1842 NAUVOO TEMPLE ENDOWMENT
WILLIAM CLAYTON'S ACCOUNT [Original Spelling Is Retained]
The following description of the attic story of the Nauvoo Temple was written by William Clayton in Heber C. Kimball's Journal under the date of 11 December 1845. William Clayton was the Nauvoo Temple Recorder. Heber C. Kimball's Journal is located in the Historical Department of the LDS church, Salt Lake City, Utah. This portion of the journal is the official Nauvoo Temple Record. The original spelling is retained.
Thursday Decr. 11th 1845
I will now give a description of the way the attic Story is finished. The main room is 88 feet 2 inches long and 28 feet 8 inches wide. It is arched over, and the arch is divided into six spaces by crop beams to support the roof. There are 6 Small rooms on each side [of] the main room about 14 feet square each. The last one on the west end on each side is a little smaller.
The first room on the South side beginning on the East end is president Brighams Room the second Er H. C. Kimball, the third, O. Hyde, Parley P. Pratt and Orson Pratt the fourth, John Taylor, Amasa Lyman J. E. Page & George A. Smith; the fifth, Joseph Young and presidents of Seventies, the sixth, is a preparation room for the male members.
On the north side, the first from the East end is for Bishop Whitney & the lesser Priesthood; the second for the High Council; the third and fourth president George Miller and the High Priests quorum The fifth the Elders quorum and the sixth the female preparation Room.
The main room is divided into apartments for the ceremonies of the endowment. Beginning from the door at the West end is an all[e]y about 5 feet wide extending in about 3 feet beyond the first Beam of the arch. On each side of the alley is a small room partitioned of[f] 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 to 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 & women 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 terrestilal kingdom and between these two is an alley about 4 feet wide. In the telestial Kingdom, after the 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 anointing.
After received all the tokens and words and signs they are led to the vail whare they give each to Eloheem through the vail and are then admitted into the Celestial Room.
The Celestial room occupies the remain[d]er of the main room being the space between the two divisions of the arch. This is adorned with a number of splendid mirrors, paintings and portraits. On the East wall are the following P[o]rtraits viz. in the center Pres. B. Young and next to the left H. C. Kimball[,] Orson Hyde. To the right, Willard Richards, John Taylor and George A. Smith.
On the East side of the first division of the arch in the center is the portrait of L. S. Scovil, next to the right is George A. Smith, next John Smith, the Patriarch. To the left is Barsheba Smith, and mother Lucy Smith.
On the West side of this partition in the centre [center] is the portrait of [blank space] to the left H.C. Kimball & Caroline Smith to the right [blank space] Wm Coltier [____] L. Smith.
On the East side of the second division in the centre [center] a brass clock over which is a splendid portrait of the late Hyrum Smith and next to the right C.C. Rich, George Miller & Clarissa Smith. To the left sister Rich, next Mary Catherine Miller and last Leonora A. Taylor.
There are also a number of maps. A large map of the world hangs on the north side wall, and three maps of the United States and a plat of the City of Nauvoo hangs on the west partition. On the South wall hangs another large map of the United States, besides a number of large mirrors and paintings.
In the centre [center] of the Celestial Room are two splendid tables and four splendid sofas. Also a small table opposite the large window on the East end of the room on which stands the Celestial and terrestrial globes.
All the rooms are nicely carpeted and has a very splendid and comfortable appearance. There are a number of handsome chairs in it.
* * * *
The following persons officiating[:]
Orson Hyde as Eloheem
Orson Spencer as Jehovah
George A. Smith as Michael and
Wm. W. Phelps as the Serpent.
Instructions by Brigham Young,
President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
Thursday, December 28th 1845 Meeting at half
past 10' o'clock this day in the attic story of the Temple . . . Pres. Young
came into the room at 1/4 before 12. M. - He said he supposed those present
were a part of those who have received their endowment, that they were those
who desired to be wise and do honor to the cause they have espoused, and bring
no reproach upon the character of him who has given us of the things of his
Kingdom liberally. The Keys or signs of the Priesthood are for the purpose of
impressing on the mind the order of the creation - In the first place the name
of the man is given, a new name, Adam, signifying the first man or Eve, the
first woman - Adam's name was more ancient than he was - It was the name of a
man long before him, who enjoyed the priesthood The new name should be after
some ancient man - Thus with your ancient name, your modern name, and the name
that was last given you, you enquire concerning thing[s] past present &
future -
After his fall, another name was given to
Adam, and being full of integrity, and not disposed to follow the woman nor
listen to her was permitted to receive the tokens of the priesthood.
