Washing and anointing: Difference between revisions

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

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

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

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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/>

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[[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==