garret, having all things prepared for the occasion, with presidents Joseph Smith, jr. F. G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon Hyrum Smith, David Whitmer, John Whitmer and elder John Corrill, and washed our bodies with pure water before the Lord, preparatory to the annointing with the holy oil. After we were washed, our bodies were perfumed with a sweet smelling oderous wash. At evening the presidents of the church, with the two bishop and their counsellors, and elder Warren Parrish, met in the presidents’ room, the high coucils of Kirtland and Zion in their rooms. Those named in the first room were annointed with the same kind of oil and in the man[ner] that were Moses and Aaron, and those who stood before the Lord in ancient days, and those in the other rooms with annointing oil prepared for them. the glorious scene is too great to be described in this book, therefore, I only say, that the heavens were opened to many, and great and marvelous things were shown.” (Oliver Cowdery, “Sketch Book”, op. cit.)
22 Jan.: Further anointings.
“Friday morning the 22nd attended at the school room at the us[u]al hour.–But insted of persuing our studies we spent the time in rehearsing to each other the glorious scenes that transpired on the preceding evening, while attending to the ordinance of holy anointing.–At evening we met at the same place, with the council of the 12 and the presidency of the 70 who were to receive this ordinance; the high councils of Kirtland and Zion were present also: we called to order and organized; the Presidency then proceeded to consecrate the oil; we then laid our hands upon Elder Thomas B. Marsh who is the president of the 12 and ordained him to the authority of anointing his brethren, I then poured the concecrated oil upon his head in the name of Jesus Christ and sealed such blessings upon him as the Lord put into my heart; the rest of the presidency then laid their hands upon him and blessed him each in their turn beginning at the eldest; he then anointed and blessed his brethren from the oldest to the youngest, I also laid my hands upon them and pronounced many great and glorious [blessings] upon their heads; the heavens were opened and angels ministered unto us.
The 12 then proceeded to anoint and bless the presidency of the 70 and seal upon their heads power and authority to anoint their brethren; the heavens were opened upon Elder Sylvester Smith and he leaping up exclaimed, The horsemen of Israel and the chariots thereof. Br. Carloss Smith was also, annointed and blessed to preside over the high priesthood.–President Rigdon, arose to conclude the servises of the evening by invoking the benediction of heaven upon the Lords anointed which he did in an eloquent manner the congregation shouted a loud hosannah the gift of toungs, fell upon us in mighty pow[e]r, angels mingled their voices with ours, while their presence was in our midst, and unseasing prases swelled our bosoms for the space of half an hour,–I then observed to the brethren that it was time to retire, we accordingly closed our interview and returned home at about 2 oclock in the morning & the spirit & visions of God attended me through the night.” (Joseph Smith diary, 22 Jan., 1836)
“At evening met in the president’s room where were the presidents, the twelve, the presidents of the 70, the high councils of Kirtland and Zion, and the bishops and their counsellors. The presidents proceeded and annointed Thomas B. Marsh, the president of the twelve, and he annointed the other eleven. the twelve then proceeded, president Marsh taking the lead, and annointed the presidents of the Seventy. Elder Don Carlos Smith was ordained and annointed president of the high priesthood of the Melchisedek priesthood, by the presidents of the Church. Near the close of the meeting, 2 o’clock in the morning, almost all present broke out in tongues and songs of Zion.” (Oliver Cowdery diary, 22 Jan., 1836)
“The forenoon was taken up in telling the visions of the preceeding evening. We met in the evening for the purpose of anointing the traveling High Council and the Presidents of the Seventy the presidency of the Church first consecrated the oil they then proceeded to anoint bro Thomas B. Marsh as the eldest of the Twelve. Bro Marsh then proceeded to anoint the rest of the Twelve; after which he anointed the presidents of the Seventies, the Presidency of the Church anointed bro Carlos Smith as President of the High Priests in Kirtland, Prest J. Smith jr. requested Prest. Sidney Rigdon to ask the Lord to accept the performances of the evening, and instructed us. When he was done, to shout Hosannah, blessed by the name of the most High God. These things were performed: the shouts and speaking in unknown toungs lasted 10 or 15 minutes. During the evening more especialy at the time of shouting, a number saw visions, and others were blessed with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and we shouted hosannah to the Most High. The meeting was dissmissed by bro. J. Smith jun conferring the benediction of Heaven upon us.” (Edward Partridge diary, 22 Jan., 1836; LDS Archives, Ouellette)
24 Jan.: Preparation for endowment.
“The quorums met today: we had a good season. At evening met the presidency in the upper room in the printing office, and conversed upon the time of, and preparation and sanctification for the endowment.” (Oliver Cowdery diary, 24 Jan., 1836)
“Preparation for the ‘endowment’ occupied much of the Church leaders’ time during the early months of 1836. Brethren who had been selected to participate in this important event met regularly in the Kirtland Temple during January and February 1836. This preparation, intended to sanctify the brethren, involved the following:
1. Confessing of sins and asking forgiveness,
2. Covenanting to be faithful to God,
3. Having one’s body washed and bathed with cinnamon-perfumed whiskey,
4. Washing one’s own body with pure water and perfume,
5. Having one’s head anointed with holy oil,
6. Having the anointing blessing sealed with uplifted hands (the sealing blessing consisting of three parts: solemn prayer, a sealing prayer, and the hosanna shout), and
7. Washing of faces and feet and partaking of the Lord’s Supper.”
(Lyndon Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 216-217)
26 Jan.: Priests, Teachers and Deacons anointed.
“The Priests, Teachers and Deacons, met 2 or 3 evenings about the last of Jan. for the purpose of being anointed. Bishop Whitney and Counsil and myself and my counsil met and anointed them, After the anointing was over, each man asked the Lord to bless them and seal upon them the blessings that had been pronounced upon their heads by the Bishops and their counsellors. Bishop Whitney then asked the Lord to seal the blessings that had been pronounced upon the heads of his brethren, after he was through we shouted hosannah three times, to God and the Lamb, amen, amen & amen.” (Edward Partridge journal, 26 Jan., 1836; LDS Archives, Ouellette)
28 Jan.: More anointings, sealing of anointings.
“Thursday 28 attended school at the usual hours In the evening met the quorems of High Priests in the west room of the upper loft of the Lord,s house & in company with my council of the presidency–consecrated & anointed the cou[n]sellors of the President of the High priesthood & having instructed them & set the quorem in order I left them to perform the holy anointing–Y went to the quorem of Elders in the other end of the room. I assisted in anointing the counsellors of the President of the Elders & gave them the instruction necessary for the occasion & left the President & his council to anoint the Elders while I should go to the adjoining room & attend to organizing & instructing of the quorem of the Seventy–
I found the Twelve Apostles assembled with this quorum & I proceeded with the quorem of the presedincy to instruct them & also the seven presidents of the seventy Elders to call upon God with uplifted hands to seal the blessings which had been promised to them by the holy anointing As I organized this quorem with the presedincy in this room, Pres. Sylvester Smith saw a piller of fire rest down & abide upon the heads of the quorem as we stood in the midst of the Twelve.
When the Twelve & the seven were through with their sealing prayers I called upon Pres. S. Rigdon to seal them with uplifted hands & when he he had done this & cried hossannah that all [the] congregation should join him & shout hosannah to God & the Lamb & glory to God in the highest–It was done so & Eld[er] Roger Orton saw a mighty Angel riding upon a horse of fire with a flaming sword in his hand followed by five others–encircle the house & protect the saints even the Lords anointed from the power of Satan & a host of evil spirits which were striving to disturb the saints–
Pres. Wm Smith one of the Twelve saw the h[e]avens op[e]ned & the Lords host protecting the Lords anointed. Pres. Z[ebedee] Coltrin one of the seven saw the saviour extended before him as upon the cross & [a] little after crowned with a glory upon his head above the brightness of the sun after these things were over & a glrious vision which I saw had passed I instructed the seven presidents to proceede & anoint the seventy & returned to the room of the High Priests & Elders & attended to the sealing of what they had done with uplifted hands, the Lord had assisted my bro. Carloss the Pres. of the High Priests to go forward with the anointing of the High priests so that he had performed it to the acceptance of the Lord, notwithstanding he was verry young & inexperienced in such duties & I f[e]lt to praise God with a loud hossannah for his goodness to me & my fathers family & to all the children of men–praise the Lord all ye his saints–praise his holy name after these quorems were dismissed I retired to my home filled with the spirit & my soul cried hossannah to God & the Lamb through the silent watches of the night & while my eyes were closed in sleep the visions of the Lord were sweet unto me & his glory was round about me praise the Lord.” (Joseph Smith diary, 28 Jan., 1836)
Jan.: Phelps’ hymn: The Spirit of God Like A Fire . . .
“We’ll wash and be washed, and with oil be anointed
Withal not omitting the washing of feet:
For he that receiveth his PENNY appointed,
Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat.”
(W. W. Phelps, M&A 2(4):256, Jan., 1836)
6 Feb.: Sealing of the anointing.
“Saturday 6 called the anointed together to receive the seal of all their blessings. The High Priests & Elders in the council room as usual–The Seventy with the Twelve in the second room & the Bishop in the 3–I laboured with each of these quorems for some time to bring [them] to the order which God had shown to me which is as follows–first part to be spent in solemn prayer before god without any talking or confusion & the conclusion with a sealing prayer by Pres. Sidney Rigdon when all the quorems are to shout with one accord a solemn hosannah to God & the Lamb with an Amen–amen & amen–& then all take seats & lift up their hearts in silent prayer to God & if any obtain a prophecy or vision to rise & speak that all may be edified & rejoice together I had considerable trouble to get all the quorems united in this order–I went from room to room repeatedly & charged each separately–assuring them that it was according to the mind of God yet notwithstanding all my labour–while I was in the east room with the Bishops quorems I f[e]lt by the spirit that something was wrong in the quorem of Elders in the west room–& I immediately requested Pres. O. Cowdery & H. Smith to go in & see what was the matter–The quorem of Elders had not observed the order which I had given them & were reminded of it by Pres. Carloss Smith & mildly requested to observe order & continue in prayer & requested–some of them replied that they had a teacher of their own & did not wish to be troubled by others this caused the spirit of the Lord to withdraw This interrupted the meeting & this quorem lost th[e]ir blessing in a great measure–the other quorems were more careful & the quorem of the seventy enjoyed a great flow of the holy spirit many arose & spok testifying that they were filled with the holy spirit which was like fire in their bones so that they could not hold their peace but were constrained to cry hosannah to God & the Lamb & glory in the highest. Pres. Wm Smith one of the twelve saw a vision of the Twelve & seven in council together in old England & prophecied that a great work would be done by them in the old co[u]ntries & God was already beginning to work in the hearts of the p[e]ople–Pres. Z. Coltrin one of the seven saw a vision of the Lords Host–& others were filled with the spirit & spake in tongues & prophecied–This was a time of rejoicing long to be remembered! praise the Lord.” (Joseph Smith diary, 6 Feb., 1836)
“Met to proceed with the anointing of the Elders of the Most High. Counselor Morton organized those who were anointed in order for supplications. President Beman finished the anointing. The first presidency came and sealed our anointing by prayer and shout of Hosanna. The first counselor organized those who had been anointed in order for supplication. They gave us some instructions and left us. President Beman spoke to the assembly. Sever[al] spoke and there seemed to be a cloud of darkness in the room. Pres. O. Cowdery & H. Smith came and gave some instructions and the cloud was broken and some shouted, Hosanna and others spake with tongues. The first president (J. Smith jr) returned and reprimanded us for our evil deeds which was the cause of our darkness. He prophesied saying this night the key is turned to the nations, and the angel John is about commencing his mission to prophesy before kings, and rulers, nations tongues and people. The assembly was dismissed with prayer.” (A Record of the First Quorum Elders, in Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 661)
“Attended Hebrew School. In the afternoon wrote a letter in the name of the committee containing a request to Professor Seixa’s wife, for a valuable Lexicon. In the evening met with the presidency any [and] quorums in the Lord’s house, when their anointing blessings were sealed by uplifted hands and praises to God. Many saw visions, may prophesied, and many spoke in tongues. Closed a little before 12 o’clock.” (Oliver Cowdery diary, 6 Feb., 1836)
16 Mar.: They will soon be able to raise the dead.
“Their temple, at Kirtland, is a huge, misshappen edifice, that comes nearer to the Gothic than any other style of architecture. The pattern, like every thing else connected with Mormonism, ‘was given by direct revelation from Heaven, and given to three individuals separately, so that there could be no doubt on the subject.’ They asure you, with the utmost confidence, that they shall soon be able to raise the dead, to heal the sick, the deaf, the dumb, and the blind, &c. Indeed, more than one asured me, that they had, themselves, by the laying on of their hands, restored the sick to health. The difficulty with their miracles, and the distinction between all false and true miracles, is, that the former are done in private, with few, if any witnesses, while the latter are wrought in open day, before the whole world, friends and foes. The delusion, however, is one, which, I am inclined to think, is likely to spread rapidly, for a season, especially where there is ignorance, combined with a love of the marvellous, and a mystical, distempered, and extravagant tone of piety.” (Letter published in Ohio Atlas, 16 Mar., 1836; Reprinted in Painesville Telegraph, 20 May, 1836.)
27 Mar.: Anointings.
“I met the quorums in the evening and instructed them respecting the ordinance of washing of feet, which they were to attend to on Wednesday following; and gave them instructions in relation to the spirit of prophecy, and called upon the congregation to speak, and not to fear to prophesy good concerning the Saints, for if you prophesy the falling of these hills and the rising of the valleys, the downfall of the enemies of Zion and the rising of the kingdom of God, it shall come to pass. Do not quench the spirit, for the first one that opens his mouth shall receive the spirit of prophecy.
Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like a sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place. This continued until the meeting closed at eleven p. m.” (HC 2:428)
27 Mar.: Dedication of Kirtland temple.
[Dedicatory prayer] “And we ask, holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house, armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them, and from this place they may bear exceeding great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy prophets concerning the last days. . . .
Let the anointing of thy ministers be sealed upon them with power from on high: let it be fulfilled upon them as upon those on the day of Pentacost: let the gift of tongues be poured out upon thy people, even cloven tongues as of fire, and the interpretation thereof. And let thy house be filled, as with a rushing mighty wind, with thy glory.
Put upon thy servants the testimony of the covenant, that when they go out and proclaim thy word, they may seal up the law, and prepare the hearts of thy saints for all those judgements thou art about to send in thy wrath, upon the inhabitants of the earth, because of their transgressions, that thy people may not faint in the day of trouble. . . .
O Lord, deliver thy people from the calamity of the wicked; enable thy servants to seal up the law and bind up the testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning. . . .
I then bore testimony of the administering of angels.–Presdt Williams also arose and testified that while Presdt Rigdon was making his first prayer an angel entered the window and took his seated between father Smith, and himself, and remained their during his prayer Presdt David Whitmer also saw angels in the house
We then sealed the proceedings of the day by shouting hosanah to God and the Lamb 3 times sealing it each time with Amen, Amen, and Amen and after requesting all the official members to meet again in the evening we retired–met in the evening and instructed the quorums respecting the ordinance of washing of feet which we were to attend to on wednesday following.” (Joseph Smith diary, 27 Mar., 1836; prayer also recorded in M&A 2(6):278-280, Mar., 1836)
“Met and dedicated the House of the Lord. Prest. Rigdon preached in the forenoon. Pres. J. Smith jun made many remarks and delivered the dedication prayer. We meet at 8 in the morning and dissmiss at 1/4 past 4 afternoon. Met again in the evening, that is the authorities of the Church. Many spoke in tongues, some saw visions etc. Doct. F. G. Williams saw an angel or rather the savior during the forenoon service.” (Edward Partridge diary, 27 Mar., 1836)
“Attended the dedication of the Lord’s house. For the particulars of this great event see my acount written by myself, and printed in the March No. of The Messenger and Advocate, signed C. In the evening I met with the officers of the church in the Lord’s house. The Spirit was poured out–I saw the glory of God, like a great cloud, come down and rest upon the house, and fill the same like a mighty rushing wind. I also saw cloven tongues, like as of fire rest upon many, (for there were 316 present,) while they spake with other tongues and prophesied.” (Oliver Cowdery diary, 27 Mar., 1836)
“President F. G. Williams bore record that a Holy Angel of God, came and set between him and J. Smith sen. while the house was being dedicated.” (M&A 2(6):281, Mar., 1836)
29 Mar.: Washing of feet in Kirtland temple.
“Attended school, which was the last day of our course of lectures in Hebrew by Professor Seixas.
