mormonentum.de
Die folgende Zusammenfassung ist sehr interessant, da nicht nur der Endowmenttext, sondern der gesamte Vorgang bis hin zur Ewigen Ehe beschrieben wird. Durch die Genauigkeit der Wiedergabe lassen sich die Unterschiede zur heutigen Zeit sehr schön ausmachen. Besonderes Interesse sollte dem Zeremonieablauf geschenkt werden, da hier die originale Live-Session erläutert wird, wie es sie heute nur noch im Salt-Lake-Tempel gibt.
The following text is a redacted transcript of the 1931 Mormon ritual.
This one contains the oaths to have one's tongue pulled out by its roots,
etc. There is also an interesting vow to unceasingly pray for the avenging
of the blood of the prophets, and to teach your children this precept for
a number of generations. The wording is strikingly similar to the Jewish
confession of faith to never forget that Jehovah is God (Deut 6:5ff).
Such Mormon focus could explain how the LDS have lost sight of Jehovah.
The Mormon 1931 Temple Endowment Ceremonies
Forword
The Temple ritual as it is here given, while true to the spirit,
action and phrasing of the Endowment Service, is of course a
condensation as the service is at least three hours long. The Redactor
has simply taken the various endeavors which have been made to put the
ritual or portions of it on paper and sought to cipher out the greatest
common divisor of these reports. Some of the reporters have seen rather
than heard; some have been more interested in the words of the ritual;
others in its action; and still others have felt their way through the
service. Those who have given fullest account of the action and wording
of the service do not always agree as regards the dramatis personae and
the points at which they appear. But the reporters who have been through
the Temple oftenest are in closest agreement as regards the content of
the ritual. Moreover, those who have been through the Temple most
recently agree, in the main, with those whose knowledge of the ritual
goes back to the old Endowment House. As the Redactor is not and never
has been a member of the Masonic or other Fraternity, his acquaintance
with forms of initiation has been derived from Mormons and ex-Mormon
sources.
PREPARATORY WORK
The first step towards taking the endowment is to go to the
Bishop of the Ward to which the candidate belongs. If the candidate
pays a full tithing a "recommend" is given him at once. He then takes it
to the President of the Stake, who countersigns it.
The candidate then procures his or her temple clothing. For a
man this consists of the special under garment, a shirt and a pair of
white pants, a robe and a girdle, a cloth cap and a pair of cloth
moccasins and a green silk apron, upon which is embroidered nine fig
leaves. For a woman the sacred under garment, a white skirt and blouse,
the robe and girdle, a white cloth, cap or hood, a part of which may be
used as a veil, the cloth moccasins and the fig leaf apron.
THE ANNEX
Armed with the "recommend" and endowment clothing, the candidate
goes to the Temple and enters by the Annex, the door of which is nearly
always open. Here he finds a small room which has the appearance of an
office. In the center of this room is a table on which is some
suggestive cash--the contribution of those who have gone before him. At
this table he presents his "recommend," which is closely examined for
future identification, as the "recommend" is good for six months, and
makes his donation to the cash. The very poor, we are told, are not
expected to contribute. They can, however, be made to feel very
uncomfortable.
RECORDER'S OFFICE, CHAPEL AND SUBWAY
Having presented his credentials and paid his fee or honorarium,
he goes to the recorder's desk, where there are three or four recorders.
To one of these he gives his genealogy, which consists of the place
where he was born, the names of his parents, etc. If he is taking
endowment for the dead he gives his data concerning them. The data for
sealing or marriage are given to another recorder.
THE CHAPEL AND ORDAINING OF ELDERS
He then proceeds to the chapel, which is located in the Annex,
where he sits quietly until the others have settled their genealogy,
etc. When all are ready a hymn is sung, there is a prayer, a short
address, and another hymn.
Then the males who are taking endowments for the dead retire to
an alcove behind curtains, where they are ordained elders on behalf of
the dead, as no one can take these endowments excepting those holding
the Melchizedek Priesthood. One of the Temple workers officiates in
this ordination, laying his hands upon the candidate and saying:
"Brother--In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the authority
of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood I ordain you an elder of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for and in behalf of
_______, who is dead ."
The candidate is then allowed to pass through a door on the left
to a subway connecting with the main building, where he is instructed to
remove his shoes, as "the place whereon he stands is holy ground."
Having done this, he is permitted to go up some steps into the Temple,
the same order being observed by the women.
Entering the Temple, he finds himself in a long corridor which
passes from north to south through the basement or lower floor of the
Temple proper. The Creation Room and the Garden of Eden are on the left
side of this corridor, the Washing Rooms and Baptismal Font are on the
right or west side.
THE WASHING ROOMS
The baths and dressing rooms for the men are located along the
northwest side of this half of the Temple. Similar rooms for the women
are on the southwest side. Intervening and entirely separating these
rooms is the great Baptismal Font. Each of these Washing Rooms contains
its quota of bath tubs, which are well supplied with hot and cold water.