(Heber C. Kimball Journal, 28 Dec. 1845, LDS
archives)
The Seventies Record recorded the following
concerning the same instructions that Brigham Young told those who received
their endowments:
Sunday, December 28, 1845 . . . President B.
Young then arose and said that inasmuch as this congregation that are present
are those that have received their endowments and only a small part of them,
therefore I will give some general instructions.
While the bread and wine are preparing[,] the
ordinances that you have received in the garden together with the performances
of those things that has been presented are to represent the creation of the
world, the name that was given to Adam was more ancient than he was. The name
Adam was given him because he was the first man but his new name pertained to
the Holy Priesthood and as I before stated is more ancient than he was. There
are four penal signs and four penal tokens and should I want to address the
throne to enquire after Ancient things which transpired on planets that rolled
away before this planet came into existence I should use my new name which is
ancient and referred to ancient things. Should I wish to enquire for present
things I should use my own name which refers to present things and should I
want to enquire for future things I would use the third name which refers to
the first token of the Melchizedek priesthood or is the third token that is
given and refers to the son.
The second token of the Melchizedek
Priesthood is to be given only in one place and nowhere else[,] but these signs
and token[s] that pertain to the Priesthood should never be given any where
only in such places as belong to the priesthood and that too by none but such
as belong to the order of the priesthood.
(Seventies Record, Book B, 28 Dec. 1845,
LDS archives, typed copy)
Account
by Heber C. Kimball:
"The main room is divided into apartments for the
ceremonies of the endowment. Beginning from the door at the West end is an
all[e]y about 5 feet wide extending to about 3 feet beyond the first
partitioned off where the saints receive the first part of the ceremony or
where the man is created and a help mate given to him. From these rooms to the
third partition in the Arch is planted the garden, which is nicely decorated
and set off with shrubs and trees in pots and Boxes to represent the Garden of
Eden. In this apartment is also an altar. Here the man and woman are placed and
commandments are given to them in addition to what is given in the creation.
Here also after the man and 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 and 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 the
man has proved himself faithful he receives the first signs and 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 they 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."
(Source: Nauvoo Temple Journal, 11 December 1845, George D. Smith,
ed., An Intimate Chronicle: The Journals of William Clayton (Salt Lake
City: Signature Books, 1991), p. 205; "On the day temple ordinances begin,
Heber C. Kimball asks William Clayton to help him keep a record of Nauvoo
temple-related activities." Ibid. p. 199.)
"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 thrust 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 taking with him by words and tokens are
admitted by him into the Celestial Kingdom...."
(Source: Nauvoo Temple Journal, 13 December 1845, Ibid., p. 210.)
Increase Van Deusen (or Van Dusen)
Account of the Nauvoo Temple Ceremony
The
following account of the Nauvoo Temple endowment was written by Increase Van
Deusen (and his wife Maria). They received their endowment on 29 January 1846.
His description is not 100% accurate. He describes going from the different
rooms through the attic story of the temple and some of the ceremony. Some
paragraphs are shortened for easier reading.
I
will now describe the ceremony said to be revealed from God as a reward for
building the Nauvoo Temple. The following is what myself and wife were taken
through personally in the Temple, in 1846, in the month of February, said to be
our reward from God for four years' labor on the Temple. The Drama, (as I call
it) runs thus: We have a notice to appear at the Temple at five in the morning.
I am instructed to wear drawers; they are to be white. My wife is to bring her
night clothes with her. -- What these orders are for, we have no idea in the
least. We go according to orders at five precisely, for we are anxious to
receive our long expected blessing from God.
We
are first conducted through a narrow temporary hall, where we meet a man
stationed; he says to us, "you must here separate" - directs me
through a door to the right, my wife through one at the left, in an opposite
direction:
I am
here ordered by a conductor to lay off my clothes, all but shirt and drawers: I
now find what was meant by being ordered to bring drawers. We are now examined
with regard to our character, and whether we are responsible for what may be
committed to us, &c.
