Below you will find Prince’s research excerpts titled, “Temples, 1923.” You can view other years here.
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TEMPLES, 1923.
1923: 12 Jan.: 3rd evening endowment session in SLC.
“The patronage at these evening sessions seems to justify if not demand such action.” (George F. Richards diary, 12 Jan., 1923)
18 Jan.: Cessation of baptisms for health in temples.
“The following paragraph is part of a letter dated December 15, 1922, from the First Presidency to Presidents of Temples: [quotes letter]
The Presidency would thank you to convey the information contained in the foregoing paragraph to your Bishops with the request that they issue no more recommends for baptisms for health or administrations to the sick.” (Anthony W. Ivins, In behalf of First Presidency, to all Stake Presidents, 18 Jan., 1923. In Clark, Messages of the First Presidency 5:224-225)
6 Apr.: Admitting non-members before dedication.
“I believe Brother Wood, the president of the Alberta stake, might be willing to put off the dedication another year, on account of the great good that he thinks would be accomplished by admitting strangers into our temple before it is dedicated.” (Heber J. Grant, 6 Apr., 1923; CR Apr., 1923, p. 6)
14 Apr.: 1st & 2nd lectures of Aaronic Priesthood.
“I spent 1 1/2 hours with the Presidency where I read to them the ceremonies connected with the giving of the 1st and 2nd lectures of the Aaronic Priesthood as I had written them aftering hearing them repeated and after I had revised them. I asked if all the ceremonies could not be written, revised and approved and go into the Presidents’ Book held only the the Temple Presidents. The Presidency were all present and thought favorably of by these. The matter is to be submitted to the Council of the First Presidency, the Twelve & Patriarch. This would give us a standard to go by that these ceremonies might be kept uniform.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 14 Apr., 1923)
14 Apr.: Changes in garments considered.
“The subject of the garment was again brought up and considered and certain changes thought ofavorably of. The permisibility [sic] of dispensing with the collar, using buttons instead of strings, using the closed crotch and flop, and for the women wearing elbow sleaves and leg length legs just below the knee.
I spent about seven hours at the temple–President E. J. Wood was given a full set of Temple books to take home with him to Cardston for the Temple. [illegible] change. (George Franklin Richards diary, 14 Apr., 1923)
16 Apr.: “Heretofore unwritten ceremonies.”
“I spent at the temple writing what has heretofore been unwritten ceremonies of the temple. My son George assisted me all the afternoon.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 16 Apr., 1923)
17 Apr.: Further work on ceremonies.
“I spent at the Temple busy at my desk and meeting callers, answering questions. Pres Jos F. Smith & Albert M. Davis, my assistants read and approved the form of ceremonies which I have been preparing.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 17 Apr., 1923)
19 Apr.: Presentation of “unwritten ordinances.”
“I was the speaker at the temple this morning, prayed at the altar in Council–Our Council meeting lasted from 10 am. to about 4 p. m. I read in the council meeting which is known as the unwritten ordinances of the temple prepared by me and it was decided to have copies made and one each entered inside the Presidents’ Book of each Temple.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 19 Apr., 1923)
20 Apr.: Unwritten ordinances typed.
“I spent some time with the Presidency and Bishopric considering improvements to be made at the temple. It was left in the hands of the Bishopric & Presidency of the Temple.
I had the unwritten ordinances of the Endowments typed today by Bro. Jos. Anderson under the direction of Duncan M. McAllister. This is done by the authority of the First Presidency. A copy is to be kept in the Presidents’ Book at each temple.” (George F. Richards diary, 20 Apr., 1923)
4 Jun.: “Temple garments greatly modified.”
“Temple Garments Greatly Modified
Church Presidency Gives Permission
Style Change Optional With Wearer
Coming not as an order, nor as a rule to be rigidly enforced, but rather permissive in character, is a recent outgiving of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It concerns the garments worn by members of the church who have been married in the temple, or who have participated in other ceremonies performed or rites observed therein.
