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TEMPLES, 1898.
1898: 3 Jan.: Readoption?
“I went to the Temple and engaged Elder James G. Bleak to forme a lis[t] of names of my relatives, for readoptions; or extention of adoptions.” (Levi Savage diary, 3 Jan., 1898; LC Collection)
11 Feb.: Woodmen of the World.
“Elders John T. Caine and H. B. Clawson waited on the First Presidency and introduced Mr. Faulkenburg and Mr. Hughes son of Gen. Hughes, of Denver, who were in Utah in the interest of the Order called the Woodmen of the World, which they explained to the First Presidency, and showed that it was a benevolent institution, which had done a great amount of good. They presented to the President some works relating to the Order and its By-laws. They desired to establish the Order in Utah, and while they did not ask for any special favors, hoped that it would not be antagonized. President Geo. Q. Cannon explained to them that our organization was complete in itself, and there was no need for other organizations so far as we were concerned. The gentlemen recognized this, and had nothing to say but in praise of the Mormon people.” (JH 11 Feb., 1898)
14 Feb.: First Temple Presidency?
“Elder M. W. Merrill of the Apostles called upon the First Presidency, and consulted them in relation to the appointment of some one to assist him in taking charge of the Logan Temple, so that he might have some one upon whom to rely when absent upon other labors. The Presidency gave him the liberty of selecting some brethren whom he would like to assist him and presenting their names to the First Presidency.” [Was this the first time a Counselor was chosen to assist a Temple President?] (JH 14 Feb., 1898)
[18 Feb.] “The First Presidency considered the subject of appointing assistants to Elder M. W. Merrill, in charge of the Logan Temple. He had submitted some names of suitable men, the first two on the list being Thomas Morgan and James Quayle, both of whom had been working the Temple for a long time. They were selected, and Elder Merrill was authorized to set them apart as his first and second assistants.” (JH 18 Feb., 1898)
18 Feb.: Huntington had had his aunt sealed to him.
“I had Ann Eliza Huntington sealed to me in St. George Temple, her husband Solon D. Hungerford being then alive, but he died about 5 years after. I had been uneasy in my mind on account of having his wife and resolved to give her to him and this day the 18th of Feb. I performed the act, and my soul has been at rest since.
I would not like to meet a man in the spirit world and find him lonely for want of a wife while I had his wife and 3 or four other wives.” (Oliver B. Huntington journal, 18 Feb., 1898)
3 Mar.: Leaves on first Apron were painted.
“Spent the day with Joshuay Whitney and his sister Mary Groo in the 9th Ward between 4th East and 5th South Streets. He gave me a piece of the horse we helped eat on the western deserts in 1857. Showed me an apron and moccasins of sheep skin made to the order and by the direction of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo for first endowments given there in the upper room of his brick store. The leaves on the apron were painted.” (Oliver B. Huntington journal, 3 Mar., 1898)
3 Mar.: Temple clothing for the dead.
“Meeting at the Temple at 11 A.M. President, Prests. W. Woodruff, G. Q. Cannon, L. Snow; Elders F. D. Richards, F. M. Lyman, G. Teasdale, M. F. Cowley and A. O. Woodruff. (Pres. J. F. Smith in the East, B. Young in California, J. H. Smith in Mexico, H. J. Grant sick, J. W. Taylor in Colorado, A. H. Lund in Palestine.) . . .
Some instructions were given in regard to Temple clothing for the dead. Also in regard to curtailing the current expenses of the Salt Lake Temple.” (JH 3 Mar., 1898)
6 Apr.: Initial rejection of baptisms for the dead.
“When I first heard the Prophet speak, it was a stream of revelation to me. He was placed in prison, and, when he received his liberty again, he went right to work shepherding the Saints at Nauvoo and round about there. In those days we had not heard of baptism for the dead. I remember when the Prophet brought forth that doctrine. To some it was so strong it was like putting new wine into old bottles, some of them broke and the wine spilt out, losing both bottle and wine. We could not fully comprehend so glorious a principle. We did not receive everything at once, but it was given to us line upon line, and in this way it has been coming to us ever since as our circumstances have required.” (Franklin D. Richards, CR April, 1898, pp. 17-18; 6 Apr., 1898)
7 Apr.: Woodruff foreordained to dedicate SL Temple.
“I was ordained to dedicate this Salt Lake Temple fifty years before it was dedicated. I knew I should live to dedicate that Temple. I did live to do it.” (Wilford Woodruff, CR April, 1898, p. 29; 7 Apr., 1898)
“If we had been asked years ago as to who would be likely of the Apostles to survive until now, we perhaps would not have selected President Woodruff, because he was a man advanced in years, and, as he has related to us today, had passed through so many scenes of trial and had labored so hard physically, and had so many narrow escapes for his life, that it seemed almost impossible that he would survive all the others. But, as he has told us, upwards of fifty years ago, while in Boston on a mission, the Lord revealed to him concerning this Temple.
