Below you will find Prince’s research excerpts titled, “Temples, 1926.” You can view other years here.
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TEMPLES, 1926.
1926: 30 Jan.: 2nd anointings given only by Church President.
“I have receive your letter of the 27th inst., enclosing one from Brother Arthur Bradder, making application for his Second Blessings.
Second Blessings are only given by the President of the Church upon recommendation of a member of the Council of the Twelve. At some time when one of the Apostles is in your Stake, if he feels to properly recommend Brother Bradder, the matter will be taken under advisement.
I return his letter herewith.”
(Heber J. Grant to President S. L. Chipman, American Fork, 30 Jan., 1926. CHO/Ms/f/272/ #14/Letter #448. Bergera collection.)
20 Apr.: Met with committee to consider changes.
“I met D O McKay, Jos. F. Smith, S L Richards and J. A. Widtsoe of the Twelve at the Temple as a committee at 8:00 a. m. where we spent about 1 1/2 hrs in consideration of the Temple ordinances with the purpose of suggesting certain changes in the reading of the Ritual of Endo. & the ceremonies of the Temple.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 20 Apr., 1926)
1 May: Concerning prior changes in garment.
(Letter to Elder G. A. Caproni; CHO, Film 272, Box 15, Letter #183; May 1st 1926. [Attached to this letter was a copy of the June 14, 1923 letter of the 1st Presidency – see also June 12, 1923 letter.])
“Elder G. A. Caproni, May 1st, 1926
657 Leland Avenue
city,
Dear Brother,
Your letter of April 28th is received.
We enclose herewith a copy of a circular letter which has been sent out and which answers the questions which you ask. This letter sets forth the attitude of the Presidency in regard to this matter. Nothing which is said which is more or less than this has been authorized by us. There are persons undoubtedly who do not adhere closely to the regulation which has been established, as there were before the change was made and the approval of the Presidency given to a garment of different pattern than that which had previously been used.
Trusting that this will be a satisfactory answer to your inquiry, I remain,
Your brother,
/s/ A.W. Ivins
In behalf of First Presidency”
(Attachment to the Letter to Elder G. A. Caproni; Film 272, Box 15, Letter #183; May 1st 1926. [NOTE: The difference is signatures from the June 14th 1923 letter.])
“The Presidency and Council of the Twelve have approved of the temple garment, where desired, with the following modifications;
1. Sleeve to Elbow
2. Leg just below knee
3. Buttons instead of strings
4. Collar eliminated
5. Crotch closed.
The Saints using the modified garment 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 in use before the above modifications were approved.
/s/ Heber J. Grant
/s/ A. W. Ivins
/s/ C. W. Nibley
First Presidency”
28 Aug.: Dead require as many ordinances as living.
“This is to certify that I was present in person in the St. George [Temple?] in the Spring of 1877 on the day the Prophet Brigham Young received the revelation that it requires as full and complete a set of ordinances for the salvation of the dead as it does for the living.” (Brigham Jarvis, St. George, 28 Aug., 1926, signed the same day before Linda Gates, Notary Public. Bergera notes)
19 Oct.: 2nd anointings no longer given for dead.
“We find upon inquiry that it has been some years since ordinances bestowing second blessings have been performed in cases where both parties are dead.
Where people are sealed in the temple for and on behalf of the dead, or in cases where people who are dead were themselves sealed while living, the feeling has always been that every privilege, power and blessing of every description will be given to them, if they have lived worthy of same, and that they would not have more even if they had additional blessings sealed upon them. We, therefore, feel that there is no necessity of performing the ordinances that Sister Smith requests.” (Heber J. Grant, A. W. Ivins, C. W. Nibley to President Joseph W. McMurrin, Los Angeles, 19 Oct., 1926. Film 272 Box 16 Letter #266. CHO/Ms/f/ 272/#16/Letter #266. Bergera notes)
9 Dec.: Question of Retribution considered.
“Attended temple meeting at 8:15 am. and the Weekly Council meeting at 10:00 am. the latter continued until about 5 P. M. We had under consideration a revision of the Temple ordinances. The question of Retribution took considerable time.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 9 Dec., 1926)
16 Dec.: Changes approved by 1st Presidency and Quorum.
“Attended to my regular duties at the Temple as usual–Attended a meeting of the Twelve from 9 to 10 o’clock and a meeting of the Presidency and Twelve from 10:AM. to about 3:PM. This was a very important meeting. At this meeting the Report of the Committee of Apostles on Temple Ordinances was accepted with a few minor changes. This necessitates the printing of the Ceremonies for all the Temples. It is helpful to have these ready for the beginning of the New Year.” (George Franklin Richards diary, 16 Dec., 1926)
23 Dec.: Commemorative endowments for Joseph’s birthday.
“On Thursday, Dec. 23rd, together with my wife Bertha, I went through the Temple taking endowments for deceased people assigned to us, this being the birthday of the Prophet Joseph, and it had been arranged that the First Presidency and Apostles should take names among the relatives of the seven presidents of the Church, and I was also especially invited to do the same, and so also were the members of the boards of the general auxiliary organizations.” (Autobiography of Andrew Jenson, p. 592)