We
are taken from this into another room: In this room is a temporary bath of
water on the floor. We are nor ordered by the conductor to divest our selves of
the remaining part of our clothing. They now put us in this bath and wash us
all over, from heat to foot, accompanied with the following ceremony: "I
wash you that you may be clean to perform the work assigned you; your eyes,
that you may see the glory of God; your ears, that you may hear His voice: your
mouth, that you may speak forth His praise; your arms and breast, that you may
be strong to perform His work; and so down to our feet, that we may be swift to
run the race," &c. We are, all this time, rolled and tumbled about in
the bath, - at last, the priest lays his hands on our heads and pronounces us
clean, in the name of the Lord. -
We
are then taken by another priest, who turns oil on our heads, from a horn,
until it runs partly over the body. We are thus annointed all over - even to
the soles of the feet. After this, we are placed on a stool, and ordained to
power and authority, for time and eternity. I was ordained to be King in time
and eternity, and my wife to be Queen. After being ordained King, I am
presented with, and have put on, what they call an under garment. This is a
tight fit, made of white cotton cloth, with two marks in it; a square on the
breast, and a compass on the knee.
We
are told this garment represents the white stone in scripture, in which was a
new name given. We here have a new name given us. We are told, also, that we
are always to wear this garment under our clothes, while we are in the world.
God has ordered this; and we can receive no harm while we have it on. The name
I received was Lehi, one of the names of the Book of Mormon. This name I was
forbidden to reveal to any but the one at the door of the Celestial Kingdom.
What this meant, I found our afterwards. The compass on the knee signifies our
willingness to now always; the square, God's protection, &c. We now have
put on us, over this under garment, a common shirt.
In
this dress, after so much ceremony, we are conducted into a third room, where a
lesson commences, as the reader will see by attention. We are now seated - all
is silent for a while; the silence is at length broken by a rumbling noise, as
from a distance; the noise terminates in a voice, as follows: "Let the
light be divided from the darkness; let the light be called day, and the
darkness night: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters; let the
firmament be called heaven; let the waters under the firmament be gathered
together into one place, and let the dry land appear; let the dry land be
called earth; and the gathering together of the waters, seas; let the earth
bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit,
after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth; let the earth bring
forth the living creature after his kind, cattle and creeping things and beasts
of the earth, after their kind." . . .
After
the individual thus representing the Lord behind the curtain, (as in the act of
creation) is supposed to have created the heavens and the earth, cattle,
beasts, creeping things, fowls of the air, fish of the sea, &c., he
continues his work further, and says, "Now let us go down and make man in our
image, after our likeness." All this time we are seated in silence,
hearing, but not seeing anything, and knowing not what is to take place the
next moment; for all is new and unexpected, from first to last, of this whole
drama. When he says, "Let us go down and make man," we hear his
footsteps approaching the room where we are seated; he comes in - comes to
where we are - puts his hand to the floor, and then on us, as if fulfilling
this scripture: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul."
After
going on, as if forming us newly of the dust of the ground, he stoops down and
breathes on us, and now we are supposed to first spring into life. We are next
ordered to change our position from sitting to a sleeping one, as if
fulfilling, "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and
he slept." We are now ordered to put our heads down low, and feign
ourselves in a deep sleep. The individual representing the Almighty, continues
his work as if fulfilling, "And he took a rib, and the rib which the Lord
God had taken from man made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.["]
After he has taken the rib, he passes out of the room and is supposed to have
formed the woman of the rib; he soon returns with a woman and places her
directly before us, as we are sitting, heads down, as if in deep sleep. We are
now saluted with a loud voice, "Adam, here is thy companion. I give her to
be with thee - what wilt thou call her?["] He awaked out of sleep and
answers, "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, she shall be
called woman, because she was taken out of man." This was my wife whom I
parted with on first entering the Temple; she has passed through two rooms, in
the same ceremony that I have gone through, precisely, only conducted by the
females exclusively.
We
are now brought together in the third room; she is brought in her night
clothes. We are now supposed to be Adam and Eve, and the reason of my shirt's
being out side, and she having on night clothes, is, to represent nature. I now
am ordered to take Eve and follow our conductor out through a partition door
into another apartment; and what should you suppose we there behold? A large
room, the floor all nicely covered with green trees, shrubbery, flowers,
&c. Representing the garden of Eden. We follow a conductor about this
temporary garden, beholding the strange and unexpected scenery that has just
presented itself to our view. He says, "This is a beautiful place, every
thing delightful for the eye and taste - of all these things you may freely
eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat;
neither shalt thou touch it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die."