The candidate, being directed to these washing and dressing
rooms and having divested himself of all his clothing, awaits his time
in the bath with his special inner garments over his shoulder. A Temple
worker goes with him into the bath to officiate in these Temple
lustrations. As the candidate is washed, the officiant hurries through
the lustration ritual.
THE LUSTRATION
"Brother, having authority, I wash you that you may be clean from
the blood and sins of this generation. I wash your head that your
brain may work clearly and be quick of discernment; your eyes that
you may see clearly and discern the things of God; your ears that
they may hear the word of the Lord; your mouth and lips that they
speak no guile; your arms that they may be strong to wield the sword
in defense of truth and virtue; your breast and vitals that their
functions may be strengthened; your loins and reins that you may be
fruitful in the propagating of a goodly seed; your legs and feet
that you may run and not be weary, walk and not faint."
THE ANOINTING
After being dried with a towel--not always fresh -- the
candidate is passed on to another attendant and is anointed with oil.
The oil is very definitely applied to the various organs of his body.
The pronouncements used in this ceremony are much the same as those used
in the lustration ritual.
THE CONSECRATION OF THE GARMENTS
After the washing and anointing the candidate is then taken in
hand by another officiant, who, having given him the right to put on his
endowment garments, gives him his new name, saying:
"Brother, I now give you these garments, which are patterned after
those given to our father Adam when he was found naked in the Garden
of Eden. They are called the garments of the holy priesthood, and
will prove a shield and protection to you till you have finished
your work in righteousness upon the earth. They are never to be
removed except for purposes of cleanliness, and then for no longer
than necessary. With these garments I give you a new name which is
never to be divulged to anyone. It is a key word and will be
required of you at a certain part of these proceedings this day. The
name I shall give you is _________."
The name is then whispered in the ear, usually one taken from the Bible
or the Book of Mormon. The candidate then puts on the garment, over the
oil.
DRESSING ROOM
The candidate then retires to the dressing room, where he puts
on a shirt and a pair of white pants and white stockings. In early days
a long white shirt or smock was the only covering worn over the
endowment garment. The women wear a white skirt and blouse over "the
garment."
THE DOOR OF CHAOS OR THE CREATION ROOM
The candidate now takes his bundle, containing robe, sandals,
cap and apron, and falls in line to await the opening of the door to the
Creation Room. He passes through this door and, when his turn comes,
goes to a table where he is again identified and supplied with a ticket.
On this ticket, if he is doing proxy work, is inscribed the name of the
dead person whose endowment is to be taken. He is counted with the
others by a man who stands beside the doorway and, being identified,
takes a seat, and awaits the arrival of the rest of his class. The delay
may be tedious as the washings and anointing take time if there are many
candidates. The seats in this room are of the adjustable kind, the same
as used in theaters and places of amusement, as are the seats in all the
other rooms.
The room in which the candidate now finds himself is called
"Chaos or The Lower Instruction Room," and is supposed to represent the
state of affairs before the world was organized. It is totally devoid of
ornament of any kind except two hands clasped in the grip known as
"Fides" over a doorway, which is concealed by a curtain. After all are
seated the men on the right, the women on the left, which is the order
all the way through the initiation service, they are again counted very
carefully.
When all is quiet, a man dressed in white flannels. representing Elohim,
comes from behind the curtain and, addressing the audience, says:
"Brethren, you have been washed and pronounced clean -- that is,
clean from the blood and sins of this generation. You have been
anointed that you may become kings and priests to our God and his
Christ: not that you have been anointed kings and priests, but that
you may become such. This will depend upon your faithfulness.
"Sisters, you have been washed and anointed that you may become
queens and priestesses unto your lords, that is, your husbands. You
also have had garments given you and with those garments, a new name
which you were told never to divulge to anyone; it is, however, a
key word and will be required of you at a certain place in going
through these endowments this day.
"And here I would ask if any of you desire to retire at this stage
of the proceedings. If so, you have now an opportunity to do so by
raising the right hand--No hands raised; very well.
"You will now hear three voices,--the voices of Elohim, Jehovah and
Michael. Elohim will command. Now give your attention and hear what
you shall hear."
THE CREATION
Elohim retires behind the curtain. After some minutes' pause, the
silence is broken by voices apparently at a distance.
Elohim--"Jehovah! Michael! See, there is matter unorganized. Let us go
down and form a world like unto other worlds which we have formed, where
the spirits who are awaiting bodies may tabernacle."
Jehovah and Michael--"We will go down."
Elohim remains in the Celestial World while Jehovah and Michael do the
work of creation. This is now carried on in accordance with the account
found in the Book of Genesis. Jehovah and Michael say, at the end of
each day, "We will now go and report this our labor of the first second,
third day," and so on. On receiving instructions concerning the work
of the next day, they invariably answer, "We will go down," Elohim
saying, "It is well." On the fourth day, when Elohim gives the order to
place lights in the firmament, the word "lights" is spoken in a loud
voice, and immediately the lights in the chandelier or electrolier are
turned on. At the end of the fifth day Michael and Jehovah, being well
pleased with their work, feel to say:
Michael--"Jehovah, see the earth which we have formed and plentifully
supplied with animal and vegetable life; it looks glorious and
beautiful."