He has not related that which I have heard him speak of at other times. There was a discussion concerning the material of which this Temple should be built. Some of the brethren advocated one material, and some another; and it looked as though it would not be built of granite. But President Woodruff had seen it in granite, and he knew while this discussion was in progress that when the Temple was built it would be built of that material. He also had dreams before the Temple was finished concerning the duty that had been assigned to him. The keys of the Temple had been given to him by President Young, and he was told to open the Temple, so that the people might go in.” (George Q. Cannon, CR April, 1898, p. 34; 7 Apr., 1898)
9 Apr.: Donations to Temples encouraged.
“The public meetings of the General Conference having been adjourned until Sunday, a meeting of all the Priesthood was held this morning in the Tabernacle. The First Presidency and Apostles, with other leading authorities were present. Pres. Lorenzo Snow addressed the meeting on Temple work and also referred to the reduced amount allowed the Temples for general expenses. He encouraged the paying of liberal donations by persons attending the Temple, according to their means, so that the work in the Temple might be fully kept up.” (JH 9 Apr., 1898)
10 Apr.: Temple work for Founding Fathers.
“Another thing I am giong to say here, because I have a right to say it. Every one of those men that signed the Declaration of Independence, with General Washington, called upon me, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Temple at St. George, two consecutive nights, and demanded at my hands that I should go forth and attend to the ordinances of the House of God for them. Men are here, I berlieve, that know of this, Brothers J. D. T. McAllister, David H. Cannon and James G. Bleak. Brother McAllister baptized me for all those men, and then I told those brethren that it was their duty to go into the Temple and labor until they had got endowments for all of them. They did it. Would those spirits have called uopn me, as an Elder in Israel, to perform that work if they had not been noble spirits before God? They would not.
I bear this testimony, because it is true. The Spirit of God bore record to myself and the brethren while we were laboring in that way.” (Wilford Woodruff, CR April, 1898, pp. 89-90; 10 Apr., 1898)
10 Apr.: Importance of work for the dead.
“Every father and mother has a great responsibility resting upon them, to redeem their dead. Do not neglect it. You will have sorrow if you do. Any man will who neglects the redemption of his dead that he has power to officiate for here. When you get to the other side of the veil, if you have entered into these Temples and redeemed you[r] progenitors by the ordinances of the House of God, you will hold the keys of their redemption from eternity to eternity. Do not neglect this!” (Wilford Woodruff, CR April, 1898, p. 90; 10 Apr., 1898)
12 Apr.: Woodruff recommends two of his children for 2nd anointings.
“April 12 1898 / Ovando C. Beebe & Clara Beebe / My Dear Children / Enclosed find a Recommend to / president Snow for your Second / Annointing I am very thankful that / I have lived to be able to grant / you and Asahel & Owen this / glorious privilege You Stand in / Need of it You are worthy of it and / it is the Highest Ordinance to be / bestowed upon any one in the Church / You will have to be Dressed in your / Temple Clothes I think Clara / had better Converse with her Mother / about the Day to go. / God Bless you & your Children / Your Affectionate Father / Wilford Woodruff // I think it would be a good plan for you / And Asahel to go together for you Both / WW
– – – –
Keep this sent to Me & President Snow
President Lorenzo Snow / This is to Certify that I hereby / Recommend My Son in Law (Ovando C. Beebe) And / His Wife My Daughter / Clara Beebe Worthy of their / Second Anointing They have both / of them been true & faithful in / All of their Administrations in the / Church & Kingdom of God on the Earth / Wilford Woodruff.” (George A. Smith Family Papers, Univ of Utah Lib, Ms 36, Box 146, Folder 10. Verbatim line by line transcript of a holographic document. April 12, 1898. Bergera collection.)
13 Apr.: Efficacy of sealings outside of temples.
[Question discussed concerning the children born of parents who were sealed outside the Temple and one of the parents had not had his or her endowments–were children of this marriage sealed to parents? — answer was “no” by Brigham Young. He said they must be sealed.]