At 11 o’clock A.M. Presidents Joseph Smith, Jun, Frederick G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery met in the Most Holy Place in the Lord’s House and sought for a revelation from Him to teach us concerning our going to Zion and other important matter[s]. After uniting in prayer, the voice of the Spirit was that we should come into this place three times, and also call the other Presidents, the two Bishops and their councils (each to stand in his place) and fast through the day and also the night and that during this, if we would humble ourselves, we should receive further communication from Him.
After this word was received, we immediately sent for the other brethren who came. The Presidency proceeded to ordain George Boosinger to the High Priesthood and annoint him. This was in consequence of his having administered unto us in temporal things in our distress. And also because he left the place just previous to the dedication of the Lord’s House to bring us the temporal means previously named.
Soon after this, the word of the Lord came to us through Presdt J. Smith Jun that those who had entered the holy place must not leave the house untill morning but send for such things as were necessary, and also, that during our stay we must cleans[e] our feet and partake of the sacrament that we might be made holy before Him, and thereby be qualified to officiate in our calling upon the morrow in washing the feet of the Elders.
Accordingly we proceeded and cleansed our faces and our fee, and then proceeded to wash each others feet.–president S. Rigdon first washed presdt J. Smith jun and then in turn was washed by him–after which president Rigdon washed presdt J. Smith Sen. and Hyrum Smith prsdt J. Smith Jun washed presdt F. G Williams, and then pres. Hyrum Smith washed president David Whitmer’s feet and president Oliver Cowdery’s, then pres D. Whitmer washed pres. W. W. Phelps feet and in turn pres Phelps washed pres John Whitmers feet.
The Bishops and their councils were then washed: After which we partook of the bread and wine. The Holy S[p]irit rested down upon us and we continued in the Lords house all night prophesying and giving glory to God.” (Joseph Smith diary, 29 Mar., 1836)
“The Presidents and the two Bishops and their counsellors met in the afternoon in the House of the Lord. We clensed our hands and faces and feet, after which we had our feet washed in the name of the Lord; this Took till about dusk; we then partook of Bread and wine a feast: We prophesied and spoke in tongues and shouted Hosannas the meeting lasted till day light. Wednesday all the officers of the Church met at 9 oclock in the Lord’s House. The Priests Teachers & Deacons in one corner, the vail having been let down, and the other officers occupied the rest of the lower room [unclear] The washing of feet was performed by noon. Then they began to prophecy and speak in tongues adding shouts of Hosanna to God and the Lamb with amen and amen this continued till dark, when they partook of a feast of bread and wine, The meeting was Kept up till morning. The shouts were omited during the night.” (Edward Partridge journal, 29 Mar., 1836 entry; LDS Archives, Ouellette)
30 Mar.: Day of Pentecost; Church organization complete.
“Wednesday morning 8 o clock March 30th 1836 According to appointment the presidency, the 12, the seventies, the high councils, the Bishops and their entire quorums, the Elders, and all the official members in this stake of Zion amounting to about 300 met in the temple of the Lord to attend to the ordinance of washing of feet, I ascended the pulpit and remarked to the congregation that we had passed through many trials and afflictions since the organization of this church and that this is a year of Jubilee to us and a time of rejoicing, and that it was expedient for us to prepare bread and wine sufficient to make our hearts glad, as we should not probably leave this house until morning; to this end we should call on the brethren to make a contribution, the stewards passed round and took up a liberal contribution and messengers were dispatched for bread and wine, tubs [of] water and towels were prepared and I called the house to order, and the presidency proceeded to wash the feet of the 12 pronouncing many prophecy’s and blessings upon them in the name of the Lord Jesus, the brethren began to prophesy upon each others heads, and cursings upon the enimies of Christ who inhabit Jackson county Missouri continued prophesying and blessing and sealing them with Hosanna and Amen until nearly 7 o clock P.M. the bread and wine was then brought in, and I observed that we had fasted all the day, and lest we faint; as the Saviour did so shall we do on this occasion, we shall bless the bread and give it to the 12 and they to the multitude, after which we shall bless the wine and do likewise; while waiting I made the following remarks, that the time that we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be endued would be fulfilled in a few days, and then the Elders would go forth and each must stand for himself, that it was not necessary for them to be sent out two by two as in former times; but to go in all meekness in sobriety and preach Jesus Christ & him crucified . . .
I then observed to the quorums that I had now completed the organization of the church and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies, that I had given them all the instruction they needed and that they now were at liberty after obtaining their lisences to go forth and build up the kingdom of God, and that it was expedient for me and the presidency to retire, having spent the night previous in waiting upon the Lord in his temple, and having to attend another dedication on the morrow, or conclude the one commenced on the last sabbath for the benifit of those of my brethren and sisters who could not get into the house on the former occasion but that it was expedient for the brethren to tarry all night and worship before the Lord in his house I left the meeting in the charge of the 12 and retired at about 9 o clock in the evening; the brethren continued exhorting, prophesying and speaking in tongues until 5 o clock in the morning–the Saviour made his appearance to some, while angels minestered unto others, and it was a penticost and enduement indeed, long to be remembered for the sound shall go forth from this place into all the world, and the occurrences of this day shall be hande[d] down upon the pages of sacred history to all generations, as the day of Pentecost, so shall this day be numbered and celebrated as a year of Jubilee and time of rejoicing to the saints of the most high God.” (Joseph Smith diary, 30 Mar., 1836)
“At length the time arrived for this assembly to meet, previous to which, Smith exhorted the elders to solemnize their minds, by casting away evil from them in thought, word, or deed, and let their hearts become sanctified, because they need not expect a blessing from God without being duly prepared for it; for the Holy Ghost would not dwell in unholy temples. This meeting took place in March, 1836, a little previous to which the house of the Lord had been dedicated. As well as I can remember, the solemn assembly was conducted nearly as follows. The ceremony was first performed upon the first presidency, together with the bishops and their counselors; after which the elders in their turn attended to the ceremony, and it was alike upon all occasions. they were to purify their bodies by washing them entirely with pure water, after which they were to wash each others feet, and anoint each other with oil, pronouncing mutual blessings during the performance. The sacrament was then administered, in which they partook of the bread and wine freely, and a report went abroad that some of them got drunk: as to that every man must answer for himself. A similar report, the reader will recollect, went out concerning the disciples, at Jerusalem, on the day of pentecost. This was followed by a marvelous spirit of prophecy. Every man’s mouth was full of prophesying, and for a number of days or weeks their time was spent in visiting from house to house, making feasts, prophesying, and pronouncing blessings on each other, to that degree, that from the external appearance, one would have supposed that the last days had truly come, in which the spirit of the Lord was poured out upon all flesh, as far as the church was concerned, for their sons and their daughters were full of prophesying.” (John Corrill, Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (Commonly Called Mormons) Chapter 12, 1839)
“At the close of the solemn assembly meetings in Kirtland, Smith told the elders that they were now endowed with power to go forth and build up the Kingdom, that they must now call upon God for themselves, and do that which the spirit directed them to do, and every man was accountable to God for his own doings, and he charged them to be careful and avoid contention, and not to meddle with other orders of Christians, nor proclaim against their doctrines, but to preach the gospel in its simplicity, and let others alone.” (John Corrill, History, Chapter 14)
“Wednesday [30 Mar.] all the officers of the Church met ___ ___ ___ in the Lord’s House, the Preists Teachers and Deacons in one corner, the vail having been let down, and the other officers occupied the rest of the lower room. The washing of feet was performed by noon. Then they began to prophecy and speak in tongues adding shouts of Hosanna, to God and the lamb with Amen and Amen this continued till dark when they partook of a feast of bread and wine. The meeting was kept up till morning the shouts were omited during the night.” (Edward Partridge diary, under 29 Mar., 1836 entry)
“I will now go back for a short period. In 1836, an endowment meeting, or solemn assembly, was called, to be held in the Temple at Kirtland. It was given out that those who were in attendance at the meeting should receive an endowment, or blessing, similar to that experienced by the disciples of Christ on the day of Pentecost. When the day arrived, great numbers convened from the different Churches in the country. They spent the day in fasting and prayer, and in washing and perfuming their bodies; they also washed their feet, and anointed their heads with what they called holy oil, and pronounced blessings. In the evening, they met for the endowment. The fast was then broken by eating light wheat bread, and drinking as much wine as they saw proper. Smith knew well how to infuse the spirit which they expected to receive; so he encouraged the brethren to drink freely, telling them that the wine was consecrated, and would not make them drunk. As may be supposed, they drank to the purpose. After this, they began to prophesy, pronouncing blessings upon their friends, and curses upon their enemies. If I should be so unhappy as to go to the regions of the damned, I never expect to hear language more awful, or more becoming the infernal pit, than was uttered that night. The curses were pronounced principally upon the clergy of the present day, and upon the Jackson county mob in Missouri. After spending the night in alternate blessings and cursings, the meeting adjourned.” (William Harris, Mormonism Portrayed {1841}, quoted in John C. Bennett, History of the Saints, p. 136)
“Br Smoot related the news to me from Br Patten which was glorious in the first degree. He gave me an account of the endowment at Kirtland Ohio. The heavens Was opened unto them. Angels & Jesus Christ was seen of them sitting at the right hand of the father.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 19 Apr., 1836. I:67)
Kirtland endowment.
“I attended the dedication of the Temple and all subsequent public meetings. I knew of the endowments received by the elders, and learned of the ministering of the angels at the time of their appearance in the Temple; but as I had not yet received the priesthood I did not receive the higher blessings.” (Benjamin F. Johnson, My Life’s Review, n.p., n.d.; p. 23)
3 Apr.: Further endowments in Kirtland Temple.
“Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have already been endowed and shall hereafter be endowed.” (Joseph Smith diary, 3 Apr., 1836) COMPARE WITH D&C 110, WHICH DELETES REFERENCE TO FUTURE ENDOWMENT.
3-6 Apr.: Further washings and anointings.
“A brief notice only was given, that a solemn assembly would be called, of the official members of the Church, on the 6th of April, for the purpose of washing, anointing, washing of feet, receiving instructions, and the further organization of the ministry. Meetings were held by the different quorums on Monday, 3rd, Tuesday, 4th, and Wednesday, 5th, to anoint such of their respective members as had not been washed and anointed, that all might be prepared for the meeting on the 6th.” (HC 2:475-477)
12-16 Apr.: C. C. Rich receives endowment in Kirtland.
“Tues 12 [Apr., 1836] I traveled 7 miles and arrived at Kirtland Ohio about 10 o clock A.M. there the high council of Kirtland met at 3 PM and I was ordained to the holy Priesthood & in the evening I attend to the first Washing I was ordained under the hand of Hyrum or John Smith the lower Room of the Lords house was finished and dedicated to Him.
Wed 13 attended the second washing with my Brethren &c &c
Thur 14 . . . I was anointed with oil in the name of the Lord under the hand of President of [sic] Carlos Smith he pronounced many blessings . . .
Sat 16 we met at 10 o clock in the Lords house and attend to the washing of feet my feet was washed by President Carlos Smith I also washed some of my Brethren feet there was many Blessings prounced [sic] upon my head . . . we then continued to fast and pray until the setting of the sun when we Broke Bread and Drank wine we prophesied all night pronouncing blessings and cursings until the morning light there was Great manifestations of the power of God . . . and I was filled with the spirit of prophesy and I was endued with power from on high.” (Charles Coulson Rich, 12-16 Apr., 1836; Charles Coulson Rich diary, vol. 5, MS 889, LDS Archives; Barney)
30 Apr.: Anointings, including a PRIEST.
“The [High] council met again in the Lord’s house and proceeded to anoint the following Elders. Pr[e]s Joseph Smith presided with [high] counselors John Smith and Henry G. Sherwood.
[Names given]
These Elders with a Priest were anointed in the Lord’s house with fasting and washing of feet according to the order given for the endowment of God, in the last days by the Pr[e]s. and assistant.” (Kirtland Elders’ Quorum Record, 30 Apr., 1836)
1837: 29 Mar.: 2nd Solemn Assembly announced.
“Joseph Smith Jr made Some remarks and Notified the Elders that the Solem assembley was to be Called on the 6[th] of April & also that those elders who were Not anointed must be anointed before that time.” (Kirtland Elders’ Quorum Record, 29 Mar., 1837)
3/4 Apr.: Wilford Woodruff’s washing and anointing.
“April 3rd The day had now arived for preperations for the solumn assembly the Annointing & the endowment of the Elders of Israel or at least for those that were not endowed in Kirtland the strong hold of the daught[ers] of Zion in the spring of 1836 & as I was absent at that time my day is now come & my time at hand for those blessings & I shall record the events of each day of the endowment for the benefit of the generation to come.
I upon this third day of April met in the house of the Lord with a number of the seventies to receiev counsel respecting our washing & anointing. I was appointed with Elder G. Meeks to visit President F. G. Williams & have the perfumes & oil prepared against the day following. I consider’d it a privilege to wait upon the Elders of Israel in this thing that we might become the annointed of the Lord according to the words of the Poet & the Revelations of JESUS CHRIST.
We’ll wash and be washed and with oil be anointed
Withal not omit the washing of feet
For he that receiveth his PENNY appointed
Must surely be clean at the hearvest of wheat.
After attending to the duties above spoken I repaired to a room in Company with Elder Meeks & Priest J Turpin to attend to our first washing. After washing our bodies from head to foot in soap & watter we then washed ourselves in clear watter next in perfumed spirits. The spirit of God was with us & we had a spiritual time. We spent the evening with several Elders in Prayer before God & the Power of God rested upon us.
April 4th I met at the house of Elder Hales at one oclcok PM in company with twenty three Elders President Joseph Young making one of the number for the purpose of attending to the ordinance of washing the body with clean watter & perfumes that our bodies might be prepared for the anointing.
President Young opened the meeting by prayer. We then proceded to the ordinance. Myself & Elder G. W. Meeks were the first washed under the hands of President Joseph Young. We then assisted President Young in washing our Brethren the Elders. Much of the spirit of God rested upon us. I washed & perfumed the bodies of a number of my Brethren & the interview Closed after expressing our feelings to each other.
We again met together in the quorum of the Seventies at the upper part of the Lords house at early candle light to receive our anointing. The quorums of the Deacons, Teachers, & Priest occupied one apartment the Elders another & the Seventies the third. Each quorums met for the anointing. Three of the presidents met with the Seventies viz H Aldrich J. Young and Z. Coultrin.
President Coultrin opened the meeting by prayer & after conversing plainly to those who were to be anointed they proceded to business. The presidency consecrated the oil before God that it might be holy. the person to be anointed then took a seat & the presidency then laid hands upon his head & Consecrated him unto God & then anointed him in the name of the Lord & pronounced such blessings upon his head as the testimony of Jesus shall direct which is the spirit of prophecy. We had a glorious season indeed in this solumn ordinance of the house of the Lord. There were fifteen annointed in our quorum mostly by President Coultrin. The Power of God rested upon us.
