The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship
224
The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship
224Paperback(1)
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Overview
For instance, David Buerger traces the evolution of the initiatory rites, including the New Testament-like foot washings, which originated in the Ohio period of Mormon history; the more elaborate Old Testament-like washings and anointings, which began in Illinois and were performed in large bathtubs, with oil poured over the initiate’s head; and the vestigial contemporary sprinkling and dabbing, which were begun in Utah. He shows why the dramatic portions of the ceremony blend anachronistic events—an innovation foreign to the original drama.
Buerger addresses the abandonment of the adoption sealing, which once linked unrelated families, and the near-disappearance of the second anointing, which is the crowning ordinance of the temple. He notes other recent changes as well. Biblical models, Masonic prototypes, folk beliefs, and frontier resourcefulness all went into the creation of this highest form of Mormon Temple worship. Diary entries and other primary sources document its evolution.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781560851769 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Signature Books, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 12/15/2002 |
| Edition description: | 1 |
| Pages: | 224 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.60(d) |
| Age Range: | 3 Months to 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Chapter 3
Joseph Smith’s Ritual
In Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith continued to expand Mormon salvation concepts, concepts which came to be intertwined with rituals later performed in temples. He defined the principle of “mak[ing your] calling and election sure” in a 27 June 1839 sermon. This was to be accomplished, after a lifetime of service and devotion, by being “sealed up” to exaltation while yet living.1 This concept was based on 2 Peter 1:10-11: “Wherefore . . . brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (see also v. 19 and Eph. 1:13-14).
This sermon was additionally important because Smith not only tied calling and election to sealing theology but also to the “second comforter” mentioned in John 14:26. According to Smith the second comforter was a personal manifestation of Jesus Christ. These ideas were also tied to the concept of personal revelation and the fact that the twelve apostles and all Mormons could and should follow Smith’s steps and “become perfect in Jesus Christ.” There was no reference to the temple in this sermon, nor were there functioning temples at this time.
In January 1841, well over two years after Mormons abandoned Kirtland, Joseph Smith announced another revelation. In it the Lord asked, “How shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?” (D&C 124:37) The Saints were instructed to build another temple “that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people; For I deign 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 fulness of times” (vv. 40-41). Anointed Saints were advised that their Kirtland ordinances were forerunners to ordinances which would be revealed in a Nauvoo temple.
As in Kirtland, Smith elected to administer new rituals, an expanded “endowment,” to selected leaders before the temple was finished. In 1842 the new endowment was performed only for men, but in 1843 wives were included. The pre-temple endowed were sometimes referred to as “Holy Order,” the “Quorum,” the “Holy Order of the Holy Priesthood,” or the “Quorum of the Anointed.”2 Preliminary initiations proved to be providential, since Smith was killed before the temple’s dedication.
On Wednesday, 4 May 1842, after two days of preparation in the upper story of his Nauvoo store the prophet gathered together nine men. In a significant departure from the simple washings and anointings received in Kirtland, these men were introduced to new theological instructions and ritual. According to the account recorded in the “The Book of the Law of the Lord,” Smith spent the day “In council in the Presidents & General offices with Judge [James] Adams. Hyram Smith Newell K. Whitney. William Marks, Wm Law. George Miller. Brigham Young. Heber C. Kimball & Willard Richards. [blank] & giving certain instructions concerning the priesthood. [blank] &c on the Aronic Priesthood to the first [blank] continuing through the day.”3 This was subsequently expanded to read in the History of the Church that Smith
instruct[ed] them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchisedek Priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the First Born, and come up and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days….therefore let the Saints…[know] assuredly that all these things referred to in this council are always governed by the principle of revelation.4
Joseph and Hyrum Smith received their endowments the next day.