“To Presidents of Temples.
By way of explanation it may be well to state that some members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles had sealed couples in Arizona and Mexico by authority of President Wilford Woodruff, which had been done because of the great distance to be traveled in order to get to a temple, as well as impropriety of young people traveling by wagon to a Temple to be married; and some parties thus sealed had since presented themselves at the St. George Temple to do Temple work, hence, the question.
The discussion of this subject was quite lengthy, each member expressing his views thereon.
President Woodruff decided, and the Council unanimously supported the decision, that the children of such unions were born in the covenant, and it was not necessary, therefore, that they should be sealed to their parents, and the records of St. George Temple containing the above instructions were ordered to be made to agree with this ruling. It was the unanimous feeling of the Council that if President Brigham Young were now alive and this question were brought fully before him he would modify the instructions said to have been given by him to agree with this decision.
Gibbs, Secretary.” (First Presidency letter to Presidents of Temples, 13 Apr., 1898. See John Taylor Letter Book, pp. 19-20[?], Bergera Notes)
25 Apr.: Reduction in wages of temple workers.
“This morning I attended the opening meeting at the Temple by invitation. Brs D H Cannon and Bleak spoke on the embarrasment of the Church finances and the reduction of our wages, not only this temple but the others, and that some had expressed a desire at head quarters to close the Temples on account of the expense. Pres Woodroof said, ‘not as long as he lived should they be closed, and that no one should ever meet him in the spirit world, and say, I might have received my Blessings if you had not closed the Temples, but would Keep [them] open, so that all might avail themselves of the blessed privellege of doing work for their Dead; then there would be no one to accuse him of hindering them from receiving their blessings behind the vail.’ The reducing of my wages is going to cripple me sadly in doing the work for my Dead, unles my way is opened up before me in a way that I now know not of. I hope and pray that it will be, that I may continue the good work until it is complete, and my Soul feels satisfied. I understand that one 6th of the tithing only being allow to carry on all expenses of the 4 Temples.” (Charles L. Walker diary, 25 Apr., 1898)
1 May: Should a widow remarry outside the temple?
“A correspondent asks the question whether it is not a serious sin for a widow, who has been sealed to her husband for time and eternity, to marry a man in any other place than in a temple of the Lord.
This depends uon circumstances. Such a marriage would be for time alone; and it might not be convenient for the couple, even though they were in full fellowship in the Church and able to get a recommend to the House of the Lord, to go to the temple, as it might be a long distance from their place of residence. Being a marriage for time alone, there would be no wrong committed in their being married by an officer in the Church who has the authority to marry.” (George Q. Cannon, JI 33(9):356, 1 May, 1898)
1 May: Genealogical Society’s plans to catalog records.
“The Genealogical Soceity of Utah, organized for the purpose of obtaining information to aid in the work for the redemption of the dead, having its headquarters in the Historian’s Office, with a Library of genealogical works, European and American, issued the following circular:
The Genealogical Society of Utah, through its agents in the New England states, Germany, Switzerland and Scotland, is ready to receive orders for the searching of genealogical records in those countries. It also expects soon to be in the same position in relation to other parts of the world.
The Society will endeavor to procure the names of ancestors, as far back as the records give them, of families who have lived in any of the villages, parishes, towns and cities, and will use every reasonable effort to ascertain and designate the relationship of each individual to the person desiring the search to be made, and will arrange in family groups, so far as practicable, the names procured.
The Society intends to use strict economy in procuring the genealogical information required. Persons desiring names can limit the amount they wish expended in the search, though occasionally a fuller pedigree may be procured by the expenditure of a few more dollars.
The Society requires a deposit of not less than $10.00 to pay the expenses of the initiatory search, to be remitted when application is made, and the balance of costs in installments, or when the names are furnished to the applicant, as may be agreed upon.
Those who desire the services of the Society in this respect, should address The Genealogical Society of Utah, Box 1678, Salt Lake City, Utah, so that applications blanks may be sent to them.
Brother Julius Billeter, Jr., expects to leave Utah about September next, for Germany and Switzerland, as an agent of this Society. Those who desire genealogical searches made in those countries can make application to the Society or to him personally, by letter or otherwise. His address is Julius Billiter, Jr., 24th Street, Ogden City, Utah.
F. D. Richards,
President of The Genealogical Society of Utah.
—–
Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of Wards are respectfully requested to have this circular read in public meetings and distributed to those who wish to peruse it.”
