Washing and anointing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:43, 16 April 2023

Revision as of 05:44, 16 April 2023

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=== 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 Taft 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|Priesthood blessings]] by Melchizedek Priesthood holders should be sought whenever possible.<ref name=":0" /> In 1946 [[Joseph Fielding Smith]] sent a letter to [[Belle S. Spafford]] these washings and anointings were discouraged.<ref name=":0" />

Originally, the recipient of the washing and anointing was naked during the ceremony.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} Beginning in the 20th century, recipients were given a white [[poncho]]-like "shield" to wear during the washing and anointing.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} Since 2005, participants in the LDS Church-version of the ritual already come clothed in the temple garment and wear it during the washing and anointing. In the original version of the ceremony, water and oil were applied to various parts of the body by the officiator as specific blessings related to the body parts were mentioned; since the early-21st century, the water and oil are applied only to the head and the symbolic nature of the washing and anointing is emphasized as the blessings for the body parts are related.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

==Purpose and administration==