He
leaves the garden, and in a few moments another individual comes in,
representing the Devil. He walks round between the trees and peaks and skulks,
as if intent on some mischief, and coming to the tree which we have been
forbidden to partake of, he says to Eve: "This is the best of all the
fruit of the garden," and solicits her to partake. She takes, eats, and
gives to Adam. While we are amu[s]ing ourselves with the delicious taste of the
fruit, (which is raisins tied on a small tree on the floor) the conductor starts
up all of a sudden, and says, "Hark! The Lord is coming; let us
hide!" We are ordered to squ[at] down behind the shrubbery on the floor.
The supposed Lord's foot steps are now heard - coming in, he walks about on the
floor, at last calls out, "Adam! where art thou?" We answer, "we
heard thy voice and footsteps in the garden, and were afraid, and hid
ourselves. And he says, "Who told thee that thou was naked? Hast thou
eaten of the tree whereof I command thee not to eat?" The answer is,
"The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I
did eat." He then turns to the woman, and says, "What is this that
thou hast done?" She answers, "The Serpent beguiled me and I did
eat." He now turns to the individual representing the Devil, and says,
"Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above
every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt eat all
the days of thy life."
The
Devil is now supposed to have on him the curse, and he gets down on his belly
and crawls out of the room or garden. To the woman he now adds, "I will
greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring
forth children," &c. And unto the man he says, "Because thou hast
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I
commanded thee, saying, thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy
sake: in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns and
thistles shall it bring forth to thee; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread, till thou return unto the ground; for dust thou art, and unto the dust
shalt thou return." He adds, "the man is now as one of us, knowing
good and evil. Thou shalt now be sent forth to till the ground from whence thou
wast taken."
We
now have aprons put on of white cloth, about eighteen inches square with green
silk leaves pasted on. We are ordered to kneel down to an altar that stands on
the centre [center] of the floor. We are now instructed in many things with
regard to the fall, the law of God, &c.
We
have also certain signs and tokens given. One of the grips, is, the two right
hands clasped with the end of the thumbs on the upper joint of the fore
fingers; second, the end of the thumbs directly between the upper two joints of
the first and second fingers. One of the key-words is the Sun [Son]. We are
particularly instructed in these signs, key-words, grips, &c., three of
each.
After
some more ceremony of not much consequence, we are conducted into another, a
fifth room, which is a representation of the present Religious world, or Adam
and Eve, six thousand years old, having been engaged for eighteen hundred years
in promulgating the sectarian religion, except the Mormon, (for this is what is
represented in this room.) Our attention is now attracted by an individual
coming in from an adjoining room, representing the Devil. He comes in great
glee, hopping and skipping about the floor, holding in his hand a long-handled
wooden noggin, which holds about a pint. He says, "Good morning brother
Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Universalist, Shaking-Quaker,
Millerite, Campbellite," &c., enumerating all the sects of the day,
except the Mormons: "Come, let us drink the cup of fellowship this
morning." He now drinks, and hands the noggin to us; we drink, and hand it
back.
He
then goes on with a long ceremony, as follows: Wel[l], brethren, you have done
well - had a great many revivals - gained a numerous host of converts, and
would have succeeded in getting the whole world into some of our churches, had
it not been for that Joe Smith and the Mormons. They are round every where,
preaching that we are all wrong - not organized according to Scri[ptu]re, and
say we (Protestants) have no authority to preach, except what we have got from
the Catholics, and all the world agrees that is good for nothing. And now,
brethren of the sects, I tell you that Mormon plan is an almighty one, and much
to be dreaded - it strikes at the very root and foundation of all our holy
religion, and will eventually become the prevailing religion, unless something
can be done to stop it. It has been supposed a humbug, and would soon come to
naught. But this supposition is founded altogether in ignorance. Now, who can
not but see his (Joe's [Joseph Smith's]) plan is well calculated to undermine
all of us.