(JH 1 May, 1898)
5 May: Temple recommends and the Word of Wisdom.
“Meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles at the Temple at 11 A.M. Present Prests. W. Woodruff, G. Q. Cannon, J. F. Smith and L. Snow; Elders F. D. Richards, B. Young, F. M. Lyman and J. H. Smith. . . .
The subject of the Word of Wisdom and its strict enforcement was brought up for discussion, Pres. L. Snow having raised the question whether Bishops were justified in refusing to give members of the Church recommends to the Temple because they did not observe the Word of Wisdom. Bro. J. H. Smith inquired what was meant by hot drinks. Pres. J. F. Smith said it was defined by Hyrum Smith in the Times and Seasons; also that he (Bro. Smith) had heard Pres. Brigham Young say that at the time the revelation on the Word of Wisdom was given prominent men in the Church were inveterate tobacco users and tea and coffee drinkers and that it was because of those practices that the Word of Wisdom was given. Pres. L. Snow read the revelation on the Word of Wisdom and drew special attention to that part which relates to the use of meats, which he considered just as strong as that which relates to the use of liquors and hot drinks. He also referred to the revelation which says that he that forbids the use of meat is not of God. He went on to state that Pres. Taylor had expressed the view that some of the brethren talked too strongly against the drinking of tea and coffee. Bro. Snow said he was convinced that the killing of animals when unnecessary was wrong and sinful, and that it was not right to neglect one part of the Word of Wisdom and be too strenuous in regard to other parts. Pres. Woodruff said he regarded the Word of Wisdom in its entirety as given of the Lord for the Latter-day Saints to observe, but he did not think that Bishops should withhold recommends from persons who did not adhere strictly to it.” (JH 5 May, 1898)
31 May: Recollection of Brigham choosing SL Temple site.
“I am deeply interested in the position we occupy. The Lord has appointed the place were are in, where the blessings were given to Joseph; we are the sons of Joseph. Here is the place where we are going to stay. No power beneath the heavens will ever drive this people from these mountains. This was a desert when we came here. President Young went to work with a will, like a man. I was with him when he took his first walk from his carriage, across the site where this city now stands. When he reached the place where the Temple now stands, he stuck his cane into the ground and said: ‘Here will be built the Temple of our God.’ I thought that was a strange prediction, but I lost no time until I cut a sage stake and drove it into the very spot he had marked. That was before any survey had been made, or any street made, and on that spot indicated by Brigham Young and where I drove the stake, the Temple now stands.” (Wilford Woodruff, Annual YMMIA and YLMIA General Conference, 31 May, 1898; IE 1(10):781, Aug., 1898)
2 Jun.: Age at which deceased children should be endowed./Age of spirits before appearing in the flesh./Size of bodies in the resurrection.
“Meeting of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles at the Salt Lake Temple, at 11 A.M. Present: Prests. Wilford Woodruff, Jos. F. Smith and Lorenzo Snow; Elders F. D. Richards, B. Young, F. M. Lyman, J. H. Smith, H. J. Grant, M. F. Cowley and A. O. Woodruff. . . .
A discussion took place as to the proper age at which deceased children should be endowed in the Temples after attaining to the age of eight years. The rule established by Pres. Brigham Young at the opening of the St. George Temple was that such children might be endowed at or near the age of fifteen; but this had been departed from in the Logan Temple, where Pres. Taylor had fixed the age at 8 years. It was Pres. Woodruff’s view that the rule in the Logan Temple should conform to the rule established by Pres. Young in relation to this matter, and which was observed in all the other Temples in Zion. This became the sense of the meeting. An informal talk followed on the subject of the age of spirits before they appeared in the flesh. The idea conveyed was that all spirits before appearing in the flesh are of adult age, and that after the death of the body they appear in their natural adult size; but that such spirits, if death occurs in childhood, again enter the child bodies, which grow to the full stature of their spirits after the resurrection.” (JH 2 Jun., 1898)
7 Jun.: Minimum age for proxy endowments changed to 15.
“At the regular meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles on Thursday last, it was learned that a rule existed in the Logan Temple, established by President John Taylor at the opening of that Temple, permitting endowments to be given on behalf of deceased children who had attained the age of eight before their death. At the opening of the St. George Temple this age was fixed by President Brigham Young at fifteen, and is still in force there, and the same rule was adopted by and is in force at the Salt Lake Temple.
That uniformity may obtain in all the Temples, I gave it as my opinion that the age fixed by President Young should be adhered to, and this became the sense of the Council by formal action.