President Coultrin anointed me & the following are some of the blessing that he pronounced upon my head while clothed upon by the spirit & power of God, viz. That God would bless me with all the powers of the Priesthood & give me a multiplicity of blessing that Kings would tremble upon their thrones at my word, that I should become a Counsellor & multitudes should seek counsel at my mouth & I should have great wisdom & power to fly through the midst under heaven as Philip travled by the spirit that I should have power over my enemies & have long life & bring many into the kingdom of God Also that I should have the riches of the earth & that I should have Sons & Consecrate them priests unto God in Zion & that I should tread upon the ashes of my enemies in Jackson County they that had sought to take my life & the life of my brethren that went to redeem Zion & he Also sealed upon my head all the blessing that had previously been pronounced upon me & thes blessing were sealed upon my head with a loud Amen from all of the anointed present in the name of Jesus Christ.
Much of the power & spirit of God & a sens of the virtue of the ordinance rested upon me. May God enable me to possess those blessing & obtain thos vishions that have been promised me in this & other Solumn ordinances & keep me from dishonouring my anointing & the Holy Priesthood for Christ Sake Amen.
The interview closed about 10 oclock P.M. I then repaired into the lower Court of the Lords house in Company with Elders Joseph B. Nobles & G. W. Meeks to spend the night (after being anointed) in prayer & fasting before God. The vales being closed We entered the Elders pulpit & there upon our knees we plead with God & we covenanted with each other in the holy stand that we would not give sleep to our eyes neither take food untill we receieved a blessing from God by the outpourings of his spirit upon us if it was untill the end of three days. And according to our Covenant we commenced praying & a part of the night we had a severe trial of our faith by great temptation from Satan but before day we gained a good degree of victory over the Devil & the Lord poured out his spirit upon us & we felt it good to be in the house of God while nature was hushed in silenced by the sable shades of night.
After spending the night in prayer we returned to our homes in the morning intending to spend the day in prayer & fasting for still greater blessings this being upon April 5th.” (Wilford Woodruff diary)
6 Apr.: Sealing of anointings and blessings.
“After this matter was aranged there was a glorious ordinance performed upon the heads of those who had been anointed (by the first presidency of the Church Joseph Smith jr. Sidney Rigdon &c was this ordinance performed. It was as follows:
While all of the anointed present lifted there hands towards heaven this first presidency of the Church Confirmed & sealed upon our heads all the blessings of our ordination, anointing, & Patriarchal with a seal in the presence of God & the Lamb & holy angels that they shoulid all be fulfilled upon our heads that not one jot or tittle should fail & the seal was confirmed upon our heads with a shout of all the anointed with uplifted hand to heaven HOSANNA, Hosanna, Hosanna, to GOD & the LAMB, Amen, Amen, & Amen. Hosanna Hosanna, Hosanna, to GOD & the LAMB, Amen, Amen, & Amen. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna, to GOD & the LAMB, Amen, Amen, & Amen. This was repeated as it is written & if ever a shout entered the Cabinet of heaven that did & was repeated by angels on high & caused the power of God to rest upon us. . . .
After being in the upper room about two hours we again Joined the congregation of the Saints in the lower Court & the house came to order for the business of the day. The veils were closed & each apartment commenced the duties of the day.
The washing of the feet of the anointed was the first business that was performed. The twelve assisted our presidency in washing the feet. Elder Heber Kimble one of the twelve apostles attended to the washing of my feet & prophesied upon my head & pronounced me clean from the Blood of this generation. This as it was with JESUS when he washed his deciples feet. Great were the blessings that rested upon us in this ordinance.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 6 Apr., 1837)
1838: 4 Jul.: Far West building referred to as a Temple.
“The committee of arrangements, which had been previously chosen to make arrangements for the celebration of the 4th of July, and laying the corner stones of the temple.” (Elders’ Journal 1(4):60, Aug., 1838)
1839: 17 Nov.: Anointings.
“I preached in the forenoon, brother Taylor in the afternoon. In the evening I anointed brother Taylor in the house of the Lord. He had previously washed himself in pure water with castile soap; then we all went to the Temple. Brother Kimball opened the meeting by prayer; I then anointed brother Taylor with pure sweet oil, and pronounced such blessings as the Spirit gave utterance. Brother Taylor then arose and prayed for himself. Brother Turley, one of the Seventies, was anointed by D. S. Miles, one of the Presidents of Seventies which was sealed by loud shouts of hosannah; then their feet were washed and the meeting closed.” (Manuscript History of Brigham Young [Watson], pp. 57-58, 17 Nov., 1839)
1840: 19 Jul.: The world will come to see our Temple.
“Now from this hour bring every thing you can bring and build a Temple unto the Lord, a house unto the mighty God of Jacob. We will build upon the top of this Temple a great observatory, a great and high watch tower and in the top thereof we will Suspend a tremendous bell that when it is rung shall rouse the inhabitants of Madison, wake up the people of Warsaw, and sound in the ears of men [in] Carthage. Then comes the ancient records yea all of them. Dig them; yes bring them forth speedily.
Then shall the poor be fed by the curious who shall come from all parts of the world to see this wonderful temple. Yea I prophecy that pleasure parties shall come from England to see the Mamoth and like the Queen of Sheba shall say the half never was told them. School houses shall be built here and High schools shall be established and the great men of the [earth] shall send their sons here to board while they are receiving their education among us. And even Noblemen shall crave the priviledge of educating their children with us and these poor saints shall chink in their pockets the money of these proud men received from such as come and dwell with us.
Now brethren I obligate myself to build as great a temple as ever Solomon did, if the church will back me up. Moreover, it shall not impovrish any man but enrich thousands. And I prophecy that the time shall be when these saints shall ride proudly over the mountains of Missouri and no Gentile dog nor Missouri dog shall dare lift a tongue against them but will lick up the dust from beneath their feet. And I pray the Father that many here may realize this and see it with their eyes. And if it should be (stretching his hand towards the place and in a melancholly tone that made all hearts tremble) [the] will of God that I might live to behold that temple completed and finished from the foundation to the top stone I will say, Oh Lord it is enough Lord let thy servant depart in peace, which is my ernest prayer in the name of the L[ord] Jesus Amen.” (Joseph Smith, 19 Jul., 1840, Martha Jane Knowlton transcript; in BYU Studies 19(3):393-394. See accompanying introduction by Dean Jessee.)
31 Aug.: Foreshadowing of Nauvoo Temple.
“Believing the time has now come, when it is necessary to erect a house of prayer, a house of order, a house for the worship of our God, where the ordinances can be attended to agreeably to His divine will.” (An Address by the First Presidency to the Church, 31 Aug., 1840; HC 4:186)
3 Oct.: Announcement of Nauvoo Temple–General Conf.
“The president then spoke of the necessity of building a ‘House of the Lord’ in this place.” (Times and Seasons 1:186, Oct., 1840)
“The subject of building a house, for the worship of Almighty God, was brought up, when it was decided that immediate preparations should be made to carry into effect, an object so dear to the saints. A committee was appointed to erect the same, who are men of tried integrity, and who will do their duty, and it only remains for the brethren to hold up, and strengthen their hands, and a building to the honor of our God, will be erected, where the saints can offer up their orisons to the God of their salvation, and where the order of the kingdom will be manifested.” (Report of General Conference of 3 Oct., 1840, in T&S 1(12):184, Oct., 1840)
5 Oct.: Ordinance of sacrifice to be restored in temple.
“It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed, but this was not the case if you read Leviticus [2] Chap [2-3] you will observe that the priests took a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was kept for the maintenance of the priests. So that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the Alter, but the blood is sprinkled and the fat and certain other portions are consumed These sacrifices as well as every ordinance belonging to the priesthood will when the temple of the Lord shall be built and the Sons Levi be purified by fully restored and attended to then all their powers ramifications ramifications [sic] and blessings–this ever was and will exist when the powers of the Melchisid Priesthood are sufficiently manifest.” (Joseph Smith, 5 Oct., 1840. In Words of JS, p. 43)
4 Nov.: That they may build a sanctuary to God.
“Another reason for gathering the people of God is, that they may ‘go a sacrifice unto the Lord their God’, that they may build a sanctuary to the name of the Most High, that ther they may behold the glorious going forth of the Holy one, and learn of his judgments and attend to such ordinances and receive such blessings as they could not while scattered upon the face of the whole earth. The prophet predicted that he should ‘bring his sons from afar, and his daughters from the ends of the earth’–and ‘they shall come from a far country with riches and trees to beautify the house of the Lord, and make the place of his feet glorious.’ In short the house of the Lord shall be built by the gathering in of the people–the sons of Moses and Aaron shall execute the priest’s work, the house shall be covered with a cloud–the glory of the Lord shall be seen–he shall teach his people of his ways, and great shall be the blessings of Zion. Then shall the saints behold the Lord to come to his temple, even the messenger of peace in whom they delight.” (Elder Moon [Nauvoo] “To the Editor of the Star,” 4 Nov., 1840; in MS 1(10):253, Feb., 1841)
1841: 1 Jan.: Communication to the 12 concerning temple.
“You will observe by the Times and Seasons that we are about building a Temple, for the worship of our God, in this place; preparations are now making; every tenth day is devoted by the brethren for quarrying rock, &c. We have secured one of the most lovely situations for it, that there is in this region of country; it is expected to be considerably larger than the one in Kirtland, and on a more magnificent scale, and which will undoubtedly attract the attention of the great men of the earth.” (Joseph Smith to the Twelve in England, T&S 2(5):259-260, 1 Jan., 1841)
15 Jan.: Announcement of temple construction.
“The Temple of the Lord is in process of erection here, where the Saints will come to worship the God of their fathers, according to the order of His house and the powers of the Holy Priesthood, and will be so constructed as to enable all the functions of the Priesthood to be duly exercised, and where instructions from the Most High will be received, and from this place go forth to distant lands. . . .
In order to erect the Temple of the Lord, great exertions will be required on the part of the Saints, so that they may build a house which shall be accepted by the Almighty, and in which His power and glory shall be manifested. Therefore let those who can freely make a sacrifice of their time, their talents, and their prosperity, for the prosperity of the kingdom, and for the love they have to the cause of truth, bid adieu to their homes and pleasant places of abode, and unite with us in the great work of the last days, and share in the tribulation, that they may ultimately share in the glory and triumph.” (Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, HC 4:269-273; also T&S 2(6):274, 277, 15 Jan., 1841)
19 Jan.: Revelation on Nauvoo temple (D&C 124).
And again, verily, verily I say unto you, let all my saints from afar; and send ye swift messengers, yea chosen messengers, and say unto them, come ye with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities, that will come may come, and bring the box tree and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth, and with iron and with copper, and with brass, and with zink, and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein; for there is not place found on earth that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or, which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood; for a baptismal font there is not upon the earth; that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead; for this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me. But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me, and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But, behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me, and if you do not these things, at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead, saith the Lord your God.–For, verily, I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house unto me, wherein the ordinance of baptism for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me, for therein are the Keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory. And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord; for it is ordained that in Zion and in her Stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead.
And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name? For, for this cause I commanded Moses, that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed, which had been hid from before the world was; therefore verily I say unto you, that your annointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the sons of Levi, and your oracles in your most holy places, wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes, and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and adornment of all her municiples, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.
And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people; for I design to reveal unto my church, things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world–things that pertain to the dispensation of the fullness of times; and I will show unto my servant Joseph, all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built; and ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it. If ye labor with all your mights, I will consecrate that spot, that it shall be made holy; and if my people will hearken to my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed, to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place. But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of those men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute my holy grounds, and my holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words, which I give unto them.
And it shall come to pass, that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord: for instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgment upon your own heads by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me saith the Lord.” (Revelation to Joseph Smith [D&C 124], 19 Jan., 1841, in T&S 2(15):425-427, 1 Jun., 1841)
1 Feb.: The oracles of God will be in the temple.
“Then can the oracles of God be daily received if necessary for the salvation of the people, by those who are appointed to minister in the holy place. Then can God be worshipped in the beauty of holiness.” (Elias Higbee, One of the Building Committee, TS 2(7):295-296, 1 Feb., 1841)
6 Apr.: Cornerstone of Nauvoo Temple laid.
“‘. . . may the same be accomplished speedily; that the Saints may have a place to worship God, and the Son of Man have where to lay his head.’ . . .
The third (N. W. corner) stone, superintended by the High Council, as representatives of the Twelve.” (T&S 2(12):376-377, 15 Apr., 1841)
“If the strict order of the Priesthood were carried out in the building of Temples . . .” (HC 4:331)
7 Apr.: Necessity of Temple.
“Pres. Jos. Smith rose and made some observations in explanation of the same, and likewise of the necessity which existed of building the Temple, that the saiints [sic] might have a suitable place for worshiping the Almighty, and also the building of the Nauvoo Boarding House, that suitable accomodations might be afforded for the strangers who might visit this city.” (General Conference Minutes, 7 Apr., 1841, T&S 2(12):386, 15 Apr., 1841)
1 Jul.: Progress report on the Temple.
“If the saints interest themselves in this matter, there is no doubt but that the temple will be erected according to the pattern given, and they will be privileged to witness the dedication of the same, and see the glory and presence of the Lord displayed as it was anciently.
The Elders of Israel, who have not yet received their endowment, must indeed look forward to the completion of the building with feelings of no ordinary kind.” (T&S 2(17):455-456, 1 Jul., 1841)
2 Aug.: “The Temple of God”: Eliza R. Snow
“Let us ‘watch and be sober’–the period is near
When the Lord in his temple, will surely appear.”
(Eliza R. Snow, T&S 2(19):494, 2 Aug., 1841)
4 Oct.: Father: endowment; mother/daughter: eternal life.
“Then shall you be a chosen vessel having received the anointing, & the enduements, in the Lords House, then shall your Ministry be prosperous.” (Patriarchal Blessing of Levi Gribble, by Hyrum Smith, 4 Oct., 1841. RLDS Archives, P8/F7)
“If you will ask diligently in Faith you shall be blest with many things which your Heart hath desired, & shall be sealed with Eternal Life from this very Hour, for a Comfort to you in tribulation.” (Patriarchal Blessing of Polly Gribble, wife of Levi Gribble, by Hyrum Smith, 4 Oct., 1841. RLDS Archives, P8/F9)
“Although you are in your youth [she was 15 years old at the time] I Seal you up unto Eternal Life, because of your Faith in the Gospel . . . Now I Seal these Blessings upon your Head, a Celestial Glory, Even so, Amen.” (Patriarchal Blessing of Patience Gribble, daughter of Levi and Polly Gribble, by Hyrum Smith, 4 Oct., 1841. RLDS Archives, P8/F8)
12 Oct.: Epistle of the Twelve.
“In this city the church has succeeded in securing several extensive plats of land, which have been laid out in city lots, a part of which have been sold, a part has been distributed to the widow and the orphan, and a part remains for sale. These lots are for the inheritance of the saints, a resting place for the church, a habitation for the God of Jacob; for here he has commanded a house to be built unto his name where he may manifest himself unto his people as in former times, when he caused the ark, the tabernacle and the temple to be reared and the cloud and the fire to rest down thereon; and not that the temple be built only, but that it be completed quickly, and that no more general conference be held, till it shall be held therein; and that the Nauvoo House be finished for the accomodation of the brethren from afar, and the stranger who shall come up hither to inquire after the work of the Lord and worship in his Temple.
Scores of brethren in this city, have offered to board one and two laborers each till the Temple is completed; many have volunteered to labor continually, and the brethren generally are giving one tenth part of their income, according to circumstances; while those sisters, who can do nothing more, are knitting socks and mittens and preparing garments for the laborers, so that they may be made as comfortable as possible during the coming winter. In view of these things we would invite our brethren for many miles distant around us to send in their teams for drawing stone, lumber, and materials for the buildings; and at the same time load their waggons with all kinds of grain and meat, provision and clothing; and hay and provinder in abundance, that the laborer faint not, and the teams be made strong; also that journeymen, stonecutters &c. come bringing their tools with them, and enlist in the glorious enterprize. . . .