He
says, ["]God has nothing to do with our churches - he has never sent us to
preach; and they have the impudence to ask us to show our authority, and this
we cannot do, of course. It is true, we read in the Bible, 'God ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to every creature;' but they say that commission
is not to us, but to men of that generation in which it was given. (And is not
this true?) Now, the world has been long wondering how so many ways could be
right, and differing one from the other; and Mormonism is calculated to unravel
all this mystery; and they come right out and say we have all been preaching
men's precepts for the commandments of God. And now, I tell you there is much
truth in their sayings. We might as well know the truth, and then prepare
ourselves accordingly. We could do well when our authoirty was not questioned;
but when they come with the evidence they bring, and say, 'They are sent by
Revelation;' I tell you it is not easy to withstand them. And finally,
brethren, I am satisfied that it will not do to undertake to hold an argument
with them, and we had better let them entirely alone, and neither hear nor read
any of their books, but keep up the popular cry, 'Oh, how great is the delusion
of Joe Smith and Mormonism! Oh, how great!' and as long as we can keep the
people ignorant of their real principles, we shall do well. Now, brethren, of
all sects, we are talking over things this morning among ourselves - and it
must not go to the world." &c.
After
a long ceremony of this kind in favor of the Mormon Fraternity, we are
interrupted by another individual coming in, supposed to have been sent
directly from Heaven, with authority and great power. He commands the Devil to
depart and let these deceived people (the sects,) alone, and trouble them no
longer; for the time has come when they shall be delivered from your Satanic
influence and power, by which they have been bound since the Apostolic age of
the world.
The
Devil now reluctantly withdraws, and makes towards the door, looking back over
his shoulder at the heavenly messenger, and halts, as if at a loss to leave or
stay. He is now commanded again, in the name of the Lord, to leave, and let the
sects alone. He now drops his noggin and flees out of the room with great haste
and fury; we, Adam in his shirt-tail and Eve in her night-gown, are left
standing. After hearing all this conversation, supposed to be contaminated with
some one of the religions of the day, except Mormonism, we are taken by the
heavenly messenger and instructed in Mormon doctrine, exclusively, and supposed
to be converted to that faith; in token whereof, we have our clothing changed,
and are dressed in white linen, exactly alike.
We
are now conducted into another secret room, in the centre [center] of which is
an altar with three books on it - the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and
Covenants, (or Joseph's Revelations.) We are required to kneel at this altar,
where we have an oath administered to us to this effect; that we will avenge
the blood of Joseph Smith on this Nation, and teach our children the same. They
tell us that the nation has winked at the abuse and persecution of the Mormons,
and the murder of the Prophet in particular; Therefore the Lord is displeased
with the nation, and means to destroy it; and this is the excuse for forming
this league or conspiracy.
We
are also sworn by a solemn oath, that we will never divulge what we here see,
and do, and agree to, &c. in this Holy Temple. The penalty is, if we do, we
agree to let them take our lives, and the manner of taking them is described:
Our bowels are to be taken out, throats cut across, tongues taken out by the
roots, &c. We now have signs, tokens, key-words, &c. given, of a higher
order than those given in the garden, the particulars of which we do not
distinctly recollect.
After
this, we are conducted to a veil, behind which stands a man - we converse with
him awhile through this veil, which is composed of very thin cloth. We here
give the signs, new name, &c. which are the conditions of our entrance. A
door is now knocked at, a few feet to the left of this veil, by our conductor.
One from within asks, "who is there?" Our conductor says, one having
kept all the commandments of God, (referring to this ceremony) desires to enter
the kingdom and be forever with the Lord." We now pass through this door
into a large room,, representing the celestial kingdom of God. Here we are
clothed in white robes, and have crowns put on our heads, and are really King and
Queen, according Mormon theory.