Jehovah--"It does, Michael. We will return and report this our labor of
the fifth day."
THE CREATION OF ADAM AND EVE
Here there is again a pause for a few minutes, when Elohim, Jehovah and
Michael enter. Michael seats himself in a chair facing the audience,
Elohim and Jehovah standing on either side of him.
Jehovah--"See the earth which we have formed but there is not a man to
till the ground."
Elohim--"We will make man in our own image."
Elohim and Jehovah now stand in front of Michael, make passes over him,
breathe on him and he apparently goes to sleep.
Elohim--(Turning to audience)--"This man who is now being operated upon
is Michael who helped form the world. When he awakes he will have
forgotten everything, will have become as a little child, and will be
known as Adam."
Then, turning to Michael, he calls in loud voice:
Elohim--"Adam, awake!"
Adam awakes and looks around as though startled.
Elohim--"It is not good for man to be alone."
Jehovah--"It is not, Elohim, for we are not alone."
Elohim--"We will cause a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and make for him a
woman to be with him."
Sleep is again produced by the same means.
Elohim--(To the men)--"The brethren will close their eyes as if they
were asleep."
While Adam sleeps Eve enters and stands beside him.
Elohim (In a loud voice)--"Adam, see the woman we have formed for you.
What will you call her?"
Adam wakes up and, looking her over with appreciation, answers, "Eve."
Elohim--"Why will you call her Eve?"
Adam--"Because she is the Mother of all living."
Elohim--"True, Adam, she is the Mother of all living."
Elohim--(To Jehovah)--"We will plant a garden eastward in Eden, and
there we will put the man whom we have formed."
(Man and woman are spoken of as the man.)
Elohim--(To audience)--"The brethren will now follow Adam and the
sisters will follow Eve into the room representing the Garden of Eden."
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
This is on the same floor and is reached by going through the curtain
covered door, through which Eve and the gods have entered.
The walls of this room are decorated profusely, being entirely
covered with trees, flowers and pleasant plants. All sorts of birds and
animals are living together in perfect peace. The ceiling is arched and
painted to represent a sky and is studded with silver stars. At the end
of the room is an altar and behind it an elevator on which the gods
ascend and descend. To the left of the altar, as the audience faces it,
is "the tree of knowledge of good and evil." There is a small shelf
fastened to the back of this tree, on which is placed the forbidden
fruit. This may be an apple, or it may be strawberries or other fruit
of the season, or it may be a bunch of raisins.
All being seated, Elohim and Jehovah lay down the laws and suggest the
possible joys of the garden.
Elohim--(To Adam)--"Adam, see this garden which we have planted for you.
Of all the trees of the garden thou mayst freely eat, but of the fruit
of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it, for
in the day that thou eatest of it, thou shalt surely die. Now be
fruitful and multiply; be happy and enjoy yourselves. We go away, but
we will return and give you further instructions."
Elohim and Jehovah now ascend by the elevator, which is painted to
represent clouds. As they disappear:
Adam--(To the class)--"Now, brethren, let your minds be calm and be not
surprised at anything you may see or hear. We shall be visited soon."
(Enter Lucifer)
Then from the doorway by which we entered, the one with the curtain, a
man enters who proceeds up the central aisle with arms akimbo and who
surveys the place with expectant interest. He is usually dressed in a
suit of black, wears a silk hat, carries a cane, and has on a sort of
Masonic apron, sometimes decorated with crossed crow-quills and
sometimes with pillars surmounted by balls. This is Lucifer.
Lucifer--"Adam, you have a nice new world here: it is patterned after
the world where we used to live."
Adam--"I know nothing of any other world."
Lucifer--"Oh, I see, you haven't had your eyes opened yet."
He then goes to the tree and pretends to pluck some of the fruit, which
he offers to Adam.
Lucifer--"Here, Adam, take some of the fruit of that tree." (Pointing).
"It will make you wise."
Adam--"I shall not partake."
Lucifer--"Oh, you wont! Well. We shall see!"
(As Adam turns away Lucifer pretends to discover Eve and takes his
appeal to her.)
Lucifer--"Here, Eve, is some of the fruit of that tree; it will make you
wise."
Eve--"Who are you?"
Lucifer--"Your brother."
Eve--"You my brother, and come to tempt me to disobey Father!'
Lucifer--"Oh, I said nothing about Father."
(Then shaking the fruit which he holds in his hand.)
Lucifer--"Here, take some of this fruit; it will open your eyes; it will
make you wise."
Eve--"But our Father said in the day we ate thereof we should surely
die."
Lucifer--"Ye shall not surely die but ye shall be as the gods; ye shall
know good from evil, virtue from vice, happiness from misery."
Eve--"Is there no other way?"
Lucifer--"There is no other way."
Eve--"Then I will partake."
(She then takes some of the fruit and begins eating it.)
Lucifer--"That's right. Now go and get Adam to have some."