While minor modifications of the temple garment, it is said, have been made at various times during the past years, the latest order in permission is regarded by younger members of the church as most liberal and acceptable. Among the older membership the optional change is variously received. Some of the pioneer stock look upon any deviation from the old order as a departure from what they had always regarded as an inviolable rule. Others of long standing in the church accept the change as a progressive move intended to add to personal comfort.
Old Style Uncomfortable
In the old days the temple garment was made of plain, unbleached cotton cloth. Unbleached linen was as far afield in ‘finery’ as the devotee was permitted to go. No buttons were used on the garment. Tape tiestrings took their place. The garment itself was uncomfortably large and baggy. But despite these imperfections, the old-style garment is faithfully adhered to by many of the older and sincerely devout members of the church. These regard the garment as a safeguard against disease and bodily harm, and they believe that to alter either the texture of cloth or style, or to abandon the garment altogether would bring evil upon them.
One good woman of long membership in the church, hearing of the change that has recently come about, went to the church offices and uttered fervid objection. ‘I shall not alter my garments, even if President Grant has ordered me to do so. My garments now are made as they were when I was married in the endowment house long before the temple was built. The pattern was revealed to the Prophet Joseph and Brother Grant has no right to change it,’ she said.
Explanation was made that the first presidency had merely issued permission to those who so desired to make the modifying change; that any member of the church who preferred to adhere to the original style was at perfect liberty to do so.
President Charles W. Penrose says that modification of the garment is elective with each individual member of the church who has gone through the temple. The change in style is permitted for various good reasons, chief among which are promotion of freedom of movement in the body and cleanliness. Formerly the sleeves were long, reaching to the wrists. While doing housework the women would roll up the sleeves. If sleeves were to be rolled up they might as well be made short in the first place for convenience, it was argued. Permission to abbreviate is now given, but it is not an order and is not compulsory, it is explained.
Is Generally Welcomed
Encasing the lower limbs the old-style garment reaches to the ankles and is looked upon by young members as baggy, uncomfortable and ungainly. The young of the gentler sex complained that to wear the old style with the new and finer hosiery gave the limbs a knotty appearance. It was embarrassing in view of the generally accepted sanitary shorter skirt. Permission is therefore granted by the first presidency to shorten the lower garment. Also buttons are permitted to take the place of the tie-strings.
Young men of the church, especially those who take exercise or play games at gymnasiums, favor the shorter garment. The permission granted is hailed by them as a most acceptable and progressive one. Altogether, and except in few instances, the permissive modification is welcomed as a sanitary move and a change looking to the comfort and health of those who wear temple garments.
Instead of the old style, coarse, unbleached, irritating material of which temple garments were once made, the finer knitted goods, and even silks, are now used. These materials and modified styles are officially approved, but such alterations are optional with each individual, and by no means compulsory, church officials desire it understood.” (Salt Lake Tribune 4 Jun., 1923)
14 Jun.: 1st Presidency authorizes changes in garments.
“June 14, 1923
To Presidents of Stakes and Presidents of Temples.
Dear Brethren,
For some time past the First Presidency and Council of Twelve have had under consideration the propriety of permitting certain modifications in the temple garment, with the following result:
After careful and prayerful consideration it was unanimously decided that the following modifications may be permitted, and a garment of the following stype be worn by those Church members who wish to adopt it, namely:
(1) Sleeve to elbow.
(2) Leg just below knee.
(3) Buttons instead of strings.
(4) Collar eliminated.
(5) Crotch closed.
It may be observed that no fixed pattern of the temple garment has ever been given, and that the present style of garment differs very materially from that in use in the early history of the Church, at which time a garment without collar and with buttons was frequently used.
It is the mind of the First Presidency and Council of Twelve that this modified garment may be used by those who desire to adopt it, without violating any covenant they make in the House of the Lord, and with a clear conscience, so long as they keep the covenants which they have made and remember that the garment is the emblem of the Holy Priesthood, designed by the Lord as a covering for the body, and that it should be carefully preserved from mutilation and unnecessary exposure, and be properly marked.