(Mr. and Mrs. McGee [Increase and Maria Van
Deusen], The Mormon Endowment; A Secret Drama, or Conspiracy, in the Nauvoo
Temple, in 1846 [Syracuse: authors, 1847], 3-9, emphasis omitted)
Account
by "Emeline":
"Dear Sir:—I discover by your paper, in what you have published in
regard to the Mormon endowments, given of late in the temple, that you have
been wrongfully informed at least, so far as an actual experience has taught me
in the orgies of an afternoon, in that (as I have been taught to believe) most
holy building. In revealing what I am about to do, I have no lashing of
conscience; notwithstanding I took upon myself, during the laughable farce,
several oaths and obligations of a serious character, not to reveal the secrets
of the priesthood…
I went into this pretended holy operation, in company with 14 others, all
sisters in the Mormon church, and with most of whom I was well acquainted. They
were, in the main, women of good character, and appeared sincere in their respective
devotions. We were first received past the Guard into a private room on the
north side of the Temple—this was the room of preparation or purification.—We
were divested of all our apparel, and in a state of perfect nudity we were
washed from head to foot,—a blanket was then thrown about our persons, and then
commencing at the head we were anointed from head to foot with sweet oil
scented (I think) with lavender. We were then clothed in white robes. All this
was done by sisters in the church—none others were present—it is false to say
that men and women are admitted together in an indecent manner. We were then
conducted into a room called the garden of Eden; here we found several of our
brethren robed in white also, and apparently in a soporific state. We were
presented before them and a voice from the Lord awake them from sleep. After a
considerable ceremony, which I do not recollect much of, we were left by the
Lord and soon a very dandy-like fellow appeared with a black cape on, that had
a long tail attached to it; he appeared very familiar—and by his very
insinuating and friendly manner induced some of our sisters to eat of the
‘forbidden fruit.’ Soon after the voice of the Lord appeared again in the
garden; we a;; appeared frightened, and both men and women huddled together
into the corner of the room, as if in the act of hiding. The fellow in the
black cap presents himself before the Lord and engages in a controversy,
boasting of what he had done. The Lord pronounces a curse upon him—he gets down
upon his belly and crawls off. At this period of the holy ceremony, I could not
suppress my visible passions; for this fellow acted his part well—undoubtedly
his part being the part of the Devil—was the most natural. We were then
presented with aprons, which we put on about this time, a sword was shook at us
through the partition of the room, which was to guard the Tree of Life. After
considerable ceremony, which I do not recollect, we were passed into another
room, which was dark and dreary. This was called the Terrestrial Kingdom;
immediately the dandy in the black cap made his appearance; at first he
appeared very sly—peeping about, and when he found the Lord was not present, he
became very familiar and persuasive. Said he, ‘here we are, all together, and
all good fellows well met. Some Methodists, some Presbyterians, some Mormons,
and some Strangites, &c. &c. Come let us drink together.’ In this way
he tempted us, and we partook with him. After a considerable parade and
ceremony, we passed into another room, or Celestial Kingdom. Here I saw some of
the twelve, and particularly Brigham Young, with a white crown upon his head,
and as I have since been told, representing God himself. We passed this room
without much ceremony into another. I have forgotten what it represented; not
so much of interest transpired here, & we were conducted back and put in
possession of our clothing….
In the different apartments of this singular farce, we took upon ourselves
paths and obligations not to reveal the secrets of the priesthood. I do not
consider them binding; as I have had ample and repeated opportunity to prove
the administrators of these obligations as corrupt as the Devil in Hell. In one
place I was presented with a new name, which I was not to reveal to any living creature,
save the man to whom I should be sealed for eternity. By this name I am to be
called in eternity, or after the resurrection. This name was ——; and from what
I can gather, all the females had the same name given them, but we are not
allowed to reveal it to each other, under no less penalty than to have our
throats cut from ear to ear, our hearts torn out, &c., &c. I have
forgotten a part of the penalties. In one place something was spoken to me
which I do not recollect—the meaning was ‘marrow in the bon;’ the token was a
firm hold of the hand, pressing the finger nails firmly into the wrist of the
right hands. I have since been told by a brother, that there was a mystical
meaning in this, that will hereafter be revealed.
Now sir, this is the substance of the Mormon endowment…."
(Source: "Mormon Endowment" by "Emeline" in Warsaw
Signal, April 18, 1846)
Account
by Catherine Lewis:
The
following account is by Catherine Lewis who went to the temple for her
endowment as a single unmarried woman on 22 December 1845. Her description is
not 100% accurate. She describes some of the ceremony.
