Washing and anointing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:00, 18 June 2024

Latest revision as of 23:33, 30 July 2025

(10 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{short description|Temple ordinance practicedpractice byin LDS ChurchMormonism}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}

Line 5:

[[File:Washing and anointing tub in the Salt Lake Temple, June 1911.png|thumb|One of ten washing and anointing rooms of the [[Salt Lake Temple]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] circa 1911.]]

'''Washing and anointing''' (also called the '''initiatory''') is a ritualLatter-day purificationSaint [[Templepractice (LDS Church)#Temple ordinances|ordinance]], similar toof [[chrismationritual purification]],. thatIt is a key part of the [[Endowment (Mormonism)|temple endowment]] ceremony as well as the controversial [[Second Anointing]] ceremony practiced by [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) and [[Mormon fundamentalism|Mormon fundamentalists]]. It was also part of the female-only healing rituals among Latter-day Saints until at least the 1940s.

In thepreparation deeplyfor the sacredtemple ritualendowment, a person, generally over the age of 18, is sprinkled with water, then [[Anointing|anointed]] with perfume or oil as a cleansing before God.<ref name="buerger35" /><ref name=":1">John Christopher Thomas describes this Old Testament practice, “This cleansing from bodily uncleanness was a symbol of putting away of the filth of sin; the washing of the body therefore was a symbol of spiritual cleansing, without which no one can draw near to God..." {{citation |title=Footwashing in the Old and New Testament, the Graeco Roman World, the Early Church, and the Liturgy |date=April 15, 2014 |url=http://www.zionlutherannj.net/footwashing-in-the-old-and-new-testament-the-graeco-roman-world-the-early-church-and-the-liturgy-2/}}</ref> Once washed and anointed, the participant is dressed in the [[temple garment]], a symbolic white undergarment.<ref name="packer">{{Harvtxt|Packer|2007}}.</ref> The ordinance performed by the authority of the [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek priesthood]], and by an officiator of the same sex as the participant,<ref name="ABVW" /> is "mostly symbolic in nature, but promis[es] definite, immediate blessings as well as future blessings," contingent upon continued righteous living.<ref name="packer" /> These ordinances of washing and [[anointing]] are referred to often in the temple as "initiatory ordinances" since they precede the endowment and [[Sealing (Mormonism)|sealing]] ordinances.<ref name="perry">{{harvtxt|Perry|1992}}.</ref>

Like other temple ordinances, washings and anointings are also conducted on behalf of deceased individuals as a type of "[[wikt:vicarious|vicarious]] ordinance".<ref name=":2">{{harvtxt|Gaunt|1996}}.</ref>

The LDS Church states the origins of these rituals can be traced back to the biblical period, where [[anointing]]s were used to sanctify individuals and objects, while washings were used for ritual purification.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="perry" /> The LDS Church introduced washings and anointings in the [[Kirtland Temple]] in 1836, before revising the rituals in [[Nauvoo, Illinois]] in 1842.<ref name="buerger35" /> The modern LDS Church only performs these rites in [[Temple (LDS Church)|temples]] set apart and dedicated for sacred purposes according to a January 19, 1841 revelation that [[Joseph Smith]] stated was from [[Jesus Christ]].<ref name=":3" />

Washing and anointing also plays a key role in the [[Second Anointing]] ritual practiced by the LDS Church, in which participants are anointed as a "priest and king" or a "priestess and queen", and are sealed to the highest degree of salvation in LDS theology.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hammond |first1=Elizabeth |title="The Mormon Priestess: A Theology of Womanhood in the LDS Temple" |date=November 2, 2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0190248031}}</ref> This is the most secretive ritual practiced by Latter-day Saints, and most church members are unaware of its existence.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brooke |first1=John L. |title=The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844 |date=May 31, 1996 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |___location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=978-0521565646 |page=294 |quote=The frequency of second anointings declined after the turn of the century, and they were virtually eliminated under the authority of Heber J. Grant in the 1920s, to the point that modern Mormons are generally unaware of the rituals existence ....}}</ref>