Eve--(To Adam)--"Adam, here is some of the fruit of that tree;
(pointing) it is pleasant to the taste and will make you wise."
Adam--"I shall not partake. Don't you know our Father commanded us not
to touch the fruit of that tree?"
Eve--"Do you intend to obey all Father's commands?"
Adam--"Yes, all of them."
Eve--"Well, you know our Father commanded us to be fruitful and multiply
and replenish the earth. Now I have partaken of the forbidden fruit and
shall be cast out, while you will remain a lone man in the Garden.'
Adam--"Yes, I see how it is. I will partake that man may be."
Lucifer--(Nodding approval)--"Yes, that is right."
Eve--(To Lucifer)--"I know thee now. Thou art Lucifer who wast cast out
of our Father's presence for his rebellion."
Lucifer--"Oh, I see you are beginning to get your eyes open already."
Adam--(To Lucifer)--"What apron is that you're wearing?"
Lucifer--"That is an emblem of my power and priesthood."
Adam--"Priesthood?"
Lucifer--"Aye, priesthood."
Heavy footsteps are heard and Elohim and Jehovah step off the elevator.
Elohim--"Adam!" (Louder) "Adam!" (Louder still) "Adam, where art thou?"
(Adam, who had concealed himself, comes out of his hiding place very
much ashamed.)
Adam--"I heard thy voice as I was walking in the garden and I was afraid
because I knew that I was naked, and I hid myself."
Elohim--"Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the
fruit whereof I commanded thee thou shouldst not eat?"
Adam--"The woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the
fruit and I did eat."
Elohim--"Eve, what hast thou done?"
Eve--"The serpent beguiled me and I did eat."
Elohim --(To Lucifer)--"Lucifer, what have you been doing here?"
Lucifer--"Oh, the same as we have been doing in other worlds--I gave
them some of the fruit to open their eyes."
Elohim--"For this that thou hast done, thou art cursed above all cattle.
Upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shall be thy meat all the days of
thy life on the earth."
Lucifer--(Defiantly)--"And I will take of the treasures of that earth,
silver and gold, and buy up armies and navies, popes and princes, and
will reign with blood and terror."
Elohim--"Begone."
Lucifer, retreating through the door by which he entered, halts in the
doorway, shakes his fist, stamps his heel and, with a look of defiance
retires.
Adam--(Turning to the audience)--"In your bundles brethren and sisters,
you will each find an apron, you will now put it on."
(They do so)
Elohim--(To Eve)--"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of the
Tempter and hast eaten of the fruit whereof I commanded thee thou
shouldst not eat, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception;
in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. Nevertheless thou mayst be
saved in child-bearing; thy seed shall bruise the serpent's head but he
shall bruise thy heel."
Elohim--(To Adam)--"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy
wife and hast eaten of the fruit of the tree. Cursed is the ground for
thy sake. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the
ground from whence thou wast taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust
shalt thou return."
Elohim--(To Jehovah)--"Let Adam be cast out of the garden and cherubim
with a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of the tree of life."
Jehovah--"Let cherubim and a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of
the tree of life."
A sword is waved through the curtain. Eve, who has been standing on the
left side of the elevator, looks up at the sword and crosses over to
Adam and places herself on his left hand.
Elohim--"Adam, we will provide for you a Savior and send you messengers
to instruct you how you may return to our presence."
Having laid down the law of obedience sealed by oath and made this
promise, Elohim and Jehovah now ascend on the elevator and Adam turns to
the audience.
Adam--"Brethren and Sisters. I would here ask if any of you have
forgotten your new name that you hold up the right hand."
The robes, girdles, caps and sandals are then taken from the bundles by
way of preparation for the first degree.
FIRST TOKEN OF AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
Adam--"You will now arise, push back the seats, place the robe on the
right shoulder, put on your caps and moccasins, and receive the first
token of the Aaronic priesthood. And you will not forget that the
utmost secrecy is to be observed with respect to these proceedings. They
are not to be even spoken of to each other."
The left arm is here placed at the square, palm to the front, the right
hand and arm raised to the neck, holding the palm downwards and thumb
under the right ear.
Adam--"We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal
any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood,
with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree
that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by
their roots."
Adam--"All bow your heads and say Yes."
As the last words are spoken the right hand is drawn swiftly across the
throat and the hands dropped from the square to the sides.
The Name is the new name given with the garments.
The Grip--Hands clasped, pressing the knuckle of the index finger with
the thumb.
Sign--In executing the sign of the penalty, the right hand, palm down,
is drawn sharply across the throat, then dropped from the square to the
side.
Adam--"The brethren will now follow Adam and the sisters will follow Eve
into the room representing the Lone and Desolate World."
THE LONE AND DESOLATE WORLD
Going out of the Garden Room we go up a long flight of stairs from the
south end of the corridor to the Lone and Desolate World, which has
walls painted as in the Garden of Eden, save that peace has evidently
fled. The vegetation appears to have run wild, and the birds and beasts
are fighting. There is an altar at the end of the room behind which
stand Adam and Eve. Eve is on the side of the room facing the women.