"On Monday, Mrs. K. and myself proceeded to the Temple; we went up
three or four flights of stairs to the upper story, called the ‘upper room of the
Temple,’ which is a large Hall with six rooms on either side, for the Apostles;
and the Hall for the purposes of Initiation, or Endowment, is divided by
canvass into six rooms more, making eighteen rooms in the whole. Two of these
rooms, separated by canvass, are reserved for dressing-rooms,—one for males,
the other for females; and one of the Apostle’s rooms on the right of the
entrance, another on the left, are used for washing and anointing rooms. The
right hand room for males, the left for females, with a large entry separated
by canvass, into which Mrs. K. and I entered; she (Mrs. K.) knocked at a door,
which was opened by the Porter; we went in; she conducted me to the women’s
dressing room; I was told to remain until I was called to be ‘washed and
anointed.’ While waiting, a company were going through the room called the
Garden of Eden.—This part of the ceremony any number of persons can go in
company, with or without wife or husband; but at the second part, none are
allowed to go without a companion. I heard language from Scripture, and a noise
apparently as if by a man crawling on the floor; soon after I heard singing,
what seemed to me a romantic song; the sound was farther off than at first, and
I puzzled to know what it meant. I was called into the wash-room to receive my
washing, anointing and a new name; the females were attended by females; one of
whom came to me with a basin of water, and began to wash my face, saying,
"Beloved Sister, I wash you with pure water in the name of the Lord, that
you may be clean,’ &c.
My companions and myself were required to go into a large bathing tub, and
wash; then each had a blanket wrapped around us, while we were anointed. One of
the ordained women, called Priestess, begins to anoint, another stands by with
a horn, containing consecrated oil, which she gives to the Priestess from a
wooden spoon, in such quantity and at such times, she is directed; the
priestess begins at the head to anoint, and blesses by saying:—
‘Sister, I anoint you in the name of the Lord, and bless you. I anoint you to
be a Queen; you shall do the same work in the Temple which you now see me do. I
anoint your ears, that you may hear, your eyes, that they may see, your arms,
that they may be strong, &c.’
She then whispers in the ear a name, called a new name, adding—
‘You must not tell any one your new name, until you get to the vail; it must
never be spoken above the sound of your breath; if you ever mention it, the
name will be taken away.’
Our names were then recorded; we then dressed and went into the other room, and
waited. When the men and women were ready, a voice was heard saying, ‘Michael
Jehovah, there is space, go down, create a world.’ After a few minutes the
second person said, ‘I have done as thou hast said.’ The first person says,
‘all is good,’ and pretends to send the second person until all the ceremony of
creation is gone through with; then man is found without an helpmeet, the first
person says, ‘it is not good for man to be alone; I will cause a deep sleep to
fall on man, take a rib and make a helpmeet for him.’ Then a noise was heard in
the men’s room, but I know not what they did; after a while, it was silent, the
doors were opened to the men’s and women’s rooms, and the women called for; who
proceeded to the men’s rooms, selected their companion, each for herself,
except myself and two others; then the company marched into (what they term)
the Garden of Eden—which was adorned with flowers and branches of trees, one of
which represented the tree of life, and another the tree of knowledge of good
and evil. While walking around, the guide told us the Garden was made for us to
dress and keep, of all the fruit we might eat, but of the fruit of the tree of
knowledge, we must not eat; for in the day we eat thereof, we shall surely die.
I was behind the others, which the Guide observing, he came to me, and said,
‘walk along with the rest.’ I looked on him contemptuously, but obeyed orders.
Soon a person appeared frightfully dressed; he went to the tree of forbidden
fruit, and plucked the same, then came to the women and gave them to eat,
saying, ‘take, eat and give to your husband,’ &c. When he came to me, I
refused, and looked upon him with contempt, it seemed so foolish to me. I found
there was no time for words, so I took it. We were then told to hid amid the
trees in the Garden, for the Lord was coming, &c. Men and women began to
hide, but I stood gazing; the Guide came and said, ‘Hide, the Lord is coming.’
I walked toward the trees by a door; he said, ‘go amongst the trees, for the
Lord will come in at that door.’ So I moved again. Presently a person
representing the Lord came in, who walked round and said ‘Adam, where art
thou;’ the guide answered, ‘I heard thy voice in the garden, and was afraid,
&c.’ The rest of the ceremonies are recorded in Genesis 3d chapter, with
some slight variations. This person then cursed the earth, also the one who
personified Satan, who goes on his hands and feet, and crawls out of the
garden. A man and woman were then called to the Altar to receive the signs and
tokens of the Priesthood; the one who is styled God, says:—
‘I knew you would transgress, &c. Before I created, and placed you here, I
in intended you should; but I have prepared a Saviour for you, and in due time
he will come. I will now give you the signs and tokens of the priesthood. If
any one comes without these signs, you may know they are not sent by me; do not
receive them; the first sign or token is to take hold of the right hand, pacing
the ball of the thumb between the two upper joints of the fore-fingers. The
second sign is to place the thumb on the upper joint of the second
finger;—these tokens signify you have two names; one of which is a new name.
