One of ten full-size tubs that was used for washings and anointings in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints circa 1912 prior to later changes in the ordinance by that denomination that eliminated washing and eventually nudity.

In the Latter Day Saint movement, washing and anointing (also called the initiatory) is an ordinance (sacrament) practiced by certain denominations of the movement in temples as part of the Endowment ceremony. The ordinance consists of a ritual purification by water and an anointing by oil to prepare the participant to become "kings and priests" or "queens and priestesses" in the afterlife. The ordinance is performed by an officiator of the same sex, and culminates in dressing the participant in temple garment (a religious undergarment worn by some denominations of the movement). The ritual is one of two anointings practiced by the faith, the other being the rare Second Anointing. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Salt Lake Temple is the largest (of more than 120) and best-known temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving the formation of a covenant with God. ... In Christian belief and practice, a sacrament is a rite that mediates divine grace, constituting a sacred mystery. ... The Salt Lake Temple, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the best-known Mormon temple. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Endowment is a gift of power from on high that has several meanings in various contexts of Latter Day Saint theology. ... In some denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, the temple garment (or the Garment of the Holy Priesthood, or informally, the garment or garments) is a set of sacred underclothing worn by adult adherents who have taken part in a ritual ceremony known as washing and anointing ordinance, usually... In Mormonism, the Second Anointing, also known historically and in Mormon scripture as the fulness of the priesthood, is a very sacred and obscure ordinance usually conducted in temples. ...

Although introduced by Joseph Smith, Jr., the religion's founder, many denominations of Smith's followers (such as the Community of Christ) do not believe washings and anointings are an essential part of the religion, and no longer practice them. Other denominations, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have made accommodations such as eliminating actual bodily washing in tubs, and eliminating nudity. Joseph Smith redirects here. ... RLDS redirects here. ... For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ...

History

These ordinances are perhaps the earliest practiced temple ordinances for the living since the organization of the Church. There is evidence that these ordinances were performed in part since 1836.^[1] They were first practised in Kirtland, Ohio.^[1] These ordinances continue to be administered today. For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... Year 1836 (MDCCCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. ...

The ordinance of washing and anointing symbolizes the ritual cleansing of priests that took place at ancient Israel's Tabernacle, the temple of Solomon, and later temples in Jerusalem (see Exodus 28:40-42, Exodus 29:4-9, 20-21 29-30, 30:18-21). Roman Catholic priest A priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. ... The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( משכן Place of [Divine] dwelling). It was to be a portable central place of worship for the Hebrews from the time they left ancient Egypt following the Exodus, through the time of the Book of Judges when they were engaged in conquering... Solomons Temple was the first Jewish temple in Jerusalem which functioned as a religious focal point for worship and the sacrifices known as the korbanot in ancient Judaism. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

On January 18, 2005, the LDS Church changed the washing and anointing ritual to eliminate the touching of the subject's body parts by the person administering the ordinance.^[2] is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Procedure

The washing and anointing ordinance proceeds in two stages. In the first stage, the person performing the ordinance, who is a person of the same sex as the person receiving the ordinance, touches the person on the forehead with water and states that he or she is washing the person "preparatory to you receiving your anointings".^[2] The officiator then recites a list of body parts that are being symbolically washed.^[2].

In the second stage, the officiator touches the person on the forehead with consecrated oil and states that he or she is anointing the person "preparatory to your becoming a King [or Queen] and a Priest [or Priestess] unto the Most High God".^[2] The officiator again recites the same list of body parts that are being symbolically anointed. The subject is then handed temple garments to put on. In some denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, the temple garment (or the Garment of the Holy Priesthood, or informally, the garment or garments) is a set of sacred underclothing worn by adult adherents who have taken part in a ritual ceremony known as washing and anointing ordinance, usually...

Apart from the difference in gendered terminology,^[3] there is one difference in the washings and anointings performed on males and females. After both stages of the ceremony, the officiator lays his hands on a male recipient's head and "seals" the washing or the anointing and indicates that the person "may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation through your faithfulness".^[2] However, females do not undergo this second step after either stage. Rather, during the washing and the anointing females are told by the officiator that "your sins are forgiven and you are clean every whit".^[4]

Parallels in Judaism and early Christianity

Multiple early Christian documents discuss the ordinance of "chrism" which is nearly identical to the anointing ordinances in Latter-day Saint temples. The most detailed version of the practice is by Cyril.^[5] Cyril details how oil or ointment was "symbolically applied to thy forehead, and thy other organs of sense" and that the "ears, nostrils, and breast were each to be anointed." Only a bishop could anoint the forehead. Cyril states that the "ointment is the seal of the covenants" of baptism and God’s promises to the Christian who is anointed. For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Chrism (Greek word literally meaning an anointing), also called Myrrh (Myron), Holy Oil, or Consecrated Oil, is a consecrated oil used in the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Old-Catholic churches, and in Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches in... A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... Cyril Dharmawardana Look up Cyril in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Synthetic motor oil For other uses, see Oil (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ...

The text also claims that all true, believing Christians received the ordinance: "We are called Christians, because we are anointed with the oil of God."

In addition to Cyril, Theophilus and Tertullian discussed the ordinances and the "several ceremonies are thus explained in the Apostolical Constitutions." Various people have been known by the name Theophilus. ... Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. ...

See also

• Second Anointing

In Mormonism, the Second Anointing, also known historically and in Mormon scripture as the fulness of the priesthood, is a very sacred and obscure ordinance usually conducted in temples. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship, David John Beurger,pg. 1
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Washing & Anointing Ritual
3. ^ The use of "King" vs. "Queen" and "Priest" vs. "Priestess".
4. ^ Mormon Initiatory Ceremonies
5. ^ See Select Library Of The Nicene And Post-Nicene Fathers Of The Christian Church: Second Series Volume VII: Cyril Of Jerusalem: "Ceremonies of Baptism and Chrism" (see § 6).

References

• Buerger, David John (1987), "The Development of the Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 20 (4): 33–76, <http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,20139>.
• Buerger, David John (2002), The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship (2nd ed.), Salt Lake City: Signature Books, ISBN 1560851767.
• Tanner, Jerald & Tanner, Sandra (2005), Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony: 1842-1990, Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry.

External links

• Full text of Cyril's document mentioning Chrism
• Topical list of LDS Temple references, including washing and anointing