To those brethren who live so far distant that they cannot send in their loaded teams, and yet desire to assist in building the Lord’s House, we would say, gather yourselves together and bring of your substance, your silver, and gold, and apparel and of your superabundance cast into the treasury of the Lord and see if he will not pour you out a blessing till there is not room enough to receive it. . . .
The journeyings and gatherings, and buildings of the saints are nothing new, and as they are expecting, looking and praying for the completion of the dispensation of the fullness of times, they must also expect that their progress will be onward or they will be of no avail, for what is not of faith is sin, and can you believe that God will hear your prayers, and bring you on your journey, gather you, and build your houses, and you not put forth one hand or make one exertion to help yourselves? No! therefore inasmuch as the saints believe that father Abraham journeyed to a distant land, and at the command of the Highest, where himself and household, (whose household we are, if we keep the commandments,) might enjoy the fruits of their labors unmolested, and worship the God of heaven according to the dictates of their own conscience and his law. That his seed afterwards gathered to Canaan, the Land of Promise; that David was commanded to build a house where the Son of Man might have a place rto lay his head, and the di[s]ciples be endued with power from on high, and were with one accord in one place; they must also believe that this dispensation comprehends all the great works of all former dispensations; and that the children must gather as did the fathers, must build a house, where they may be endued, and be found together worshipping and doing as their fathers did, when Jehovah spake and the angels of heaven ministered unto them; and if these things are not in this generation then we have not arrived at the dispensation of the fullness of times as we anticipate and our faith and prayers are vain.
Is it possible that we labor in vain, and toil for nought, and that we shall be disappointed at the last? No! we know assuredly that the set time to favor Zion has come, and her sons and daughters shall rejoice in her glory. The time has come when the great Jehovah would have a resting place on earth, a habitation for his chosen, where his law shall be revealed, and his servants be endued from on high, to bring together the honest in heart from the four winds; where the saints may enter the Baptismal Font for their dead relations, so that they may be judged according to men in the flesh, and live according to God in the spirit, and come forth in the celestial kingdom; a place, over which the heavenly messengers may watch and trouble the waters as in days of old, so that when the sick are put therein they shall be made whole [Is this the first reference to baptism for the healing of the sick?]; a place where all the ordinances shall be made manifest and the saints shall unite in the songs of Zion, even praise, thanksgiving and hallelujahs to God and the Lamb, that he has wrought out their deliverance, and bound satan fast in chains.” (“An Epistle of the Twelve, to the brethren scattered abroad on the Continent of America,” 12 Oct., 1841, in T&S 2(24):567-569, 15 Oct., 1841)
17 Oct.: God has commanded us to build the Temple.
“There is one thing to which we would call the special attention of the saints at this time, and that is, the BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE at Nauvoo.
This being a work commanded of God, the saints in all the world are required to assist in so desirable an object, by contributing liberally of their silver and gold, as far so it is in their power.
The first consideration is: God has commanded it. The second is, the saints in that country need it, as they now have to meet out of doors. The third is, great blessings depend on its speedy erection–blessings which equally concern all the children of God, throughout the world. With these considerations, we hope the officers and members of each conference will be up and doing. A few individuals in England, have already sent some twenty-eight or thirty pounds, for this purpose, by the two last ships, and we hope the exertion will be more general hereafter.” (Minutes of the Manchester Conference, 17 Oct., 1841; MS 2(7):105-106, Nov., 1841)
1 Nov.: Endowment essential to salvation.
“. . . they have neglected the House of the Lord, the Baptismal Font, in this place, wherein their dead may be redeemed, and the key of knowledge that unfolds the dispensation of the fullness of times may be turned, and the mysteries of God be unfolded, upon which their salvation and the salvation of the world, and the redemption of their dead depends, for ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ ‘there shall not be a General Assembly for a general conference assembled together until the House of the Lord shall be finished, and the Baptismal Font, and if we are not diligent the church shall be rejected, and their dead also’ . . .” (Hyrum Smith to the Church in Kirtland, in T&S 3(1):589, 1 Nov., 1841 [Note that this issue of T&S was incorrectly designated 15 Nov.]; reprinted in Sangamo Journal 10(13):2, 19 Nov., 1841; Snider Collection)
8 Nov.: Hand healed when dipped into baptismal font.
“At 5 o’clock in the evening, the 8th day of November, 1841, the font was dedicated by Joseph Smith the Prophet. After the dedication Brother Reuben McBride was the first person baptized, under the direction of the President.
Brother Samuel Rolfe, who was seriously afflicted with a felon upon one of his hands, was present. President Joseph instructed him to wash in the font and told him that the hand would be healed. The doctors had told him that he could not recover before Spring, and had advised him to have his hand cut. He dipped his hand in the font, and within a week he was perfectly healed.
After this time baptisms were continued in the font, and many Saints realized great blessings–both spiritually and bodily.” (William Clayton Journal, in JI 21(4):60, 15 Feb., 1886)
15 Nov.: Necessity of Nauvoo Temple.
“Since our arrival in this place there has been one special and one general conference of the church, and the twelve have been called to tarry at home for a season, and stand in their lot next to the first Presidency and assist in councilling the brethren and in the settling of immigrants, &c., and the first great object before us, and the saints generally, is to help forward the completion of the Temple and the Nauvoo House; buildings which are now in progress according to the revelations, and which must be completed to secure the salvation of the church in the last days; for God requires of his saints to build him a house wherein his servants may be instructed, and endued with power from on high, to prepare them to go forth among the nations, and proclaim the fullness of the gospel for the last time, and bind up the law and seal up the testimony, leaving this generation without excuse, and the earth prepared for the judgments, which will follow. In this house all the ordinances will be made manifest, and many things will be shown forth, which have been hid from generation to generation.
The set time to favor the stakes of Zion is at hand, & soon the Kings and the Queens, the princes and the nobles, the rich and the honorable of the earth, will come up hither to visit the Temple of our God and to enquire concerning his strange work; and as Kings are to become nursing fathers, and Queens nursing mothers in the habitations of the righteous, it is right to render honor to whom honor is due; & therefore expedient that such, as well as the saints, should have a comfortable house for borading and lodging when they come hither, and it is according to the revelations that such a house should be built.
The foundation of this house, and also of the Temple, are liad and the walls of the basement stories of each nearly completed; and the finishing of the whole is depending on the exertions of the saints. Every saint on earth is equally interested in these things, and each is under equal obligations to do all in their power to complete the building by their faith and by their prayers; with their thousands and their mites, their gold and their silver, their copper and their zinc, their goods and their labors, until the top stone is laid with shoutings and the place is prepaired to be filled with the glory of the Highest; and if there are those among you, who have more than they need for the gathering, and for assisting the destitute, who desire to gather with them, they cannot make a more acceptable offering unto the Lord, than by appropriating towards the building of his Temple.
He that believeth shall not make haste, but let all the saints who desire to keep the commandments of heaven and work righteousness, come to the place of gathering as soon as circumstances will permit. It is by united efforts that great things are accomplished, and while the saints are scattered to the four winds, they cannot be united in action, if they are in spirit; they cannot all build at one city, or lift at one stone of the great Temple, tho’ their hearts may all desire the same thing. We would not press the subject of the gathering upon you, for we know your hearts, and your means; and so far as means fail, let patience have its perfect work in your souls, for in due time you shall be delivered if you faint not.” (“An Epistle of the Twelve, To the saints scattered abroad in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man and the eastern continent,” 15 Nov., 1841, in T&S 3(2):600-601, 15 Nov., 1841; see also HC 4:449)
13 Dec.: Epistle of 12 on baptism for the dead.
“The children of Israel were commanded to build a house in the land of promise; and so are the saints of the last days, as you will see in the Revelation given to Joseph the Seer, Jan. 19th 1841, wherein those ordinances may be revealed which have been hid for ages, even their anointings and washings and baptisms for the dead; wherein they may meet in solemn assemblies for their memorials, sacrifices, and oracles in their most holy places; and wherein they may receive conversations and statutes, and judgements for the beginning of the revelations and foundations of Zion, and the glory and honor and adornment of all her municiples, through the medium which God hath ordained.
In the same revelation the command is to ‘all the saints from afar,’ as well as those already gathered to this place; to arise with one consent and build the Temple; to prepare a place where the Most High may manifest himself to his people.” (“Baptism for the Dead, An Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints of the Last Days,” 13 Dec., 1841, in T&S 3(4):625-627, 15 Dec., 1841; also HC 4:472)
19 Dec.: We must keep the secrets of the Lord.
“The reason we do not have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto us is because we do not keep them but reveal them, we do not keep our own secrets but reveal our difficulties to the world even to our enemies then how would we keep the secrets of the Lord Joseph says I can keep a secret till dooms day.” (Joseph Smith, 19 Dec., 1841. Words of JS, p. 81)
28 Dec.: Joseph Fielding on the Temple.
“I had heard that Nauvoo contained 1200 houses, but I did not expect to find a city spreading itself beyond the reach of the eye from one point, I soon came in sight of the foundation of a large and spacious building, this is the Temple, we passed from street to street till we came near to the bank of the river. In this Temple built by divine command, I am informed we are to have made known to us the fulness of the priesthood; if we be faithful in keeping the commandments of God, and in anticipation of the mighty works to be performed here; a magnificent building is also rising for the entertainment of kings and nobles who shall hereafter visit this place; when I view these things, in faith believing that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, my heart swells with gladness, and astonishment, I look back on my former state in the sectarian world, and I can scarcely remember from whence I am, so different is my present condition to that; such a difference is there between light and darkness, between truth and error. The object of the Baptismal Font is also truly interesting to me, and I have no doubt to all the saints: for some time I had thought much on the subject of the redemption of those who died under the broken covenant, it is plain they could not come forth in the kingdom of God, as they had not been adopted, legally into it, neither could they be while there was no priesthood, they had not been born of water and the spirit, and if they should come into the kingdom without this it would falsify the plain word of Jesus Christ, yet how would those who died martyrs and all those who have lived up to the best light they have had, and would no doubt have rejoiced in the fulness of the gospel had they had it, be denied this privilege? I thought, perhaps those who receive the priesthood in these last days would baptize them at the coming of the Savior, and this would fulfil the words of the Savior; many shall come from the east and from the west &c., and shall sit down in the kingdom of God,–but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out, as foolish virgins, but a touch of the light of revelation has at once dispelled the darkness and scattered the doubts which once perplexed my mind and I behold the means which God hath devised that his banished ones may be brought back again; every step I take in surveying the plan of heaven, and the wisdom and goodness of God, my heart feels glad, but when I have listened to the teachings of the servants of God under the new covenant and the principle of Baptism for the Dead the feelings of my soul were such as I cannot describe, I contrast it with the narrow, contracted views of part of the Christian world who hold with the election of a few to eternal life, and the reporbation of the rest to eternal damnation, which was the religion of most of my neighbors in my native land, and in short, it forms a wide contrast with all the notions of men on the subject of redemption, the gleams of light seen among the Pagans of various nations, derived by them from some people who had the priesthood, and the fulness of the ordinances of salvation, are far nearer the truth than any thing now in the sectarian churches, but the day has dawned, the day star has risen in our hearts; but when I meditate on these things I am reminded at the same time, of the conflict and war to be sustained on the side of truth, I see that the number of those that endure to the end will be but small, nothing but the principle of truth firmly planted in the soul will enable us to overcome, but the thought of the hidden manna, of receiving the white stone, of sitting with the Savior on his throne, and of eathing of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God, of being filled with intelligence,with light and truth, enables us to look at the dreadful conflict with firmness and composure of mind, the sting of death is gone, because of the love of God which is shed abroad in our hearts, and having received the holy priesthood there is in our souls a desire to bring others to a joint and equal possession of that felicity which is to be bestowed upon us at that day.” (Joseph Fielding to Br. Robinson, Nauvoo, 28 Dec., 1841, in T&S 3(5):648-649, 1 Jan., 1842)
1842: 10 Jan.: John C. Bennett defection–effect on Joseph?
“Under this date (Jan 10th) the notorious John C. Bennett wrote the following:
Springfield, Ill., Jan. 10, 1842.
Mr. Sidney Rigdon & Orson Pratt:
Dear Friends:–It is a long time since I have written you, and I should now much desire to see you; but I leave tonight for Missouri, to meet the messenger charged with the arrest of Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight and others, for murder, burglary treason, etc., etc., who will be demanded in a few days in new indictments, found by the grand Jury of a called court, on the original evidence and in relation to which a nolle prosequi was entered by the district attorney. New proceedings have been gotten up on the old charges and no habeas corpus can then save them. We shall try Smith on the Boggs case when we get him into Missouri. The war goes bravely on, and although Smith thinks he is now safe, the enemy is near, even at the door. He has awoke the wrong passenger. The Governor will relinquish Joe up at once on the new requisition–there is but one opinion in the case, and that is nothing can save Joe on a new requisition and demand predicated on the old charges, on the institution of new suits. He must go to Missouri, but he shall not be harmed, if he is not guilty: but he is a murderer and must suffer the penalty of the law. Enough on this subject.
I hope that both of your kind and amiable families are well, and you will please to give them all my best respects. I hope to see you all soon. When the officer arrives, I shall be near at hand. I shall see you all again. Please to write me at Independence immediately,
Yours respectfully,
John C. Bennett.
P.S. Will Mr. Rigdon please to hand this letter to Mr. Pratt after reading?”
(JH 10 Jan., 1842)
Jan.: Baptism for healing of sick in temple.
“Many have been baptized therein for their deceased relatives, and also for the healing of their own afflicted bodies.” (Joseph Fielding [Nauvoo] to Parley P. Pratt [England], Jan., 1842; MS 3(4):78, Aug., 1842)
15 Mar.: Facsimile #2 published in Times and Seasons.
“Fig. 3, Is made to represent God, sitting upon his throne, clothed with power and authority; with a crown of eternal light upon his head; representing, also, the grand Key words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchisedek, Abraham and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed. . . .
Fig. 7, Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing, through the heavens, the grand Key words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove.
Fig. 8, Contains writing that cannot be revealed unto the world; but is to be had in the Holy Temple of God.”
(“Book of Abraham,” Facsimile #2, in Times and Seasons, 15 Mar., 1842) [SEE HC 4:522, 1 Mar., 1842]
15 Mar.: Joseph inducted into Masonry.
“I officiated as grand chaplin at the installation of the Nauvoo Lodge of Free Masons, at the Grove near the Temple. Grand Master Jonas, of Columbus, being present, a large number of people assembled on the occasion. The day was exceedingly fine; all things were done in order, and universal satisfaction was manifested. In the evening I received the first degree in Free Masonry in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office.” (Joseph Smith, HC 4:550-551)
16 Mar.: Joseph rises to sublime degree of Masonry.
“I was with the Masonic Lodge and rose to the sublime degree.” (HC 4:552)
20 Mar.: Key words and signs.
“. . . baptism is a sign ordained of God. . . . It is a sign and a commandment which God has set for man to enter into His kingdom. Those who seek to enter in any other way will seek in vain; for God will not receive them, neither will the angels acknowledge their works as accepted, for they have not obeyed the ordinances, nor attended to the signs which God ordained for the salvation of man, to prepare him for, and give him a title to, a celestial glory; . . . There are certain key words and signs belonging to the Priesthood which must be observed in order to obtain the blessing.” (Joseph Smith, HC 4:552-553)
“What if we should attempt to get the Holy Ghost through any other means except the sign or way which God hath appointed? Should we obtain it? Certainly not. All other means would fail. The Lord says do so & so & I will bless so & so. Their is certain key words & signs belonging to the priesthood which must be observed in order to obtaine the Blessings.” (Joseph Smith, 20 Mar., 1842, Wilford Woodruff diary)
7 Apr.: Kirtland ordinances to be part of Nauvoo Temple.
“Pres’t. H. Smith spoke concerning the elders who went forth to preach from Kirtland, and were afterwards called in for the washing and anointing at the dedication of the House, and those who go not will be called in also, when this Temple is about to be dedicated, and will then be endowed to go forth with might power having the same anointing, that all may go forth and have the same power, the first, second, and so on, of the seventies and all those formerly ordained. This will be an important and beneficial mission, and not many years until those now sent will be called in again.” (Hyrum Smith, General Conference address, 7 Apr., 1842, in T&S 3(12):763, 15 Apr., 1842)
28 Apr.: Endowment for WOMEN NOT ANTICIPATED YET.
“HC 4:604 presents minutes of the Nauvoo Female Relief Society which would seem to indicate that as early as 28 April 1842, Joseph Smith had suggested that the women would one day receive the ordinances of the endowment and participate in the prayer circle:
He spoke of delivering the keys of the Priesthood to the Church and said that the faithful members of the Relief Society should receive them in connection with their husbands, that the Saints whose integrity has been tried and proved faithful, might know how to ask the Lord and receive an answer; for according to his prayers, God had appointed him elsewhere.