==History==

=== Old Testament Periodperiod ===

[[File:Abraham_Bloemaert,_Ritual_Washing_of_the_Israelites,_1606,_NGA_56692.jpg|thumb|Abraham Bloemaert, Ritual Washing of the Israelites, 1606, NGA 56692]]

Ritual anointings were a prominent part of religious rites in the biblical world. Recipients of the anointing included temple officiants (e.g., [[Aaron]]), prophets (e.g., [[Elisha]]), and kings (e.g., [[Jehu]], [[Solomon]]).<ref name="perry" /> In addition, sacral objects associated with the Israelite sanctuary were anointed. Of equal importance in the religion of the Israelites were ablutions (ceremonial washings). To ensure religious purity, [[Mosaic law]] required that designated individuals receive a ritual washing, sometimes in preparation for entering the temple.<ref name="perry" />

=== New Testament Periodperiod ===

[[File:Jesus washing Peter's feet.jpg|left|thumb|[[Jesus]] washing [[Saint Peter|Peter's]] feet. Painted by [[Ford Madox Brown]].]]

{{Expand section|date=April 2023|small=no}}

In the [[New Testament]] Jesus washes his disciples' feet prior to his crucifixion.<ref>John 13:1-17</ref> Joseph Smith published his own version of these New Testament passages, adding new materials which said, "Now this was the custom of the Jews under their law; wherefore, Jesus did this that the law might be fulfilled."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=JST, John 13:8–10 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/jst/jst-john/13?lang=eng&id=10 |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=Joseph Smith Translation (JST) |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/joseph-smith-translation?lang=eng |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |date=July 1833}}</ref>

Cleansing rituals such as ''[[tevilah]]'' and ''[[netilat yadayim]]'' have existed in Judaism for milleniamillennia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yonatan |first1=Adler |title=On the Origins of Tevilah (Ritual Immersion) |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/on-the-origins-of-tevilah-ritual-immersion |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref> However, rabbinical scholars argue that these rituals served the purpose of removing impurity after activities that would make one "impure" such having contact with a corpse, or bodily discharge of a sick person.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yitzhaq |first1=Feder |title=Tum’ah: Ritual Impurity or Fear of Contagious Disease? |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/tumah-ritual-impurity-or-fear-of-contagious-disease |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayah |first1=Katz |title=Biblical Purification: Was It Immersion? |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/biblical-purification-was-it-immersion |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Joseph |first1=Weinstein |title=Red Heifer: A Soap Ritual |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/red-heifer-a-soap-ritual |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref>

Smith's claim that the foot-washing was part of Jewish "law" is not supported by historical sources.

=== Kirtland Periodperiod ===

As the [[Latter Day Saints]] were completing their [[Kirtland Temple|first temple]] in [[Kirtland, Ohio]], founder Joseph Smith led many of the prominent male church members in a pre-endowment ritual patterned after similar washings and anointings described in the Bible.<ref name = buerger35>{{Harvtxt|Buerger|1987|p=35}}.</ref> This ritual took place over several days, beginning on 21 January 1836 in the attic of a printing office.<ref name = buerger35/>

These ritual meetings were opened by Joseph Smith praying, speaking, and even singing [[speaking in tongues|in tongues]].<ref name=minutes/> Each participant washed their own hands, faces, and feet with water. After this, Joseph "girded himself with a towel" and personally washed the feet of each participant, wiping them with the towel. When he reached his father [[Joseph Smith Sr.]], he asked his father for a blessing before he would wash his father's feet. Smith Sr. placed his hands upon Joseph's head, "pronouncing upon his head that he should continue in his Priests office untill Christ come."<ref name=minutes>{{cite web |last1=FredrickFrederick G. |first1=Williams |title=Minutes, 22–23 January 1833 |url=https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minutes-22-23-january-1833/1#full-transcript |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |date=January 1833}}</ref>

Soon after the temple's dedication on 27 March 1836, about 300 Latter Day Saint men participated in a further ritual [[Maundy (foot washing)|washing of feet]] and faces.<ref name = buerger35/>

=== Nauvoo Periodperiod ===

Several years later, after Latter Day Saints moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith revised the washing and anointing rituals as part of the new [[Endowment (Mormonism)|Nauvoo endowment]].<ref name = buerger35/> On 4–5 May 1842, nine prominent male church members were inducted into this endowment ceremony in the upper story of Smith's store.<ref name = buerger35/> The first woman (Smith's first wife, [[Emma Hale Smith|Emma]]) was inducted into the endowment ceremony on 28 September 1843.