Adam--When Adam was cast out of the Garden of Eden, he built an altar
and called on the Lord, saying:
"O Lord, hear the words of my mouth!
"O Lord, hear the words of my mouth!
"O Lord, hear the words of my mouth!"
As Adam speaks these words he raises his hands high above his head, then
drops them to the square, and then to his side. The words used are:
"Pale, Hale, Hale." In the pure Adamic language these words are said to
mean, "O Lord, hear the words of my mouth." Adam, when asked why he
gives this cry of distress replies that he does not know, save that he
has been so instructed and is in need of help.
(Reenter Lucifer)
Lucifer--"I hear you. What is it you want?"
Adam--"Who are you?"
Lucifer--"The god of this world."
Adam--"Who made you the god of this world?"
Lucifer--"I made myself. What is it that you want?"
Adam--"I was calling on Father."
Lucifer--"Oh, I see, you want religion. I'll have some preachers
along presently."
(Enter Preacher)
Preacher--"You have a very fine congregation here."
Lucifer--"Oh, are you a Preacher?"
Preacher--"Yes."
Lucifer--"Ever been to college and studied the dead languages?"
Preacher--"Why, certainly; no one can preach the gospel acceptably
unless he has been to college and studied the dead languages."
Lucifer--"Well, if you'll preach your gospel to this congregation and
convert them, mind you, I'll give you--let me see--four thousand a
year."
Preacher--"That is very little, but I'll do the best I can."
Preacher (To Adam)--"Good morning, sir."
Adam--"Good morning."
Preacher--"I understand you are looking for religion?"
Adam--"I was calling upon Father."
Preacher--(Producing a hymn-book)--We'll sing two verses of the grand
old hymn.
"Hail Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One Lord, in persons three;
To Thee we make our joyful boast,
Our songs we raise to Thee.
"Fountain of every joy and grace,
Our God, we Thee adore:
"Beyond the bounds of time and space
Thou dwellest evermore."
The preacher leads in singing the hymn, Lucifer keeping time with his
feet and viewing the audience with smug complacency. After singing the
hymn and making his appeal to the audience, he turns to Adam to test his
faith.
Preacher--(To Adam)--"Do you believe in that great Spirit, without body,
parts or passions, who sits on the top of a topless throne, 'beyond the
bounds of time and space', whose center is everywhere and circumference
nowhere; who fills immensity with His presence and yet is so small He
can dwell in your heart. Do you believe this?"
Adam--"No. I don't believe a word of it."
Preacher--"Then I am very sorry for you. But perhaps you believe in
hell--that great and bottomless pit which is full of fire and Brimstone,
into which the wicked are cast and where they are ever burning and yet
never burn."
Adam--"No, I do not, and I am sorry for you."
Lucifer--"We are very, very sorry for you. What is it you want?"
Adam--"I want nothing. I am awaiting messengers from Father."
Voices of the gods are now heard talking in another room.
Elohim--(To Jehovah)--"Jehovah, the man Adam seems to be true and
faithful. Let us send down to him Peter, James and John."
Jehovah--"That is good. They shall go down."
(Enter Peter, James and John)
Peter, James and John now descend a flight of stairs at the rear of the
room and Lucifer advances to meet them.
Peter--"Hello, what's going on here?"
Lucifer--"We are making religion."
Peter--"Indeed! What are you making it out of?"
Lucifer--"Newspapers, novels, notions of men and women sugared over with
Scripture."
Peter--"And how does it take with this congregation?"
Lucifer--"Oh, pretty well with all except this man Adam; he doesn't
believe anything."
Peter--(To Adam)--"Good morning, sir. How do you like the preaching of
this gentleman?"
Adam--"Not at all. He tells of a God without a body, and a hell without
a bottom into which the wicked are cast and where they are forever
burning and yet never consumed. I cannot believe it."
Peter--"We do not blame you. We will visit you again shortly."
Peter, James and John now ascend by the stairway.
Peter is now heard above addressing Elohim.
Peter--(To Elohim)--"We have been down to the man Adam. Lucifer is
there with a preacher who is trying to teach him all manner of false
doctrine; yet amid it all he still remains true and faithful."
Elohim--(Above)--"Go down to the man Adam in your proper characters.
Give him the second token of the Aaronic Priesthood, instruct him to
place the robe on the left shoulder and come back and report."
(Enter Peter, James and John by the stairway)
Peter--(To Adam)--"I am Peter."
James--(To Adam)--"I am James."
John--(To Adam)--"I am John."
Preacher--"Are you the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?"
Peter--"We are."
Preacher--(Pointing to Lucifer)--"Why, he said we should have no more
Apostles and if any should come along professing to be such I was to ask
them to cut off a leg or an arm and put it on again, just to show they
had come with power."
Peter--"He did that to deceive you. A wicked and an adulterous
generation seeketh after a sign. We do not satisfy people's idle
curiosity. Do you know who that man is?"
Preacher--"Why, certainly! He's a great gentleman and is at the head of
all the religious denominations of the day."
Peter--"I can fully believe that. Why, that's Lucifer!"