However, none of the italicized words in this quote from the published History of the Church were in the original minutes. See Nauvoo Female Relief Society Minutes, p. 37, Church Historical Department. No document present extant supports the conclusion that Joseph Smith suggested prior to 1843 that women would receive the endowment and participate in the prayer circle.” (D. Michael Quinn, “Latter-day Saint Prayer Circles,” BYU Studies 19(1):86, Fall, 1978)
1 May: Public discourse by Joseph on “signs and words”.
“I preached in the grove on the keys of the Kingdom, Charity &c The keys are certain signs and words by which false spirits and personages may be detected from true, which cannot be revealed to the Elders till the Temple is completed–The rich can only get them in the Temple–the poor may get them on the Mountain top as did Moses. . . . There are signs in heaven, earth, and hell, the Elders must know them all to be endowed with power, to finish their work and prevent imposition. The devil knows many signs but does not know the sign of the Son of Man, or Jesus. No one can truly say he knows God until he has handled something, and this can only be in the Holiest of Holies.” (Joseph Smith, “Law of the Lord” entry for 1 May, 1842; cited in Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 119-120. Cf. HC IV:608)
3 May: Room in Red Brick Store prepared for endowment.
“Editor Deseret News:
I noticed an article in the Deseret News of January 25th, 1884, in relation to Church Doctrines. I can testify that on the 3rd day of May, 1842, Joseph Smith the Prophet called upon five or six, viz: Shadrack Roundy, Noah Rogers, Dimick B. Huntington, Daniel Cairns, and myself (I am not certain but that Hosea Stout was there also) to meet with him (the Prophet) in his business office (the upper part of his brick store). He told us that the object he had was for us to go to work and fit up that room preparatory to giving endowments to a few Elders that he might give unto them all the keys of power pertaining to the Aaronic and Melchisedec Priesthoods.
We therefore went to work making the necessary preparations, and everything was arranged representing the interior of a temple as much as the circumstances would permit, he being with us dictating everything. He gave us many items that were very interesting to us, which sank with deep weight upon my mind, especially after the temple was finished at Nauvoo, and I had received the ordinances in which I was among the first, as I had been called upon to work in the Temple as one of the hands during the winter. Some weeks previous to the dedication he told us that we should have the privilege of receiving the whole of the ordinances in due time. The history of Joseph Smith speaks for itself. But I can and do testify that I know of a surety that room was fitted up by his order which we finished in the forenoon of the said 4th of May, 1842. And he gave us to understand that he intended to have everything done by him that was in his power while he remained with us. He said his work was nearly done and he should roll the burden of the kingdom upon the shoulders of the Twelve. I am the only one living that I know of, who helped to fit up that room, except Hosea Stout, (who) was there.
I am, most respectfully, your brother in the Covenant.
Lucius N. Scovil.” (Lucius N. Scovill letter to Editor in “Higher Ordinances,” Deseret News Semi-Weekly, 15 Feb., 1884, p. 2)
“The Prophet told me to assist in carrying water and other comodities to the room above the store. Afterwards I found out it was to give endowments to some of the brethren.” (John Henry Rollins, quoted in Hyrum L. and Helen Mae Andrus, They Knew The Prophet (1974), p. 77)
[Check Dimick B. Huntington, “Statement,” 12 Dec., 1878, Zina Y. Card Papers, Archives and Manuscripts, BYU. If they won’t allow access, check with Maureen U. Beecher.]
4 May: Joseph initiates nine men into endowment.
“I met with Joseph, Hyrum, Heber, Willard, Bishops Whitney and Miller, and Gen. James Adams, in Joseph’s private office – where Joseph taught the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days, and received my washings, anointings and endowments.” (Brigham Young Manuscript History, p. 134, for 4 May, 1842)
“When we got our washings and anointings under the hands of the Prophet Joseph at Nauvoo we had only one room to work in, with the exception of a little side room or office, where we were washed and anointed, had our garments placed upon us and received our new name. And after he had performed these ceremonies he gave the key words, signs, tokens, and penalties. Thereafter we went into the large room in Nauvoo over the store. Joseph divided up the room the best that he could, hung up the veil, marked it, gave us our instructions as we passed along from one department to another, giving us signs, tokens, and penalties with the key words pertaining to those signs. And after we had got through, Brother Joseph turned to me and said, ‘Brother Brigham, this is not arranged right, but we have done the best we can under the circumstances in which we are placed, and I wish you to take this matter in hand organize and systematize all these ceremonies with the signs, tokens, penalties and key words.’ I did so, and each time got something more. So that when we went through the Temple at Nauvoo I understood and knew how to place them there. We had our ceremonies pretty correct. In the creation the Gods entered into an agreement about forming this earth and putting Michael or Adam upon it. These things of which I have been speaking are what are termed the ‘Mysteries of Godliness,’ but they will enable you to understand the expression of Jesus, made while in Jerusalem: ‘This is Life Eternal that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.'” (L. John Nuttall diary, 7 Feb., 1877)
“Many of the Apostles and Elders having returned from England, Joseph washed and anointed as Kings and Priests to God, and over the House of Israel, the following named persons, as he said he was commanded of God, viz: James Adams (of Springfield), William Law, William Marks, Willard Richards, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, and myself; and conferred on us Patriarchal Priesthood. This took place on the 5th and 6th of May, 1842.” (George Miller to James J. Strang, 26 Jun., 1855, cited in H. W. Mills, “De Tal Palo Tal Astilla,” Annual Publications–Historical Society of Southern California 10:120-21, 1917) [Check the entire quotation from the Journal.]
“I spent the day in the upper part of the Store (IE.) in my private office (so called, because in that room I kept my sacred writings, translated ancient records, and received revelations) and in my general business office, or Lodge room (IE) where the Masonic fraternity met occasionally for want of a better place), in council with Gen James Adams, of Springfield, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, Bishops Newel K. Whitney, & Geo. Miller, Wm Marks, Wm Law [these two names lined out] & Prests Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball & Willard Richards, instructing them in the principles and order of the priesthood, attending to washings & anointings, endowments, and the communications of keys, pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchisedec Priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of days & all those plans & principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fulness of those blessings which has been prepared for the church of the firstborn, and come up and abide in the presence of . . . Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the Ancient order of things for the first time in these last days. And the communications I made to this Council were of things spiritual, and to be received only by the spiritual minded: and there was nothing made known to these men but will be made known to all Saints, of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them, even to the weakest of the Saints: therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the temple and all houses which they have been or shall hereafter be commanded of god to build, and wait their time with patience, in all meekness and faith, & perserverance unto the end. knowing assuredly that all these things referred to in this council are always governed by the principles of Revelation.” (Joseph Smith, draft sheet of “Manuscript History of the Church,” in the hand of Willard Richards, 4 May, 1842; Historian’s Office Church Records Group, LDS Church Archives) [Compare with HC V:1-2]
“Strange Events. June [sic] 1842 I was aniciatad into the ancient order was washed and annointed and Sealled and ordained a Preast, and so forth in company with nine others. Viz. Joseph Smith Hiram Smith. Wm Law Wm Marks Judge Adams. Brigham Young Willard Richards. George Miller N K Whitney.” (Heber C. Kimball diary)
“Here was instituted, undoubtedly the order of things which represented the scenes in the Garden of Eden, which was called in Nauvoo, the ‘Holy Order,’ a secret organization. The terrible oaths and covenants taken by those who entered there were known only to those who took them.” (Ebeneezer Robinson, The Return 2:346-348)
Of the 9 who received their endowments:
James Adams was Deputy Grand Master Mason of Illinois and had been the first Master of the Springfield Lodge when the lodge was under dispensation from Missouri. (Newton Bateman, ed., Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, 2 vols. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1912. Vol. 2:997)
George Miller, Worshipful Master of the Nauvoo Lodge, was a Mason in 1819. (H. W. Mills, “De Tal Palo Tal Astilla,” Annual Publications–Historical Society of Southern California 10:91. 1917)
Hyrum Smith, Senior Warden and Worshipful Master, pro. tem, had been a Mason at least since 1821. (Mervin B. Hogan, ed., The Founding Minutes of Nauvoo Lodge. Des Moines, Iowa: Research Lodge No. 2, n.d. p. 8)
Heber C. Kimball had been a Mason since 1823. (Stanley B. Kimball, Heber C. Kimball–Mormon Patriarch and Pioneer. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 1982. p. 12)
Newel K. Whitney had been a member of the Meridian No. 10 Lodge of Ohio. (Hogan, Founding Minutes . . ., p. 9)
William Law, William Marks, Brigham Young and Willard Richards were all Masons, but of recent initiation. (Hogan, Founding Minutes . . ., pp. 15, 21, 24)
“The Kirtland endowment with its immediate contact between spiritual and temporal beings also supported the view of the Millennium’s imminence. Doctrines and practices at Nauvoo, however, emphasized the concept of building the kingdom of God on earth. These included not only the establishment of the Council of Fifty but also the idea of the kingdom’s being a place of refuge. Perhaps most importantly, this idea was inculcated through the Nauvoo temple ceremony which was carried to Utah and which still forms the basis for temple ritual within the Church. Unlike the Kirtland ceremony, which stressed immediate contact with spiritual beings, and unlike the Masonic ritual, the scenario of which is based upon traditions relating to the construction of the Temple of Solomon, the central theme of the Nauvoo ceremony is the redemption of mankind through Christ’s work and the commitment of all members to building the kingdom of God on earth.” (Thomas G. Alexander, “Between Revivalism and the Social Gospel: The Latter-day Saint Social Advisory Committee, 1916-1922,” BYU Studies 23(1):23, Winter, 1983)
5 May: Joseph receives endowment.
“General Adams started for Springfield, and the remainder of the council of yesterday continued their meeting at the same place, and myself and Brother Hyrum received in turn from the others, the same that I had communicated to them the day previous.” (Joseph Smith, HC 5:2-3)
“I attended council as yesterday and we administered to Brother Joseph the same ordinances.” (Brigham Young Manuscript History/Brigham Young Journal, 5 May, 1842)
11 May: John C. Bennett’s expose.
“I will expose his [Joseph’s] actings and doings in Nauvoo Lodge, U.D. when none but the Mormon brethren were present;–that he (Joe Smith) and five others, were entered, passed, and raised, before the Lodge was installed by the Grand Master; and that they all passed through a second time afterwards, with the exception of one, who is now abroad; and many other like irregularities, and departures from the ancient land-marks. He has, likewise, established a new lodge of his own, by inspiration, called ‘ORDER’, in which there are many curious things, and relative to which I have much to say hereafter. The following is a part of the obligation–‘I furthermore promise and swear that I will never touch a daughter of Adam UNLESS SHE IS GIVEN ME OF THE LORD’, so as to accord with the NEW DISPENSATION and the ‘ancient order of things.'” (John C. Bennett letter, dated 11 May, 1842; in Sangamo Journal 10(46):2, 8 Jul., 1842; Snider Collection)
17 Jun.: Organization of Masonic Lodge in Nauvoo.
“. . . Brother Joseph feels as well as I Ever see him. one reason is he has god a Small company. that he feels safe in thare hads. and that is not all he can open his bosom to and feel him Self safe I wish you was here so as to feel and hear for your Self. we have recieved some pressious things through the Prophet on the preasthood that would caus your Soul to rejoice I can not give them to you on paper fore they are not to be riten. So you must come and get them fore your Self.–We have organised a Lodge here. of Masons. since we obtained a Charter. that was in March since that thare has near two hundred been made masons Br Joseph and Sidn[e]y was the first that was Recieved in to the Lodg. all of the twelve have become members Except Orson P. he Hangs back. he will wake up soon, thare is a similarity of preast hood in masonary. Br Joseph Ses Masonary was taken from preasthood but has become degenrated. but menny things are perfect.” (Heber C. Kimball to Parley P. Pratt [in England], 17 Jun., 1842. Original in LDS Church Archives.)
4 Jul.: Joe’s Holy Lodge called “Order.”
“JOE’S HOLY LODGE CALLED ‘ORDER’.
I alluded to this holy institution in one of my former letters. Joe says he has given them the Master’s word by revelation. In the preparation they are stripped naked so as to see if they will pass the holy examination as required in Deuteronomy, 23d chapter and 1st verse. They are then clothed upon and the precious ointment poured upon the head, running down upon the beard and the skirts of the garment. The ungodly oath, a part of which I gave you is then administered in order to prepare them for the SPIRITUAL WIFE operations, and save Joe from public disgrace and infamy. Some of the, however, are not in the SECRETS,–They are taken in as a blind in order to deceive the people. If they are changed with iniquity, they say, ‘Look at William Marks and others like him! Do they indulge!’ No, gentlemen, but this is not exploited to THEM. Joe says, ‘Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, and William Marks must never know the SECRETS, or they will apostatize.’ Rigdon and Pratt are not yet members, however, and I hope they never will be; and Marks has a very strong squinting at apostacy. If Sidney Rigdon will suffer a base attempt on his daughter’s chastity; Orson Pratt another on his wife; and William Marks will look tamely on at these disclosures, and say nothing, I am much mistaken in the man. The public look to Rigdon, Pratt and Marks and other kindred spirits, to speak at this eventful crisis–they have seen and heard and FELT in their own families, the corruptions of this fiend of hell. Come out, gentlemen, and renounce, and denounce Joseph Smith, that soul damning imposter.” (John C. Bennett to the Editor of The Alton [Ill.] Telegraph & Democratic Review 7(30):1, 23 Jul., 1842; Bennett’s letter dated 4 Jul., 1842; also in North Western Gazette & Galena Advertiser 8(37):4, 23 Jul., 1842; Sangamo Journal 10(47):2-3, 15 Jul., 1842; Snider Collection)
31 Aug.: Promise of the endowment.
“But it will be but a little season and all these afflictions will be turned away from us inasmuch as we are faithful and are not overcome by these evils. By seeing the blessings of the endowment rolling on and the kingdom increasing and spreading from sea to sea, we will rejoice that we were not overcome by these foolish things.” (Joseph Smith, 31 Aug., 1842. In Words of JS, p. 131)
1 Oct.: Essential to salvation.
“But leaving duty and interest out of the question, if we wish to receive great blessings from the hands of Jehovah, if we wish to receive our anointing, if we wish the glory of the priesthood to be more fully developed, if we wish to do the will of God and to secure the blessings of the most high God, in fact if we wish to secure our present, our temporal and eternal salvation, we shall build that house.” (“The Temple,” T&S 3(23):937-939, 1 Oct., 1842)
28 Oct.: Fullness of the priesthood.
“He has commanded us to ‘build a house unto his name for the Most High to dwell therein for there is not place found on the earth; that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away even the fullness of the priesthood.’ And brethren, great and glorious will be the blessings realized by us as a people if we build this house in the appointed time. Even now when the building is not half completed behold the great privileges realized thereby. A Baptismal Font has been built in the lower apartment, where we have the privilege of being baptized for our dead and redeeming them, that they may come forth in the first resurrection; the full interest of which was published in a letter from President Joseph Smith in the 23d number of this paper, and we shall now have the privilege as before stated of meeting within the walls of the Temple where the Almighty has promised to meet with us.