Line 42 ⟶ 43:

=== Early-Utah period ===

After the Latter Day Saints left Nauvoo, women continued to administer washings and anointings in their homes as well as in temples. The in-home rituals were part of a practice of administering to the sick.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Newell |first=Linda King |date=December 1999 |title=A Gift Given: A Gift Taken Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women |url=https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/115-6-30-43.pdf |journal=[[Sunstone Magazine]] |issue=115 |pages=30–43}}</ref> These washings and anointings were encouraged by church leaders of the time including [[Brigham Young]].<ref name=":0" /> In one instance [[Ezra T. Benson]] called on women who were ordained to wash and anoint to get rid of a disease affecting the [[Cache Valley]].<ref name=":0" /> This practice of washing and anointing in the home was curtailed in the 1880s and by the April 1921 [[General Conference (LDS Church)|general conference]], the consensus was that [[Priesthood blessing|blessings performed]] by Melchizedek Priesthood holders should be sought whenever possible.<ref name=":0" /> In 1946, [[Joseph Fielding Smith]] sent a letter to [[Belle S. Spafford]] saying these washings and anointings were discouraged.<ref name=":0" />

==Use in LDS female healing rituals==

Historically, Latter-day Saint women performed special washings and anointings to heal the sick and afflicted. Joseph Smith officially sanctioned female healing in 1842. This practice continued in the LDS Church until at least the 1940s. A sick person was washed, anointed with oil, and given a [[priesthood blessing]] by the "laying on of hands".<ref name=female_healing>{{cite journal |last1=Stapley |first1=Jonathan A. |last2=Wright |first2=Kristine |title=Female Ritual Healing in Mormonism |journal=Journal of Mormon History |volume=37 |issue=1 |page=1-85 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23291588 |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>

One of the first recorded female healings took place at the [[Relief Society]] meeting on April 19, 1842. Sarah Cleveland and [[Elizabeth Ann Whitney]], who were counselors in the Relief Society Presidency, administered to Abigale Leonard "for the restoration of health." Minute notes also indicate that Sister Martha Sessions may have laid her hands on [[Eliza R. Snow]] to give her a blessing during this meeting.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Snow |first1=Eliza R |title=Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book |url=https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book/56 |website=Joseph Smith Paper |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>

In the following Relief Society meeting, on April 28th, 1842, Joseph Smith said that anyone who has faith can give [[priesthood blessing|priesthood blessings]] to heal the sick. Smith said that God had sanctioned female healing by the laying on of hands and that anyone who disagreed should "hold their tongues."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Snow |first1=Eliza R. |title=Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book |url=https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book/59 |website=Joseph Smith Papers |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |access-date=16 July 2024 |pages=35-37}}</ref>

[[Brigham Young]] and [[Ezra T. Benson]] encouraged women to perform these healing rituals at home. However, by the April 1921 [[general conference (LDS)|general conference]] the consensus was that healings should only be performed by Melchizedek Priesthood holders (who are exclusively male).<ref name=":0" />

In 1946, Joseph Fielding Smith sent a letter to Belle S. Spafford, the General Relief Society President at the time, discouraging the practice of female healing, indicating that it was likely still happening at this time.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=female_healing/>

==Administration==

Line 55 ⟶ 67:

{{Portal|Latter-day Saints}}

* [[Anointed Quorum]]

* [[Chrism]]

* [[Holy anointing oil]]

* [[Second anointing]]