It should be clearly understood that this modified garment does not supercede [sic] the approved garment now in use, that either of these patterns may be worn, as Church members prefer, without being considered unorthodox, and those using either will not be out of harmony with the order of the Church.
In order that there may be uniformity in temple work, and that expedition in the administration of the ordinances of the House of the Lord may not be impeded, we recommend that people doing temple work, whether it be ordinance work for the dead or first endowments for the living, wear the approved garment now in use. If persons appear at the temple with the modified style, however, they should not be refused admittance, provided they come properly recommended. Bishops, in giving recommends to the temple should call attention to this recommendation.
Will you kindly advise the Bishops of your Stake of these changes, being careful to give the matter no unnecessary publicity.
This letter is not to pass from your hands, nor are copies to be furnished to any other person.
Your Brethren in the Gospel,
H. J. Grant
Charles W. Penrose
A. W. Ivins
First Presidency
(First Presidency circular letter, 14 Jun., 1923; also Heber J. Grant Letter Books; Film 272, Box B, pp. 436-437))
1 Sep.: Recommend good for six months.
“Have just put another recommend in the temple good for six months.” (Levi Mathers Savage diary, 1 Sep., 1923; LC Collection)
24 Dec.: Extent of work in SL Temple.
“Temple work both for the living and the dead seems to be gaining quite rapidly. The Salt Lake Temple puts through five companies for endowments on each of 3 days per week, beginning at 7 am. and continuing until 11 pm. On two days of each week baptisms are attended to for both the living and the dead, thus about 4000 baptisms and about 3000 endowments are performed each week in the Salt Lake Temple; except during the few weeks of vacation in mid-summer and about two weeks in holiday time in the winter when the Temple is closed. Very extensive additions have lately been made.” (Levi Mathers Savage diary, 24 Dec., 1923; LC Collection)
ca. 1923: Instructions concerning temple ordinance work.
“(p. 2) The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scruplously clean. Shoes worn out of doors should be removed from the feet, in the Temple Annex, slippers may be substituted therefore. Males should be ordained Elders before they come to the Temple to receive their own endowments.
The Saints who attend to baptisms for the dead should be amply dressed in white before entering the font. All participants in the ordinance of sealing children should be dressed in clean, white clothing. Males over 21 or females over 13 years of age, are not permitted to witness or take part in any Temple ordinances, except baptism for the dead, until they have received their own endowments. Children under the ages specified may be sealed to their parents before having their endowments, but they are not permitted to witness any other ceremonies except baptism for the dead.
Each individual should be provided with the endowment clothing they need. The garments must be clean and white, and of the approved pattern; they must not be altered or mutilated, and are to be worn as intended.
(“Instructions Concerning Temple Ordinance Work”; Pq/m234.5/I59r/#2; George F. Richards; President, Salt Lake Temple; 1921-1935.)
“(P. 3) The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scrupulously clean. Shoes worn out of doors should be removed from the feet, in the Temple Annex, slippers may be substituted therefore. Males should be ordained Elders before they come to the Temple to receive their own endowments.
The Saints who attend to baptisms for the dead should be amply dressed in white before entering the font. All participants in the ordinance of sealing children should also be dressed in clean, white clothing. Males over 21 or females over 18 years of age, are not permitted to witness or take part in any Temple ordinances, except baptism for the dead, until they have received their own endowments. Children under the ages specified, may be sealed to their parents before having their endowments, but they are not permitted to witness any other ceremonies except baptism for the dead.
Each individual should be provided with the endowment clothing they need. The garments must be clean and white, and of the approved pattern; they must not be altered or mutilated, and are to be worn as intended down to the wrists and ankles, and around the neck. These requirements are imperative; admission to the Temple will be refused to those who do not comply therewith.
(“Instructions Concerning Temple Ordinance Work”; Pq/m234.5/I59r/#1/C.2; George F. Richards; President, Salt Lake Temple; 1921-1935.)