Now brethren, if so great and glorious have been the blessings realized in so early a stage of the work what may we expect when the building is completed, and a house prepared where the Most High can come and restore that which has been taken away in consequence of transgression; even the FULNESS of the priesthood.”
(“The Temple of God in Nauvoo,” 28 Oct., 1842, in T&S 4(1):10-11, 15 Nov., 1842)
1843: Delay in giving endowment to others.
“In the aftermath of Bennett’s expulsion, the crusade in Nauvoo to rid the last vestiges of Bennett’s profligacy also divided the nine-member Quorum. By July 1842, while the other members of the Quorum had accepted eternal and plural marriage, Hyrum Smith, William Law and William Marks had resisted Joseph Smith’s effort to broach the subject with them. Their crusade against the embarrassing activities of Bennett narrowed their perspective, and Joseph Smith soon learned that he should not try then to convert them. This helps explain why in the year after Joseph Smith first gave these endowment blessings to the Quorum he did not invite others to become members of the group, did not yet invite the wives of these men to receive these ordinances, and did not administer any of the more advanced ordinances. The reason Joseph Smith held back can only be understood by appreciating the indirect effect Bennett had on the Quorum. This story is the key to why the Quorum for a year remained on such a plateau.” (Andrew F. Ehat, “Joseph Smith’s Introduction of Temple Ordinances and the 1844 Mormon Succession Question.” MA Thesis, BYU, 1982. pp. 53-54)
“Three days after Emma’s show of faith in the principle, on the day of Hyrum’s conversion, Joseph Smith convened the ‘Quorum.’ This was significant. As noted before, except for a few prayer circles held, the group had not met in a year.” (Ehat, MA Thesis, p. 61)
22 Jan.: Ancient disciples: endowment of power.
“Christ preached through Jerrusalem on the same ground whare John had preached & when the Apostles were raised up they worked in Jerrusalem & Jesus Commanded them to tarry thare untill they were endowed with power from on high had they not work to do in Jerrusalem. they did work & prepared a people for the pentecost The Kingdom of God was with them before the day of pentecost as well as afterwards & it was also with John & he preached the same gospel & Baptism that Jesus & the Apostles preached after him The endowment was to prepare the desiples for their mission into the world. Whenever men can find out the will of God & find an Administrator legally authorized from God there is the kingdom of God. But whare these are not, the kingdom of God is not. All the ordinances Systems, & Administrations on the earth is of no use to the Children of men unless they are ordained & authorized of God for nothing will save a man but a leger [legal] Administrator for none others will be acknowledge either by God or Angels.” (Joseph Smith, 22 Jan., 1843, Wilford Woodruff diary)
ca. Jan.: You will get endowments and more power.
“Just before leaving England I visited some friends in Sheffield, and met with Brother R. Rushton, who was on a mission from Nauvoo. He had been asked to visit a brother in the Church who was possessed of a devil. This was the first case of the kind I had heard of being in the Church, and I felt quite anxious to see the party so afflicted. While reflecting upon it, Brother Rushton asked me to accompany him, which I cheerfully did, and what transpired I shall never forget. When we entered the room where he was sitting, he looked around and saw Brother Rushton whom he had met before, and with a coarse voice said: ‘So you have come again in the name of Jesus have you? Well you may come if you have a mind to. I know you came from Nauvoo where you are building a temple to get your endowments and more power. Well, get your power; and the more power you get the more power we’ll get.’ Just as soon as he was through speaking Brother Rushton laid hands on him and rebuked the evil spirits that had possession of him, when the brother called out in a loud voice: ‘How did you know there was more than one?’ Brother Rushton remarked calmly: ‘You said we.’ The brother then said, ‘We will go but we will come again.'” (Reminiscences of William C. Staines, Contributor 12(4):122, Feb., 1891)
2 Apr.: New name and white stone.
“Then the white stone mentioned in Rev. c 2 v 17 is the Urim & Thummim whereby all things pertaining to an higher order of kingdoms even all kingdoms will be made known and a white stone is given to each of those who come into this celestial kingdom, wheron is a new name written which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. the new name is the key word.” (Joseph Smith, in William Clayton diary, 2 Apr., 1843)
6 Apr.: General Conference held at Temple.
“The conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints met at the Temple of the Lord at Nauvoo at 10 oclock AM.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 6 Apr., 1843)
16 May: Joseph shows B. F. Johnson his garments.
In lighting him [Joseph Smith] to bed one night he showed me his garments and explained that they were such as the Lord made for Adam from skins, and gave me such ideas pertaining to endowments as he thought proper. He told me Freemasonry, as at present, was the apostate endowments, as sectarian religion was the apostate religion.” (Benjamin F. Johnson, My Life’s Review, n.p., n.d.; p. 96)
26 May: “Quorum” reconvenes.
“Met with the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Patriarch Hyrum, brothers Kimball and Richards, Judge James Adams and Bishop N. K. Whitney, receiving our endowments and instructions in the Priesthood. The Prophet Joseph administered to us the first ordinances of endowment, and gave us instructions on the Priesthood and the new and everlasting covenant.”
(Brigham Young Manuscript History, 26 May, 1843)
“I met in council in the upper room with my brother, Hyrum, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Judge James Adams, Bishop Newel K. Whitney and William Law and gave them their endowments and also instructions in the priesthood on the new and everlasting covenant, etc.” (Joseph Smith, HC 5:409)
28 May: Sealing of husbands to wives.
“The adjourned council met in the upper Room [and] attended to ordinances.” (Joseph Smith diary, kept by Willard Richards, 28 May, 1843, LDS Church Archives. Quoted in Ehat Thesis, p. 61) [“Before the meeting [of 26 May] was adjourned each of the men was instructed by Joseph Smith to bring his first wife with him to the meeting on Sunday the 28th so they could be sealed for time and eternity. A very strong case–though a fairly involved one–can thus be made that on 28 May 1843, Joseph and Emma Smith as well as James and Harriet Adams were sealed for time and all eternity–the first occasion of marriage sealings in a Quorum context. On the next day, 29 May 1843, four other sets of sealings took place. First, Hyrum Smith, Jerusha Barden and Mary Fielding Smith were sealed for time and eternity (Mary acted as proxy for the deceased Jerusha). Second, Brigham Young, Miriam Works, and Mary Ann Angell were sealed for time and eternity by Hyrum Smith (Mary Ann acted as proxy for Miriam, who was dead). Third, Willard and Jennetta Richards were sealed. Lastly, Mercy Rachel Fielding was sealed to her deceased husband, Robert B. Thompson.” (Ehat Thesis, p. 63)]
“I met with brothers Joseph, Hyrum, Heber, Willard, Bishop Whitney and Judge Adams, when we administered to brother Joseph the same ordinances of endowment, and of the Holy Priesthood which he administered unto us.”
(Brigham Young Manuscript History, 28 May, 1843)
11 Jun.: 1st connection of washing/anointing w/Pentecost?
“At one time God obtained a house where Peter was[hed] and ano[inte]d &c. on the day of pentecost.” (Joseph Smith diary, 11 Jun., 1843)
3 Sep.: Anticipation of endowment of “power from on high”
“Elder Heap from Nauvoo, and elder Barlow then addressed the Saints, and pressed upon them the necessity of straining every nerve to forward the building of the temple of our God at Nauvoo. William Walker, priest, spoke very humourously upon laying the tea pot aside, and calling it the temple pot, and also the tobacco box, and designate it the temple box, and by these little matters great things might be achieved.
A resolution to the following effect was then put and carried unanimously:–
We, the Officers and Saints met together in conference in Manchester, this third day of September, 1843, knowing that the Lord has commanded his Saints to build an house unto his name, that he may unfold his glory unto them; and that those things hid up from the world may be made known to his servants, and that there they may be endued with power from on high. We, feeling desirous that the temple of the Lord be speedily completed, that the blessings may be imparted unto the priesthood, covenant from this time to assist with all our power the building of the houses of the Lord, by dedicating our property, and likewise by sacrifice, to the building of the temple of our God. And we pray that the Lord may bless our efforts with his smile and approbation: we aske it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
(Minutes of the Manchester, England, Conference, 3 Sep., 1843; MS 4(6):83, Oct., 1843)
9 Sep.: Brigham Young on the Temple, in Boston.
“He has required that we should build a house unto His name, that the ordinances and blessings of His kingdom may be revealed, and that the Elders may be endowed, go forth and gather together the blood of Ephraim–the people of God, from the ends of the earth.
Can you get an endowment in Boston or anywhere, except where God appoints? No, only in that place which God has pointed out.” (Brigham Young, Conference of the Twelve, Boylston Hall, Boston, 9 Sep., 1843. HC 6:13-14; see also Wilford Woodruff diary for this date)
28 Sep.: 1st male initiates since May, 1842.
“At the morning meeting, John Taylor, John M. Bernhisel, Lucien Woodworth, John Smith, and Amasa Lyman received their washings and anointings from under the hands of Hyrum Smith, Newel K. Whitney and George Miller. These five men were the first male initiates into the Quorum since its May 1842 organization.” (Ehat Thesis, p. 94; also Joseph Smith diary, 28 Sep., 1843)
Oct.: Endowment administered in several locations.
“In addition to the Joseph Smith Brick Store and the Mansion House, ordinance meetings were held in the Prophet’s first home in Nauvoo, the ‘Old Homestead,’ and in Brigham Young’s home. While the upper room of the Brick Store was the most convenient place for administering the ‘ancient order of the priesthood,’ endowments were also given in the Mansion House and the Old Homestead. For example, the women that received their endowments in October 1843 received them in the Mansion House. Apparently the Prophet adjusted the arrangements so the endowment could be administered in a smaller room requiring only one altar and the veil.” (Ehat Thesis, pp. 109-110)
15 Oct.: Purpose of Masonry is to keep a secret.
“The secrets of Masonry is to keep a secret.” (Joseph Smith, 15 Oct., 1843, Joseph Smith diary, by Willard Richards. In Words of JS, p. 257)
28 Dec.: Foreshadowing of endowments for the dead.
“I attended meeting in the evening with Elder [Brigham] Young on the flat. We had the house full and a good time. The following are some of the items of doctrin that Elder Young presented:
Be subject to the powers that be. Our sufferings are that we may learn by experiance the principle of contrast between good and evil. In order to obtain Power never suffer anger to find a seat in your breast. Never get angry at all. Treat all mildly. Govern yourself your passions & it will give you power. When the Temple is done I expect we shall be baptized, washed anointed ordained, & offer up the keys & signs of the priesthood for our dead that they may have a full salvation & we shall be a saviors on mount Zion according to the Scriptures.” (Brigham Young, quoted in Wilford Woodruff diary, 28 Dec., 1843)
date?: The “sword” in the endowment.
“Ebenezer Robinson, former editor and publisher of the Nauvoo Times and Seasons, the Church’s official newspaper, was one day walking with the Prophet to the Brick Store. They parted company in the store and Joseph went up the back stairs to the upper floor to attend to the administration of the ordinances. Moments later, Ebenezer remembered that he had something else to say to the Prophet. When he ascended the stairs, he instead found John Taylor ‘in a long white garment, with a drawn sword in his hand, evidently representing the “cheribims and flaming sword which was placed at the east of the garden of Eden, to guard the tree of life.”‘” (Ehat Thesis, p. 112; also Ebenezer Robinson, “Utah Not Responsible,” The Return 2 {April 1890}:252)
1844: 21 Jan.: Temple work for dead foretold by Joseph.
“What shall I talk about today I know what Br Cahoon wants me to speak about, he wants me to speak about the Comeing of Elijah in the last days I Can see it in his eye, I will speak upon that subject then, The Bible says ‘I will send you Elijah before the great & dredful day of the Lord Come that he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the Children & the hearts of the Children to their fathers lest I Come & smite the whole earth with a Ckurse,’ Now the word turn here should be translated (bind or seal) But what is the object of this important mission or how is it to be fulfilled, The keys are to be deliverd the spirit of Elijah is to Come, The gospel to be esstablished the Saints of God gatherd Zion built up, & the Saints to Come up as Saviors on mount Zion but how are they to become Saviors on Mount Zion by building their temples erecting their Baptismal fonts & going forth & receiving all the ordinances, Baptisms, confirmations, washings anointings ordinations & sealing powers upon our heads in behalf of all our Progenitors who are dead & redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection & be exalted to thrones of glory with us, & herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children & the children to the Fathers which fulfills the mission of Elijah & I would to God that this temple was now done that we might go into it & go to work & improve our time & make use of the seals while they are on earth the Saints have none to much time to save & redeem their dead, & gather together their living relatives that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten & the Consumption decreed falls upon the world & I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might & gather together all their living relatives to this place that they may be sealed & saved that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth & if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead seal their posterity & gather their living friends & spend none of their time in behalf of the world they would hardly get through before night would Come when no man Could work & my ownly trouble at the present time is concerning ourselves that the Saints will be divided & broken up & scattered before we get our Salvation Secure for thei[r] is so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon it gives him the advantage often times, The question is frequently asked Can we not be saved without going through with all thes ordinances &c I would answer No not the fulness of Salvation, Jesus said their was many mansions in his fathers house & he would go & prepare a place for them. House here named should have been translated (Kingdom) & any person who is exhalted to the highest mansion has to abide a Celestial law & the whole law to[o], But their has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation it has been like splitting hemlock knots with a Corn doger for a wedge & a pumpkin for a beetle, Even the Saints are slow to understand I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to receive the things of God, but we frequently see some of them after suffering all they have for the work of God will fly to peaces like glass as soon as any thing Comes that is Contrary to their traditions, they Cannot stand the fire at all, How many will be able to abide a Celestial law & go through & receive their exhaltation I am unable to say but many are Called & few are Chosen.” (Joseph Smith to Sunday meeting of the Saints, in Wilford Woodruff diary, 21 Jan., 1844)
6 Feb.: Louisa Jackson promised endowment, healing power.
“Thou art of the blood of Abraham through the loins of Manasseh and a lawful heir to the Priesthood and shall possess it in common with thy companion and inasmuch as thou art faithful in the covenant thou shalt have power to heal the sick in their own houses and redeem thy dead friends and they shall come up with thee in the first Resurrection. . . .
Thou shalt . . . see the Temple finished and in it shall have an endowment with thy companion and shall be satisfied with thy lot. . . .