The third sign is called the patriarchal grip, and has three names; the first,
Patriarchal grip; second, the Son; the third, you will receive at the Veil.’
Whilst theses ceremonies were enacted, I heard a noise, when looking round I
beheld a flaming sword come flourishing in at the door, near the tree of life.
It had a singular appearance, and looked like fire. After another room,
representing this world, the only light we had came through the canvass, which
separated one room from the other. The Devil came in to tempt us with a vessel
of wine; (as it was called, I did not taste it.) He was singing a vulgar,
obscene song; he handed the wine all around, saying ‘this is my kingdom; here
you may eat, drink, and be merry.’ He strutted about, singing; some one came in
and tried to get the signs. Soon another came with the Gospel, and began to
preach; the Devil contending with him for some time; a knocking was heard at
the door, upon which the teacher went to the door, and appeared to be
listening; he returned and said, ‘Peter has given me the Keys of the Kingdom,
which is to be set up in the last days.’ Then the Devil began to rage, and was
cast out, and he left the room hissing. Soon after this our robes, caps and
shoes were brought; the men wore shirts over a pair of white pants or drawers,
and had no other clothing until our robes, &c. were brought—linen caps for
men, and muslin caps for women. We were then ordered into another room, which
was called the terrestrial kingdom, and there say after our Teacher what he
said. So far as my memory serves me, he began by saying ‘I swear, I will
sustain the Bible and the Book of Mormon; the Book of doctrine and covenants.—I
will not disclose any thing here made known.—I will avenge my brother’s blood
in every possible way.’ To the men the Teacher said, ‘I will not touch a
daughter of Adam unless she be given me of the Lord;’ then to the women, ‘I
will not have any other man but my husband.’ The men and women were told to
hold up their hands. It seemed so frivilous to me, I did not raise my hand; as
I had no husband I thought it altogether unnecessary. The teacher came to me
apparently frightened, and said ‘Sister, you did not raise your hand.’ I smiled
and raised by hand, but wondered at his appearance. I have since been informed
it would be death to resist. Our shoes and loose clothing were carried to the
upper part of the Hall; we could not obtain them without going through; there
was no way to escape; if any one should attempt it, they would be met by
Brigham’s Holy Ghost, I suppose, which one of the Elders told me ‘was a man
standing at the door to knock them in the head with a mallet, if they attempted
to escape.’
We were to hold up the heads of the Church, and obey them in all things, and at
all times. Then we held up both hands above the head, and placed out right hand
under our left ear, drew it across the throat, the left hand was placed to the
right shoulder, then drawn across the breast, and the right hand suddenly
thrust down the right side. We then raised our hands again, and were taught how
to pray. This ceremony concluded, we proceeded singly to the veil, (which is a
large sheet separating us from the upper part of the hall, having five hole in
it—two for the eyes, one for the mouth, and two for the arms,) the person
representing the Lord is on the other side of the veil, to take the signs and
converse with us. Our Instructor tells us how to answer. Then the Lord asks for
the signs; we give them; our new name is whispered in his ear; he then whispers
the third name of the Patriarchal Grip in our ear, viz:—‘Marrow in the bones,
Strength in the sinews, and virtue in the loins throughout all generation.’
This being over, our Instructor knocked at the door, which was partly opened by
this Lord, who asked, ‘what is wanting?’ The Instructor answered ‘a Candidate
is ready to enter;’ he says, ‘take off your robe and put it on the right
shoulder; everything appears wrong end foremost in the other world. Take off
your shoes, the place upon which you stand is Holy Ground.’ A motion being
made, we enter the place representing ‘the Celestial Kingdom;’ we obtain our
clothes, and go out a different way to our homes."
(Source: Catherine Lewis, Narrative of Some of the Proceedings of the
Mormons (Lynn: Published by the Author, 1848. According to Mormon Apostle
Heber C. Kimball’s Journal # 93, p. 174, Catherine Lewis received her
Temple Endowment in the Nauvoo, Illinois, Temple on December 22, 1845.)