Preacher--"What! the Devil?"
Peter--"Yes. I believe that is one of his names. I would advise you to
have a settlement with him and get out of his employ."
Preacher--"But if I get out of his employ, what's to become of me?"
Peter--"Why, we will teach you the everlasting gospel in connection with
the rest of the sons of Adam."
Preacher--"Well, that's very good."
Preacher--(going to Lucifer and tapping him on the shoulder)--"I say,
sir, is it not time we had a settlement?"
Lucifer--"Oh, I'll keep my word. I offered you four thousand a year to
convert this people, and by what I can see, they have nearly converted
you. Get out of my kingdom. I don't want such men in it."
Peter--(To Adam)--"Have you your tokens?"
Lucifer--"Have you got money?"
Peter--"Enough for our wants."
Lucifer--"You can get anything in this world for money."
Peter--(To Adam )--"Do you sell your tokens for money? You have them, I
believe."
Adam--"I have them, but I value them too highly to part with them for
money."
Lucifer--(Turning to Peter)--"I thought I knew you."
Peter--"Begone."
Lucifer--"By whose authority?"
Peter--(Left arm to the square)--"In the name of Jesus Christ, my
Master."
(Lucifer departs through a side door by which the preacher has already
disappeared. Peter now takes Adam by the right hand and asks:)
Peter--"What is that?"
Adam--"The first token of the Aaronic Priesthood."
Peter--"Has it a name?"
Adam--"It has."
Peter--"Will you give it to me?"
Adam--"I can not, for it is connected with my new name, but this is the
sign."
(Left arm elevated to the square)
Adam--(To audience)--"Brethren and Sisters, these are true messengers
from Father. Give heed to their instructions and they will lead you in
the ways of life and salvation."
Peter--"We will now go and report."
(They do so )
Elohim--"Peter, James and John, go down again in your own proper
characters and reveal to Adam the second token of the Aaronic Priesthood
and place the robe upon his left shoulder."
SECOND TOKEN OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
Peter--"The brethren and sisters will now stand, push back the seats,
place the robe on the left shoulder, and receive the Second Token of the
Aaronic Priesthood."
"We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal
the secrets of this, the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood,
with its accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so,
we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn
from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of
the field."
"All bow your heads and say yes."
The Sign is made by placing the left arm on the square at the level of
the shoulder, placing the right hand across the chest with the thumb
extended and then drawing it rapidly from left to right and dropping it
to the side.
The Name is the given name of the candidate.
The Grip is given by clasping the hand and pressing the thumb in the
hollow between the first and second knuckles of the hand.
The voice of Peter is now heard as he returns to report to the gods.
Peter--"We have been down to the man Adam, have given him the Second
Token of the Aaronic Priesthood and instructed him to place the robe on
the left shoulder."
Elohim--"'Tis well. Go down again, instruct him to place the robe on
the right shoulder, give him the First Token of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, and come back and report."
Peter, James and John--"We will go down."
Peter--"The brethren will now follow Adam and the sisters follow Eve
into the room representing the Terrestrial Kingdom."
TERRESTRIAL KINGDOM
This room is sometimes called the "Blue Room" and sometimes the "Upper
Lecture Room." From it the candidate enters through the veil into
Celestial Glory.
FIRST TOKEN MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD
Peter--"The brethren and Sisters will now stand, push back the seats,
place the robe on the right shoulder, and receive the First Token of the
Melchizedek Priesthood."
The Sign is made by bringing both hands to the square, palms to the
front.
Peter--"We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not
reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do
so, we agree that our bodies be cut asunder in the midst and all our
bowels gush out."
Peter--"All bow your heads and say yes."
As the last words are spoken the hands are dropped till the thumbs are
in the center of the stomach and drawn swiftly across the stomach to the
hips, and then dropped to the sides.
The Name of this token is the Son, meaning the Son of God. Members of
the Melchizedek Priesthood belong to the Order of the Son of God.
The Grip is given by placing the thumb on back of hand and the tip of
forefinger in the center of palm, representing the piercing of the hand
by a nail. It is called "The Sign of the Nail."
Peter, James and John--"We will now go and report."
(They again ascend by the stairway, and their voices are heard again.)
Peter--"Elohim, we have been down to the man Adam, have given him the
First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood and have instructed him to
place the robe on the right shoulder."
Elohim--"It is well. Go down again, instruct him to place the robe on
the left shoulder, give him the Second Token of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, and teach him the true order of prayer."
Peter, James and John--"We will go down."
SECOND TOKEN MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD
Peter--"The brethren and sisters will now stand, push back the seats,
place the robe upon the left shoulder, and receive the Second Token of
the Melchizedek Priesthood"
There is no penalty attached to this, but we are told the obligation of
secrecy is the same, for God will not be mocked.
The Sign is made by elevating both arms above the head to represent the
crucifixion. The word "Pale" is spoken, the arms dropped to the square,
"Hale," and then to the sides. "Hale"--thus--"Pale, Hale, Hale."