Seek diligently these things and thou shalt have them for I seal them upon thee in the name of Jesus Christ and I seal thee up into Eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” (Patriarchal Blessing of Louisa C. Jackson, by John Smith, 6 Feb., 1844. RLDS Archives, P8/F16)
10 Mar.: Joseph’s discourse on Elijah.
“Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God. even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven. Malachi says I will send Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come & He shall turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers lest I come & smite the earth with a Curse, Now what I am after is the knowledge of God & I take my own Course to obtain it, what are we to understand by this in the last days, in the days of Noah God destroyed the world by a flood & has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days but before it took place Elijah should first come & turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children &c now comes the point what is this office & work of Elijah, it is one of the greatest & most important subjects that God has revealed, He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers & fathers to the Children, Now was this merely confined to the living to settle difficulties with families on earth, by no means, it was a far greater work Elijah what would you do if you was here would you confine your work to the living alone. No I would refer you to the scriptures whare the subject is manifest, i.e., without us they could not be made perfect, nor we without them, the fathers without the children nor the children without the fathers. I wish you to understand this subject for it is important & if you will receive it this is the spirit of Elijah that we redeam our dead & connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven & seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection & here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those which dwell in heaven this is the power of Elijah & the keys of the Kingdom of Jehovah. Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great God who dwells in heaven should reveal himself to Father Cutler here [Cutler had received his 2nd anointing already], by the opening heavens, and tell him, I offer up a decree that whatsoever you seal on earth with your decree, I will seal it in heaven; you have the power then; can it be taken off? No. Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah, is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner, the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling & Election sure, & the same doctrin whare we are exhorted to go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works but of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead &c. we cannot be perfect without the fathers, &c we must have revelations then & we can see that the doctrin of revelation as far transcends the doctrin of no revelation as knowled[g]e is above ignorance for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in exhistance. This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the Apostles, in delivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. There were sealed by the spirit of Elijah unto the damnation of hell until the day of the Lord, or revealtion of Jesus Christ Here is the doctrin of Election that the world have quarreled so much about, but they do not know any thing about it, The doctrin that the Prysbeterians & Methodist have quarreled so much about once in grace always in grace, or falling away from grace I will say a word about, they are both wrong, truth takes a road between them both, for while the Presbyterian says once in grace you cannot fall the Methodist says you can have grace to day, fall from it to morrow, next day have grace again & so follow it, but the doctrin of the scriptures & the spirit of Elijah would show them both fals & take a road between them both for according to the scriptures if a man has receive the good word of God & tasted of the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have Crucified the son of God afresh & put him to an open shame, so their is a possibility of falling away you could not be renewed again, & the power of Elijah Cannot seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals & power of the priesthood, I will make evry doctrin plain that I present & it shall stand upon a firm bases And I am at the defiance of the world for I will take shelter under the broad cover of the wings of the work in which I am ingaged, it matters not to me if all hell boils over I regard it ownly as I would the crackling of thorns under a pot A murderer; for instance, one that sheds innocent blood, cannot have forgiveness. David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell. [Hence, he was not a son of perdition. Why? Joseph then answers.] Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood, & the priesthood that he received & the throne & kingdom of David is to be taken from him & given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his linage Peter refered to the same subject on the day of pentecost, but the multitude did not get the endowment that Peter had but several days after the people asked what shall we do, Peter says I would ye had done it ignorantly speaking of crucifying the Lord &c He did not say to them repent & be baptized for the remission of your sins but he said repent therefore & be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, Acts iii,19 this is the case with murderers they could not be baptized for the remission of sins for they had shed innocent Blood.
Again the doctrin or sealing power of Elijah is as follows if you have power to seal on earth & in heaven, then we should be Crafty, the first thing you do go & seal on earth your sons & daughters unto yourself, & yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory, and go ahead, and not go back, [law of adoption?] but use a little Craftiness & seal all you can; & when you get to heaven tell your father that what you seal on earth should be sealed in heaven I will walk through the gate of heaven and claim what I seal, and those that follow me and my Council The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have, I have been afraid to ask God to kill my enemies lest some of them should peradventure repent I asked a short time, since for the Lord to deliver me out of the hands of the Govornor of Missouri & if it must needs be to acomplish it to take him away, & the next news that Came pouring down from their, was Governor Reynolds had shot himself, and I would now say beware O earth how you fight against the Saints of God & shed innocent Blood, for in the days of Elijah his enemies came upon him & fire was Called down from heaven & destroyed them, the spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, & Masiah last. Elias is a fore runner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after holding the keys of power building the Temple to the Cap stone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is last of all.” (Joseph Smith, 10 Mar., 1844, Wilford Woodruff diary)
“The spirit of Elijah is to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers lest I come and smite the earth with a curse the babtism for the dead and the ordinances that is to be administered by us for them for paul says that they without us cannot be made perfect neither can we without them be made perfect. Now we come to talk about election a great deal is said about it. one way or another. The prespetary says once in grace always in grace, the methodist says once in grace can fall from grace and be renewed again. there is some truth in both of these statements Paul says in the 6 chap of hebrews that after arriving at a certain knowledge and then fall away it is impossible to renew them again, well paul the prespratarian says once in grace always in grace I say it is not so the methodist says once in grace can fall from grace and be renewed again I Paul say it is impossible seeing that they crucify to themselves the son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.
Make your calling and election sure go on from grace to grace untill you obtain a promise from God for yourselves that you shall have eternal life. this is eternal life to know God and his son Jesus Christ, it is to be sealed up unto eternal life and obtain a promise for our posterity. Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, this is the power of Elijah to seal or bind or turn the hearts of the fathers to their children sealed against all sin but the sin of sheding innocent blood and the Sin against the holy ghost.” (Joseph Smith, 10 Mar., 1844, James Burgess Notebook. In Words of JS, pp. 333-334)
ca. Apr.: Only one place for ordinances for the dead.
“All the brethren and sisters were instructed to write to their friends and get all the influence in our favor, that if possible in the spring of 1844, on the 6th of April, a special conference on the anniversary of the church, in which it was remarked that this church had arrived at the age of fourteen years, and as adults chose their guardian at that age, it was now time for us to choose one, and it was resolved that Brother Joseph be our guardian. Much instruction was given relative to the mysteries of the kingdom and the building up of Zion. One declaration I will mention, to-wit: that the whole land of America was the Land of Zion, and that the time was at hand when the elders would go forth and build up stakes in every part of the land where there could be a branch of the church suffucient, and erect houses of worship; yet there would be but one place for the ordinances in relation to the dead, etc., where all would have to come up in their turn to receive those ordinances, who receive them at all.” (“Journal of Ethan Barrows,” Journal of History 15:180-181, Apr., 1922)
6 Apr.: Endowment to include knowledge.
” . . . there is an endowment; knowledge is power, we want knowledge; we have frequently difficulties with persons who profess to be Latter Day Saints; when the sacrament will be administered in the Lord’s house, it will do away with a great deal of difficulty that is now in existence.” (Hyrum Smith, General Conference Address, 6 Apr., 1844; in T&S 5(14):596-597, 1 Aug., 1844)
8 Apr.: All ordinances required for the dead.
“dec. this morning are calculating soon as Temple finished washing & anointing &c when those last & most impt ordinance can be done–must be in a house–prov made during time of laying found: where men may rec endowment to make K & Pts unto the Most H G. having nothin to do with temporal things but K of G. G has provided for a house to be built where we can get a House this the central place & where we can be baptized for dead–it is nec. when we want to save our dead we go through all the ordinances same as for ourself from bap to ordination & endt. From henceforth I have rec–inst from Ld that Ers shall build churches where ever they raise branches through the States then build stakes–in the gt cities Boston &c there shall be stakes–reserved the pro. to the last. all this to be und. that this work shall commence after the washing anointing & endowment here
The Ld has an est law in relation to the matter. there must be a particular spot for the sal, of our dead. I verily believe this will be the place, hence men who want to save their dead can come and bring their families do their work and return to live and wait till the go to receive their reward. Shall leave the rest for the brethren.” (Joseph Smith, 8 Apr., 1844, Wm. Clayton report. In Words of JS, pp. 362-363)
“when the House is done, Baptism font erectd and finished & the worthy are washed, anointed, endowed & ordained Kings & priests, which must be done in this life, when the place is prepared you must go through all the ordinances of the house of the Lord so that you who have any dead friends must go through all the ordinances for them the same as for yourselves; then the Elders are to go through all America & build up Churches untill all Zion is built up, but not to commence this untill the Temple is built up here and the Elders endowed then go forth & accomplish the work & build up stakes in all North and South America, Their will be some place ordained for the redeeming of the dead I think this place will be the one, so their will be gathering fast enough here. President Smith lungs failed him and he appointed Elder G. J. Adams to occupy the time during the foornoon He however remarked that his proclamation just made was the greatest ever made as all could not come here; but it was necessary that enough should come to build up the temple & get an endowment so that the work could spread abroad.” (Joseph Smith, 8 Apr., 1844, Wilford Woodruff diary)
“the declarn. is that as soon as the temple & B font is prepd. & so as we can wash & anoint the El of Israel there must be a place prepd for that purpose–there are provins made until the work is compd. to be as K & P of the most H. God but as all to do with the hs of God–but there must be an express place built for that purpose & for men to be B for their dd for every man who wishes to save the F[athers] & M[others]. B[rothers]. S[isters] & F[riends]. must go thro the same–B[aptism]–A[nointing]. W[ashing]. & all the protectn. of the powers of the Priesthood same as for themselves–the Elders of Israel shall build Churches unto the Ld. & there shall they build Churches unto the Ld: there shall be a Stake of Zion–it is a glorious pro–& I reserved it to the last & desn. it to be understd. that it shall be after the washg. & anointg. here–the place that the Ld. has estd. for the Sn. of the dead–there must be a parlar place. I verily belive this to be the place–& men who wish to save their dead must come here to be B for their dead–& then may go back agn.–& I shall leave m Brern to enlarge.” (Joseph Smith, 8 Apr., 1844, Thomas Bullock report. In Words of JS, p. 364)
“soon as the Temple is finished.–Lord hath ordained where these last & most important ordinances must be in a house.–provided for the purpose.–when we can get a house built first there is the place.–Bap. washed. anointed, sealed &c for the dead the same as for themselves.–
from henceforth the elders shall build churches where ever the people receive the gospel sufficient. then build stakes to this place. I verily believe that God will establish this place for the salvation of the dead.–those who want to save their dead can come hither. those who do not wish to come hither to live can bring their families and attend the ordinances and return.” (Joseph Smith, 8 Apr., 1844, Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards. In Words of JS, p. 365)
9 Apr.: Endowment is preparation to preach Gospel.
“Let us obey the proclamation of Joseph Smith concerning the Elders going forth into the vineyard to build up the Temple, get their endowments, and be prepared to go forth and preach the Gospel.” (Brigham Young, HC 6:321)
Apr.: Endowment to enable going forth with authority.
“We should fail in our duty at the present time if we neglected to call attention to the subject of the building of the Temple and the Nauvoo House. This is a subject of paramount importance to the church, and we exhort the presidents of conferences, and others, to give heed to it in their varied fields of labour, and to exhort attention to it on the part of all Saints, in order that the will of the Lord may be done, and his servants receive their endowment to enable them to go forth with authority to bind up the law, and seal up the testimony, that the end may come.” (Editorial, MS 4(12):205, Apr., 1844)
3 May: Zion includes North and South America.
“Brother Hedlock, a word with you privately. Joseph said, last conference, that Zion included all North and South America; and after the Temple was done, and the Elders endowed, they would spread and build up cities all over the United States; but at present we are not to teach this doctrine. Nay, hold your tongue. But by this you can see why it is wisdom for the Saints to get into the United States–anywhere rather than stay in England to starve.” (Brigham Young and Willard Richards to Reuben Hedlock, 3 May, 1844; HC 6:353)
12 May: Dead require all ordinances that living do.
“There are many mansions for those who obey a celestial law–& there are other mansions for those who come short of that law–every man in his own order there is baptism &c for those to exercise who are alive, and baptism for the dead, who died without the knowledge of the gospel I am going on in my progress for eternal life–it is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your dead, but you will have to go thro’ all the ordinances for them, same as you have gone through, to save yourselves; there will be 144,000 Saviors on Mount Zion, and with them an innumerable host, that no man can number–Oh! I beseech you to forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure–and if any man preach any other gospel with that which I ave preached, he shall be cursed, and some of you who now hear me, shall see it & know that I testify the truth concerning them; in regard to the law of the Priesthood-there should be a place where all nations shall come up from time to time to receive their endowments, and the Lord has said, this shall be the place for the baptism for the dead–every man that has been baptized and belongs to the Kingdom, has a right to be baptized for those who are gone before, and, as soon as the Law of the Gospel is obeyed here by their friends, who act as proxy for them, the Lord has administrators there to set them free–a man may act as proxy for his own relatives–the ordinances of the Gospel which was laid out before the foundation of the world has been thus fulfilled, by them, and we may be baptized for those who we have much friendship for, but it must be first revealed to the man of God, lest we should run too far.” (Joseph Smith, 12 May, 1844, Thomas Bullock report. In Words of JS, p. 368)
“Now all those die in the faith goe to the prison of Spirits to preach to the ded in body, but they are alive in the Spirit & those Spirits preach to the Spirits that they may live according to god in the Spirit and men do minister for them in the flesh and angels bare the glad tidings to the Spirits & the[y] are made happy by these means. therefore those who are baptised for their dead are the Saviours on mount Zion & the[y] must receave their washings and their anointings for their dead the same as for themselves till the[y] are connected to the ones in the dispensation before us and trace their leniage to connect the priesthood again.” (Joseph Smith, 12 May, 1844, George Laub Journal. In Words of JS, p. 370)
“The sectarians have no Charity for me but I have for them. I intend to send men to prison to preach to them, and this is all on the Principle of entering in by Water and Spirit. Then you must not only be baptized for them but they must receive the Holy Ghost by Proxy and be sealed by it unto the day of their redemption as all the other ordinances by proxy.
All persons who have been Baptized and who have received the Holy Ghost may be baptized for their ancestors or near relatives. God has administrators in the eternal world to release those spirits from Prison the ordinances being administered by proxy upon them the law is fulfilled.” (Joseph Smith, 12 May, 1844, Samuel W. Richards record. In Words of JS, pp. 371-372)
“It is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your dead, but you will have to go through all the ordinances for them the same as you have gone through to save yourselves.” (Joseph Smith, quoted in John R. Winder, “Temples and Temple Work,” YWJ 14:52, 1903)
12 May: William Smith receives endowment.
“I was present with Joseph at the last council that was held previous to the Twelve and other going on their electioneering campaign to the east and various other parts of the United States; it was at this time that I received my initiation into the highest priesthood lodge, was washed and anointed, and clad with the sacredotal robe of pure white, and ordained to be priest and king, and invested with all the power that any man on earth ever did possess; power entitling me to preach the gospel, to bind up the kingdom of God on earth, among all nations, and people of every tongue. In consequence of these endowments and ordination received from under the hands of Joseph, I hold as much power and as many keys to seal and bind on earth, as can possibly belong to Brigham Young; this power was conferred equally on all the Twelve, and not therefore bestowed on one.” (William B. Smith, article published in Warsaw Signal 29 Oct., 1845. Lyndon Cook dates Smith’s endowment 12 May, 1844. See Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 277)
Summer: Joseph Fielding on the Endowment.
“Many have joined the Masonic Institution this seems to have been ‘a Stepping Stone or Preparation for something else, the true Origin of Masonry, this I have also seen and rejoice in it this Winter there was much Preaching through the City much said on the Subject of the Coming or Spirit of Elijah, there has been great Light pourd out upon the Saints of Late, and a great Spirit of hearing I have been called to preach sever times and felt much of the Spirit in general I have felt well increasing in Light and Knowledge and also in Joy having the Good Will and Confidence of my Brethren and feeling myself to be one with [them] in these things I feel myself blessed and honoured. . . .
As to me I have evidence enough that Joseph is not fallen, I have seen him after giving as I before said the origin of Masonry, organize the Kingdom of God on the Earth and am myself a Member of it in this I feel myself highly honored. . . .
Some also beside the 12 had received their Endowment, which was expected at the completion of the Temple I myself and my Wife had had this Privilege granted us in part, I also believed that as Joseph was the only one that had had the Keys of the Priesthood of [the] Kingdom of God on the Earth since the Days of Peter and the other Apostles, he must not only minister the same on Earth but also to the whole World of Spirits who departed from this Life in the time of the broken Covenant, even as Jesus did to those before him to the Flood, that those who had died without the Priesthood must remain so until it should be restored to the Earth, but it is necessary that they as well as we who are now alive should be made acquainted with the Ordinances, Signs and Tokens of the Priesthood and the Turms of Admission into the Kingdom in Order that they may come forth with those who have received it here. . . . It seems as though the Lord had pushed things forward rather prematurely on account of the shortness [of] Joseph’s Time.” (Joseph Fielding diary, early Spring, 1844. From BYU Studies 19 (Winter, 1979):133-166. Cited entries are pp. 22, 23, 28, 51-55 of Fielding’s pagination.)