Your brother, Wilford Woodruff.”
(Wilford Woodruff to Temple Presidents, 7 Jun., 1898)
30 Jun.: Policy decision on sealing of children to parents.
“Meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles at the Temple at 11 A.M. Present: Prests. Wilford Woodruff, Jos. F. Smith and Lorenzo Snow; Elders F. D. Richards, B. Young, F. M. Lyman, Geo. Teasdale, M. F. Cowley and A. O. Woodruff. . . .
Elder A. O. Woodruff presented the following case: A woman was sealed to her husband and had children by him; he died and she afterwards married a Gentile and had children by him. In course of time he joined the Church and wanted his children sealed to him. Elder Woodruff asked for information regarding the matter, and was answered to this effect: That the woman having been sealed and undivorced was already in the covenant of the Holy Priesthood, and her children born to the Gentile, as well as those born to her husband, were already in the covenant, and therefore could not be sealed to her Gentile husband.” (JH 30 Jun., 1898)
30 Jun.: Sealing in cases of suicide.
“Meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles at the Temple at 11 A.M. Present: Prests. Wilford Woodruff, Jos. F. Smith and Lorenzo Snow; Elders F. D. Richards, B. Young, F. M. Lyman, Geo. Teasdale, M. F. Cowley and A. O. Woodruff. . . .
The following case was presented by Elder Lyman: Sidney R. Burton, an apostate, died out of the Church, and is supposed to have committed suicide, though this is uncertain. He left a wife and children in the Church. His widow now desired permission to have his Temple work done (He had not received his endowments) and be sealed to him. Brother Lyman favored the granting of the request, as it might be the means of her holding her children together. Elder Young took the opposite view, holding that such leniency might be regarded by them as a licence and do them more harm than good. Pres. Smith thought it a waste of time as well as an improper proceeding to seal a woman to such a man. He believed in giving a woman the largest liberty possible in such a case, and would even strain a point by granting her request; but at the same time he would advise her against it. Pres. Snow agreed with Pres. Smith. Pres. Woodruff thought that we should not defile our Temples and altars by acting in such cases, but leave them in the hands of the Lord. Brother Lyman agreed with the views of the other brethren, but thought that as there had been so much leniency shown in such cases of late, he would satisfy Sister Burton’s feelings by bringing the matter before the Council. It was finally decided that the case be laid over for further inquiry.” (JH 30 Jun., 1898)
Sep.: “A Supposed Inconsistency” re: baptisms for dead.
“A SUPPOSED INCONSISTENCY.
From a young convert in Kentucky we receive the following:
Catlettsburg, Kentucky, August 3rd, 1898.
Dear Sir:
A young convert to the cause of Christ takes the liberty to address you a question which has given him much trouble lately. I am deeply interested in the Latter-day work and know that Joseph Smith was ordained of God, for I can testify that through the ordinance of baptism and through the imposition of hands I received a remission of sins and a portion of the Holy Ghost, sufficient, if I strive, to enable me to live a Christian life.
Therefore, it is in all kindness and with a desire to attain to a fuller knowledge of things pertaining to Christ’s kingdom, that I point out the apparent glaring inconsistency which occurs in the following:
Speaking of a vision of January, 1836, the Prophet Joseph said:
The heavens were opened upon us and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God. * * * I saw fathers Adam and Abraham and my father and mother and my brother Alvin that has long since slept; and marvelled 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 baptized for the remission of sins. Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me saying: ‘All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; also all that die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall bed heirs of that kingdom, for I the Lord will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. And I aslo beheld all children who die before they arrive at years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.
Now the impression from the above is that the spirits of children and of the honest in heart who have not been permitted to tarry on earth, are permitted at once to enter upon the joys of the celestial kingdom, where, as I understand it, exists the fullest degree of glory, notwithstanding the fact that they had never been baptized nor had vicarious work of any character performed for them. Now arises the questions: If the foregoing conclusions are correct (and I see no reasons why they are not), why the necessity of such vicarious works as baptism, sealings, etc.? ‘Why are we then baptised for the dead?’
Will you kindly give me some explanation in a personal letter? Allow me also to suggest that you plavce this matter before the missionaries through the columns of your IMPROVEMENT ERA, for, as you will readily see, an enemy of the faith could create from this mole hill a mountain of doubt and distrust in the minds of many honest investigators.
Your younger brother in the faith,
Jesse Workman.