The Grip is made by grasping the hand, the forefinger on center of wrist
and little fingers locked. There is a tradition that when our Saviour
was crucified, the nail drew out between the fingers with the weight of
his body, and the executioner then drove the nail through the wrist for
better security. This Grip is called the "Patriarchal Grip" or "Sure
Sign of the Nail."
The following obligations are now taken with the right arm at the
square:
LAW OF SACRIFICE
"You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will sacrifice
your time, talents and all you may now or hereafter become possessed
of to the upbuilding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints."'
"All bow your heads and say yes."
LAW OF CHASTITY FOR MEN
"You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will not have
sexual intercourse with any of the opposite sex except your lawful
wife or wives who are given you by the holy priesthood."
"All bow your heads and say yes."
LAW FOR WOMEN
"You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will not have
sexual intercourse with any of the opposite sex save your lawful
husband, given you by the holy priesthood."
"All bow your heads and say yes."
LAW OF VENGEANCE
"You and each of you do solemnly promise and vow that you will pray,
and never cease to pray, and never cease to importune high heaven to
avenge the blood of the prophets on this nation, and that you will
teach this to your children and your children's children unto the
third and fourth generation."
"All bow your heads and say yes."
PRAYER CIRCLE
The true order of prayer is now taught in what is the Prayer Circle. As
many candidates as can conveniently do so now surround the altar, when
all the Tokens of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood are gone over.
Peter--"The Sisters will now veil their faces."
The veil attached to the hood is here lowered.
The men who are kneeling now take each other by the right hand in the
Patriarchal Grip and place the elbow of the left arm on the shoulder of
the person next to them, arm at the square, palm of the hand to the
front.
An elder kneels at the altar, with right arm at the square and the left
extended, the hand cupped as though about to receive a blessing. He
then offers a prayer, which is repeated by all who compose the circle.
A prayer of this type is used in the Prayer Circles of the priesthood.
THE ENDOWMENT LECTURE
Elohim, or one in authority, now mounts the platform in front of the
veil and gives a lecture, reviewing the whole Endowment service. This
lecture is often very long and tedious. The speaker goes over the
Temple work of the day and explains its signs and meaning. The marks in
the veil are also explained, with their significance and uses. In
speaking of the creation, he is sure to say that Adam was not made out
of the dust of the earth but begotten the same as other men; that the
creation of Adam was done by a figure just to show you how man was made;
and that when he came here he brought one of his wives with him. On
days when there are few who are going through the Temple for the first
time, this lecture before the veil is very much shortened, only the
essential part which refers to the creation of Adam being recited or
read.
THE PLATFORM BEFORE THE VEIL
The platform from which this lecture is delivered is reached by three
steps on either side of an altar. Up these steps the candidates must
ascend for final testing before admission to the inner sanctuary or
Celestial Glory. The veil itself covers a large archway at the east end
of the Lecture Room. The archway is supported by five pillars and
covered with a curtain heavy with gold lace trimmings. Between these
pillars candidates give their grips, signs and tokens before being
admitted to the holy of holies. Benches are placed on this platform for
the accommodation of those whose names have been called until there is
room for them to do their work through one of the veiled openings.
Peter--"We will now uncover the veil."
This is done by two workers--one on each side pulling upon lines which
take the covering of the veils to one side or the other. We now have the
veil explained to us. We are told that it represents the veil of the
temple. The marks are the same as those on the garments--the compass on
the left and the square on the right side, the navel mark corresponding
to that part of the body, and the knee mark, which is supposed to mean
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. There are four other
marks, called "Marks of Convenience." One, a hole through which the Lord
puts forth his hand to test the knowledge of the candidate; two others
through which the hands of the Lord and the candidate are thrust to be
placed upon each other's backs; and one through which the candidate
whispers in the Lord's ear. All now being in readiness, a man's name
is called, who goes up on the platform with his woman or women following
him. There, as has been said, they seat themselves till their turn
comes. A man will sometimes take three or four, or even more, women with
him, whom he has never seen before, but who must have a man to take them
through and be lord to them.
The candidate is now taken to one of the openings between the pillars by
one of the Temple workers, who gives three raps with a mallet on the
pillar. The Lord parts the veil slightly and asks what is wanted.
Temple Worker--"The man Adam having been true and faithful in all things
now desires to converse with the Lord through the veil."
Lord--"See that his garments are properly marked, present him at the
veil, and his request shall be granted."
Attendants or Temple workers prompt the candidate in his answers and
grips. The endowee is then taken up to the veil. The Lord puts forth
his hand and, taking that of the candidate, asks:
Lord--"What is this?"
Endowee--"The first token of the Aaronic priesthood."
Lord--"Has it a name?"
Endowee--"It has."
Lord--"Will you give it to me?"
Endowee--"I will, through the veil." (The Temple name.)
Lord--"What is that?"
Endowee--"The second token of the Aaronic priesthood."
Lord--"Has it a name?"
Endowee--"It has."
Lord--"Will you give it to me?"
Endowee--"I will, through the veil." (The given name.)
Lord--"What is that?"