4 Jul.: Joseph and Hyrum to return to Nauvoo Temple?
“Lords day july 4th [1844] assembled at the stand a great congregation consisting of thousands ware adressed by P. Pratt on the subject of the death of the prophets though dead yet they live spoke comforting to the saints incouraging the people to faithfulness in all things both spirtual and temporal urged the gathering to Nauvoo build up the city and above all build the Lord’s house that when done we might meet our beloved Prophets at the time of the inducement [endowment?] of the faithful . . .” (William Huntington diary, 4 Jul., 1844, Huntington Library)
Jul.: Temple blessings prepare one to meet the Lord.
“. . . inasmuch as you go there [Nauvoo] to serve God, you will enjoy the privilege of waiting upon Him in his Temple, and of receiving those blessings by which you will be prepared to meet the Lord when he shall come to reign in Mount Zion, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Reuben Hedlock, MS 5(2):31, Jul., 1844)
8 Aug.: “We have all the signs & the tokens.”
“[The Twelve] want[ed] men app[ointed] to take ch[arge] of the bus[iness] that lay on the shoulders of J[oseph] . . . . We want to build the Temple–& if Satan will not let us build–we will rece[ive] our endow[men]t. anyhow–I carry any soul to any man if they will abide our Council they will ga[in] en[t]r[ance]. into the K[ingdom] & we have all the signs & the tokens to give to the Porter & he will let us in.” (Brigham Young, Thomas Bullock Report, 8 Aug., 1844. LDS Archives. Quoted in Ehat Thesis, p. 204)
8 Aug.: Rigdon received only a small part of endowment.
“Elder Phelps spoke next, and continued the same spirit and feeling, having known many of the elders for fourteen years, and had seen them take their lives in their hands, without purse or script, in summer and in winter,–through good and through evil report, for the salvation of souls, and for the benefit of Zion, without the hope of reward; save pleasing God, and obeying his commandments;–had seen them harness for war when wicked men sought their lives and endeavored to destroy their wives and children; and at all times they were willing to act by counsel; they will do it now; this lake of faces does not seem to pleasant without indicating good; and the elders who have stood on the right and left of our departed prophet, knowing the authority and power of the priesthood, will honor it.–Elder Rigdon must know how he obtained his endowment, or what he has; for he has not received all, only a small part. Let him and the whole of Israel rejoice this day, for if they rear that Temple and are faithful, they shall all be endowed, (men and women,) as God will, till they can save themselves and their progenitors, as well as secure their posterity.” (Report of Special Meeting, 8 Aug., 1844; in T&S 5(16):638, 2 Sep., 1844)
18 Aug.: Missionary work and the endowment.
“North and South America is Zion and as soon as the temple is done and you get your endowment you can go and build up stakes but dont be in haste. Wait untill the Lord says go. . . .
Store your grain in Nauvoo for you will want it here, to eat while you are bilding the Temple. I want to say to the hands upon the Temple be united and I want to say to the committee dont turn away any person because he is an Englishman Scotchman Irishman or any other nation, but employ evry man you can and build the temple and your homes. I had rather pay out evry sent I have to build up this place and get an endowment If I was driven the next minute, without any thing to take with me.” (Brigham Young, in Wilford Woodruff diary, 18 Aug., 1844)
8 Sep.: Hyde’s testimony of endowment from Joseph.
“Before I went east on the 4th of April last, we were in council with Brother Joseph almost every day for weeks, says Brother Joseph in one of those councils there is something going to happen; I dont know what it is, but the Lord bids me to hasten and give you your endowment before the temple is finished. He conducted us through every ordinance of the holy priesthood, and when he had gone through with all the ordinances he rejoiced very much, and says, now if they kill me you have got all the keys, and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the hosts of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom, as fast as you will be able to build it up; and now says he on your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people rest, for the Lord is going to let me rest a while.” (Orson Hyde, 8 Sep., 1844; in T&S 5(17):651, 15 Sep., 1844)
12 Sep.: Joseph to reappear at temple dedication.
“Brigham Young preached at Nauvoo on Sunday week and avowed his belief in the spiritual wife doctrine and said he wished he had a hundred. The Temple is progressing very rapidly as the leaders tell the people that when it is finished Joe will appear and dedicate it. . . .
The above we collated from the Warsaw Signal of the 4th.” (Burlington [Iowa] Hawkeye 6(16):2, 12 Sep., 1844; Snider collection)
“The Temple is going ahead with astonishing rapidity, the greater part of the population nearly suspended. The leaders have told the people, that when the Temple is finished [Joseph Smith?] will appear and in propria persona consecrate and dedicate it to the Lord. Of course these fanatics are exerting themselves to the utmost that they may thus hasten the time for the appearance of the Prophet.” (Sangamo Journal 14(5):2, 12 Sep., 1844; Snider Collection)
3 Oct.: They expect to receive power from the Temple.
“The poor devotees to Humbug are urging on the Temple with a desperation indicative of the last struggle of parting life, thinking, when it is completed, that they will receive power to overcome all opposition.” (Unsigned letter to the Editor, apparently from a disaffected Mormon in Nauvoo, dated 3 Oct., 1844; in Lee County [Iowa] Democrat 4(14):2, 19 Oct., 1844; Snider Collection)
27 Dec.: Endowment: be clothed w/power and authority.
“We remember before thee, our Father, the building committee, who were appointed to build the Temple. Let their hands be strengthened to carry on the work, and grant that the house may be finished according to thy commandment unto thy people, that thy servants may receive their endowments and be clothed upon with power and authority, to carry thy word to the scattered remnants of thy people.” (Joseph Young, 27 Dec., 1844, at the dedication of the Seventies Hall; in T&S 6(2):798, 1 Feb., 1845)
1845: 26 Jan.: Ordinances only within temple.
“Jan 19th 25 [1845] also have moved on in like manner the organization the corums of the church are going on in order and great rappidity the 20th corum of 70ties is now organized the high priest corum is increasing rapidly and have covenanted to finish off the upper story of the temple this season coming for their own convienance for meeting and for the further of the work of receiving the Endowment as there are Ordinances which cannot be given only in an upper story which covenant was made on the 26th of Janr . . .” (William Huntington diary, Huntington Library)
Feb.: 12 went on missions following Nauvoo endowment.
“Soon after the quorum of the twelve received their endowment, according to the counsel of the prophet, they left Nauvoo, (except two) on a mission to the Eastern States. They had not been long gone ere the persecutors of the Saints were exceedingly mad against them, and sought to find accusation against the prophet, that they might put him to death.” (Wilford Woodruff address, “To the Officers and Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Islands,” MS 5(9):136, 137; Feb., 1845)
20 Jul.: Planned endowments for dead in Nauvoo temple.
“Yes, my friends, think it not strange, if before ten years roll round, Nauvoo is the largest and most wealthy city in America, diffusing wealth, comfort, peace and knowledge through all parts of the West, and more or less to the whole world.
Think it not strange if a million of industrious Saints are congregated in that and the neighbouring cities, all acting in union, with one heart and mind, while every market in the world is supplied more or less with the productions of their skill and industry.
Think it not strange if kings, princes, nobles and great men come there with their rich presents in the name of the Lord, and to his sanctuary to seek knowledge, and to receive endowment and salvation, for themselves and their dead.” (Parley P. Pratt [Boston] “To the Saints in the Eastern States,” 20 Jul., 1845; in MS 6(6):92, 1 Sep., 1845)
8/9 Dec.: Washing in a bath-tub.
“John D. Lee and others have been fitting up stoves in the two west rooms. as they will be devoted to washing and Anointing and to heet water. we have two Large troves [troughs], made fore Baptising the sick in, one was made by B Young, and one by my self, for our families. so we devote them to the good of all the saints. Three men can wash in either of them at the same time. . . . [8 Dec.]
Elder Cahoon come in at Eleven. We are at this time wating fore the two west Rooms for washing. It is now One Oclock. . . .
Elder B. Young and H. C. Kimball washed our selvs in pur water, for time and also G. A. Smith, Am. Limon, and [were] the first washed in the Temple of the Lord. And also finished a Leter to the Catholocks giving our propsels, to sell. We had a good time before the Lord. We shall come to Morrow with our wives, that is all the Holy Order to go through with our washings and Anointing again in the Temple of our God. [9 Dec.]” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 8/9 Dec., 1845)
9 Dec.: Repeat of washings and anointings.
“We shall come tomorrow with our wives that is all the Holy order to go through with our washings and Anointing again in the Temple of our God.” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 9 Dec., 1845)
10 Dec.: 1 hour 50 minutes for endowment.
“At 20 minutes to 8 o clock president Young announced that all things were now ready to commence and go through with the ordinances. He said that after we get properly organized and ready to go on without confusion, no person will be permitted to talk, nor walk about in the main rooms, neither would any person be expected to be in the Celestial room only those who were necessary to carry on the work. At the same hour he took the chair and appointed P. P. Pratt and John Taylor to assist him (W. W. Phelps acted as serpent), in taking those through who were now prepared. Those who were first taken through all the ceremonies were Heber C. Kimball & Vilate Kimball, George A. Smith and Barsheba W. Smith, Orson Hyde and Nancy Marinda Hyde, John Smith and Clarissa Smith, Newel K. Whitney and Elizabeth Ann Whitney. These went through all the ordinances untill they were passed through the vail at which time it was half past nine o clock. Prest. young then called all present into the Celestial room where we kneeled down and Amasa Lyman offered up prayers.” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 10 Dec., 1845)
10 Dec.: Peter, James, John, Adam, Eve not yet included.
“H. C. Kimball presides as Eloheem, Orson Hyde as Jehovah and George A. Smith as Michael and N. K. Whitney as the serpent.” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 10 Dec., 1845)
11 Dec.: Room descriptions.
“I spent the forenoon writing the history of these proceedings in Br Kimballs Journal also gave a description of the upper room.” (William Clayton diary, 11 Dec., 1845)
“The main room is divided into apartments for the ceremonies of the endowment. Beginning from the door at the West end is an ally about 5 feet wide extending to about 3 feet beyond the first Beam of the arch on each side of the Alley is a small room partitioned of where they saints receive the first part of the ceremony or where the man is created and a help mate given to him. From these rooms too the third partition in the Arch is planted the garden, which is nicely decorated and set off with shrubs and trees in pots & Boxes to represent the Garden of Eden. In this apartment is also an alter. Here the man and woman are placed & commandments given to them in addition to what is given in the creation. Here also after the man & woman has eaten the forbidden fruit is given to them a charge at the Alter and the first and second tokens of the Aaronic Priesthood, They are then thrust out into a room which is dark being the one on the North side between the fourth & fifth division of the arch which represents the telestial kingdom or the world. Opposite to this is another apartment of the same size representing the terrestrial kingdom and between these two is an alley about 4 feet wide. In the telestial kingdom, after them man has proved himself faithful he receives the first signs & tokens of the Melchizedek priesthood and an additional charge. Here also he vouches for the conduct of his companion. They are then left to prove themselves faithful, after which they are admitted into the terrestrial kingdom, where at the alter they receive an additional charge and the second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood and also the key word on the five points of fellowship.
There are words given with every token and the new name is given in the preparation room when they receive their washing and annointing.
After received all the tokens and words and signs they are led to the vail where they give each to Eloheem through the vail and are then admitted into the Celestial Room.
The Celestial room occupies the remainder of the main room being the space between two divisions of the Arch. This is adorned with a number of splendid mirrors, paintings and portraits. (Heber C. Kimball diary, 11 Dec., 1845)
12 Dec.: Joseph Fielding re-endowed.
“. . . the upper room is finished and about the beginning of December it was dedicated, and the 12 began to give to the Saints their Endowment, on the 5[th of December] I entered it for the first [time] and I truly felt as though I had gotten out of the World and on Friday, the 12th I and my Wife received our Endowment having formerly received it in the Days of Joseph and Hyram but it is now given in a more perfect Manner because of better Convenience, the 12 are very strict in attending to the true and proper form.” (Joseph Fielding Journal, from BYU Studies 19(2):133-166 {Winter, 1979})
13 Dec.: Peter, James and John added.
“At 20 minutes after 12 commenced receiving the above through the ceremonies the officers officiating were as follows. President B. Young as Eloheem John Taylor as Jehovah H C Kimball as Michael W. W. Phelps as the Serpent P. P. Pratt as Peter Amasa Lyman as James Orson Pratt as John.
Last evening an arrangement was made establishing better order in conducting the endowment. Under this order it is the province of Eloheem Jehovah and Michael to create the world, plant the Garden and create the man and give his help meet. Eloheem gives the charge to Adam in the Garden and thrusts them into the telestial kingdom or the world. Then Peter assisted by James and John conducts them through the Telestial and Terrestrial kingdom administering the charges and tokens in each and conducts them to the vail where they are received by the Eloheem and after talking with him by words and tokens are admitted into the Celestial Kingdom.
At 5 minutes before 2 o clock P. M. President Young commenced receiving the following into the upper department being those who were washed & anointed at 15 minutes after 11 o clock viz. Daniel Spencer & Mary Spencer. Phineas H. Young Samuel Bent & Lettice Bent.” [Note that this endowment session took only 1 hour 35 minutes.] (Heber C. Kimball diary, 13 Dec., 1845)
14 Dec.: Standardization of temple clothing.
“He [Brigham Young] then observed that he should henceforth have all the cloth, which was intended for robes, garments and aprons, brought and either cut or made in this Temple under the superintendance of those who know how to do it right. There are now scarcly two Aprons alike nor two garments cut or marked right, and it is necessary to observe perfect order in this thing and it never can be done unless we take this course.” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 14 Dec., 1845)
21 Dec.: Joseph & Hyrum not wearing garments.
“[Heber C. Kimball] spoke of Elder Richards being protected at Carthage Jail – having on the robe, while Joseph & Hyrum, and Eld Taylor were shot to pieces. . . . Elder John Taylor confirmed the saying that Joseph and Hyrum & himself were without their robes in the jail at Carthage Whil Doct Richards had his on, but corrected the idea that some had, that they had taken them off through fear. W. W. Phelps said Joseph told him one day about that time, that he had laid aside his garment on account of the hot weather.” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 21 Dec., 1845)
21 Dec.: Garments to be worn day and night.
“Our garments should be properly marked and we should understand those marks and we shoud wear those garments continually, by night & by day, in prison or free.” (George A. Smith, quoted in Heber C. Kimball diary, 21 Dec., 1845)
23 Dec.: Nelson Bates receives endowment.
“The nature and ordinances of this endowment, is calculated to remain a secret within the society. On the 23d of Dec., [1845] myself and wife received our in connexion with many others.” (Nelson Bates Journal, RLDS Archives)
30 Dec.: Components of temple costume.
“At 10 m. before 11. John M. Bernhisel brought in a suit of garments for the use of the persons receiving their endowments. Robe. Garment. Apron. Cap. Moccasins & Socks.” (Heber C. Kimball diary, 30 Dec., 1845)
1846: 30 Aug.: Deacons entitled to full endowment in temple.
“The meeting was opened as usual by singing and prayer, the sacrament of the Lord’s supper was then attended to, after which elder [Thomas] Ward rose to make a few remarks on the ordinations that had taken place in the morning. He remarked that as the several members of the body were necessary to complete the body, so were the various offices in the church of Christ. He knew that erroneous views were extant respecting the different grades of the office in the church of Christ, but he wished to establish in their minds the great principle that all the officers were equally honourable, and that if an individual did his tudy as a deacon faithfully, it was not necessary for him to pass through the various grades of offices to entitle him to receive an endowment in the temple of the Lord–as a faithful deacon he would be entitled to all the privileges as well as if he were faithful in the office of high priest.” (Clitheroe Conference minutes, 30 Aug., 1846; MS 8(4):53, 15 Sep., 1846)