The vision referred to was received in the Kirtland Temple on the 21st of January, 1836, during the time that the several quorums of the priesthood were being organized and endowed with the powers of heaven. The passage of the Jewish scripture with which the facts stated in the vision of the Prophet Joseph are supposed to come in conflict, are the words of Jesus to Nicodemus:
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verilyi, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (St. John III:3-5).
The point is here: Alvin Smith, the prophet’s eldest brother, died when he was a young man, before the new dispensation of the gospel had been committed to his younger brother. He died without a knowledge of the gospel, and therefore had not obeyed the ordinance of baptism–without which, according to the words of Jesus himself, no man can enter into the kingdom of God; and yet, according to the vision, Alvin Smith, without having been baptized, was in the celestial kingdom, together with Adam, Abraham, and also the prophet’s own father and mother. The fact is that the vision was given to show what would be the condition of those parties in the future; it did not relate to the situation of the parties at the time the vision was given–January, 1836;–for in the vision the prophet saw both his father and mother in the celestial kingdom as well as his brother Alvin, and that father and mother were then both alive in the flesh, consequently they were not then in the celestial kingdom of God, nor in company with Adam or Abraham. The fatehr of Alvin and Joseph did not die until the 14th of August, 1840; and the mother lived on until some time after, 1853–so that the vision relates to the future.
The reason the Prophet Joseph marveled at seeing that his brother Alvin would be in the celestial kingdom was because at that time he knew nothing of the doctrine of baptism for the dead. It was not until the 3rd of April, 1836, more than two months after the vision under discussion was given, that Elijah the prophet came to fulfil his mission of delivering those keys of knowledge which would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers.” (“Editor’s Table,” [Joseph F. Smith and B. H. Roberts, editors] IE 1(11):844-847, Sep., 1898)
6 Oct.: Worthiness to enter temples.
“It is desirable that no unworthy people go into the sacred places–go into the houses of the Lord. They would not want to go there themselves if they understood matters properly. It is not desirable to have unworthy people go. And who is to know? It is not fair to suppose that the President of the Stake in endorsing these people personally knows them all.
President Taylor once said, in speaking on this same subject, and giving counsel and advice, that if they were unacquainted with the doctrines of the Church and had not experience, they should at least have experience in a ward somewhere, before they sought to go to the Temple. He said they ought to be at least a year in some ward under some bishopric, before they sought to go to the house of the Lord. We find it very desirable to have good people present themselves at the doors of the house of the Lord, who has entrusted us with this work, pertaining to our kindred that are passed away; has entrusted us with the work to have our families and our progenitors labored for and organized under the holy Priesthood; the children sealed to the parents from one generation to another, and to see that the work for the dead, as well as for the living, goes forward, as has been indicated by the erecting of temples to the name of the Most High.” (Marriner W. Merrill, CR Oct., 1898, pp. 14-15; 6 Oct., 1898)
22 Nov.: Burial in temple clothing.
“Elder Joseph E. Taylor saw Prests. [Geo. Q.] Cannon and [Jos. F.] Smith and wanted to know their mind in regard to permitting a man named Thomas Showell, who had died recently, to be clothed in Temple robes, said Showell’s standing in the Church being very much questioned. During the discussion of the matter, Prest. Cannon took occasion to relate the following circumstance, which had been told him: The body of a man who had died a faithful member of the Church had been clothed in Temple robes, but the clothing was not marked. He appeared to his friends in a dream and conveyed to them this information, stating that as a consequence he had gone as far as he could go on the other side of the veil. As nothing was done about it, he appeared again and again, until finally the body was taken up, and it was found that the garments upon it were unmarked.” (JH 22 Nov., 1898)
15 Dec.: Whose name should illegitimate child bear?
“The regular weekly meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles convened at the Salt Lake Temple at 11 A.M. Present: Prests. Lorenzo Snow, Geo. Q. Cannon, Jos. F. Smith and F. D. Richards; Elders F. M. Lyman, J. H. Smith, H. J. Grant, A. H. Lund, and Rudger Clawson. . . .
Bro. Lyman inquired as to the name an illegitimate child should bear, whether it should be the mother’s or the father’s name. Prest. Cannon answered that the mother herself should decide that question. If she knew who was the father of her child, and desired it to be called by his name, it would be very proper to call it after him; but should she not want to do that, she could, of course, call it after herself. The child might choose for itself, when it grew to maturity, the name it would go by.” (JH 15 Dec., 1898)