Endowee--"The first token of the Melchizedek Priesthood."
Lord--"Has it a name?"
Endowee--"It has."
Lord--"Will you give it to me?"
Endowee--"I will, through the veil--the Son" --(meaning the Son of God).
Lord--"What is that?"
Endowee--"The second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood--The
Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail."
Lord--"Has it a name?"
Endowee--"It has."
Lord--"Will you give it to me?"
Endowee--"I can not for I have not yet received it. For this purpose I
have come to converse with the Lord behind the veil."
Lord--"You shall receive it upon the five points of fellowship through
the veil. These are, foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand
to back, and mouth to ear."
The five points of fellowship are given by putting the inside of the
right foot to the inside of the Lord's, the inside of your knee to his,
laying your breast close to his, your left hands on each other's backs,
and each one putting his mouth to the other's ear, in which position the
Lord whispers:
Lord--"This is the sign of the token:
"Health to the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and
sinews, and power in the priesthood be upon me and my posterity
through all generations of time and throughout all eternity."
Lord--(Without changing position)--"What is this?"
Endowee--(Answering as before)--"The second token of the Melchizedek
Priesthood."
Whereupon the candidate, taught by the Lord, repeats the formula which
has been whispered in his ear.
Lord--"That is correct."
The Endowee is then taken to the opening by the attendant, who gives
three more raps with the mallet.
Lord--"What is wanted?"
Attendant--"Adam, having conversed with the Lord through the veil, now
desires to enter his presence."
Lord--"Admit him."
As he says this he extends his hand and welcomes the candidate into the
Glory Room. He is now the lord over his women and the three raps being
again sounded, the man having assumed the part and place of the Lord,
asks the female attendant what is wanted.
Attendant--"Eve having been true and faithful in all things desires to
converse with the Lord through the veil."
Lord or man--"See that her garments are properly marked, present her at
the veil and her request shall be granted."
And so on over the same ground again, save that it is Eve in place of
Adam who must be tested for admission.
THE CELESTIAL ROOM
This is the "Glory Room" of the Temple. One of the Mormon thrill
masters calls it "an ecstasy of delicate and luxurious color." The
endowees fill their eyes with its splendor, preen their feathers before
its great mirrors, or rest from the excitement of their hours of
initiation on its richly furnished chairs and lounges. Some, however,
who are to be married for time or eternity, or both, are busy with the
recorder of credentials. If they are to be married for time as well as
eternity, the licenses required by the state must be presented. The
licenses for eternity must have the okeh of the Temple president.
Others who are to be sealed or married for the dead also present their
credentials.
Then the candidates for connubial felicity enter one or other of two
small, but richly furnished, rooms, which open from the Glory Room.
Each of these rooms is provided with an altar. In one these the
sealings or marriages are vicarious and in the other the marriages are
more personal. Between these two small apartments is a small circular
room "used only for the highest of the Temple ordinances."
While the candidates and those who have personal or vicarious work to
attend remain, members of the class who have been in the Glory Room
before and who have no sealing work to detain them put their
super-imposed robes, girdles and aprons into their bundles, hasten
downstairs to the dressing room and get into their everyday clothes.
Meanwhile, the Temple workers have gone to the Temple refectory to get
something to eat.
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY
The altars in the sealing rooms have on them white velvet
cushions, and on each side are kneeling stools. The ceremony is usually
performed by the president or acting president of the Temple. The
candidates kneel, one on each side of the altar, and clasp their hands
in the patriarchal grip. If there are many candidates waiting, the
officiant may make the service very brief. Sometimes saying little more
than "Do you M -- do you N -- Amen. Kiss your wife." A more formal
ceremony is more usual and more in accord with the spirit of the
endowment service.
"Do you Brother ________ take Sister ________ by the right hand to
receive her unto yourself to be your lawful wedded wife and you to
be her lawful wedded husband, for time and all eternity, with a
covenant and promise on your part that you will fulfill all the
rites, laws and ordinances pertaining to this holy matrimony in the
new and everlasting covenant. doing this in the presence of God and
angels and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice."
Answer: "Yes, I do."
"Do you Sister ________ take Brother ________ by the right hand
and give yourself to him to be his lawful and wedded wife, for time
and all eternity, with a covenant and promise on your part that you
will fulfill all the laws, rites and ordinances pertaining to this
holy matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant--this in the
presence of God, angels and these witnesses."
Answer: "Yes, I do."
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in authority of the holy
priesthood, I pronounce you legally and lawfully husband and wife
for time and all eternity; and I seal upon you the blessings of the
holy resurrection, with power to come forth in the morning of the
first resurrection, clothed upon with glory, immortality and eternal
lives; and I seal upon you the blessings of thrones and dominions
and principalities and powers and exaltations, together with the
blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And I say unto you, be
fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy
and rejoicing in your posterity in the day of the Lord Jesus. All
these blessings, together with all the other blessings pertaining to
the new and everlasting covenant, I seal upon your heads through
your faithfulness unto the end, by the authority of the holy
priesthood, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost.
Amen."