- The patron now puts on the garment (the sacred "Mormon underwear")
himself, in the privacy of the locker room, rather than being dressed in
it by temple workers after the washing and anointing has been completed;
- The "shield" formerly was open on both sides so that the officiators
could actually wash and anoint various parts of the patron's body; the
patron is now unexposed;
- The various parts of the body were formerly actually moistened with
water and oil; now only the forehead is touched with water and oil; the
other body parts are "symbolically" washed and anointed;
- Since the patron is already wearing the garment, the officiator
pronounces it "authorized";
- A reference to Aaron's washing and anointing from Exodus has been
added;
- (The wording of the blessings remains essentially unchanged)
The following is based on a first-hand report from someone who
did Washings and Anointings as a patron on the afternoon of January 18,
2005. The ritual for a female patron would be exactly the same, except she
would not be ordained to the priesthood, she would be addressed as "Sister
N.," and the officiators would be female temple workers. For a Mormon
receiving his own endowment (rather than acting as proxy for a dead
person) the ritual would be the same except the phrase "for and in behalf
of N. N., who is dead" would be omitted, as well as the ordination to the
priesthood (since the living Mormon already holds the priesthood).
First, the patron is given a one-piece garment with zipper in the
front and is told to put it on in the locker room. The patron is then
instructed to put the shield on over the garment. The shield is no longer
open on the sides, as before. It is closed from the armholes to the
ankles. It is never opened during the ritual.
When clothed in the garment and the shield the patron goes into
the first cubicle (about 4 feet by 4 feet) and sits on a little stool. The
worker then places his hands on the patron's head and says:
"Brother N., having authority, I lay my hands upon your head for
and in behalf of N. N., who is dead, and confer upon you the Melchizedek
Priesthood and ordain you an Elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
He then reads from what is labeled, "Preface" and says:
"Brother N., the temple washing, anointing and clothing ordinances
were given anciently, as recorded in the Book of Exodus: "And thou shalt
bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron
the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him..." [Exodus
40:12-13]
"We likewise administer these ordinances in our day, but you are
washed and anointed only symbolically, as follows."
The temple worker then dabs his fingertips into water and draws
them across the patron's forehead. He does not touch any other part of the
body, other than placing his hands on the patron's head, saying:
"Brother N, having authority, I wash you preparatory to your
receiving your anointings (for and in behalf of [Patron gives the name.
Then officiator repeats the name] N. N. , who is dead), that you may
become clean from the blood and sins of this generation.
"I wash your head, that your brain and your intellect may be clear
and active; your ears, that you may hear the word of the Lord; your
eyes, that you may see clearly and discern between truth and error; your
nose, that you may smell; your lips, that you may never speak guile;
your neck, that it may bear up your head properly; your shoulders, that
they may bear the burdens that shall be placed thereon; your back, that
there may be marrow in the bones and in the spine; your breast, that it
may be the receptacle of pure and virtuous principles; your vitals and
bowels, that they may be healthy and strong and perform their proper
functions; your arms and hands, that they may be strong and wield the
sword of justice in defense of truth and virtue; your loins, that you
may be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, that you might
have joy in your posterity; your legs and feet, that you might run and
not be weary, and walk and not faint."
A second officiator then comes into the washing booth from the
anointing booth and they both put their hands on the patron's head and the
second officiator says:
"Brother N., having authority, we lay our hands upon your head
(for and in behalf of [Patron does NOT repeat the name] N. N., who is
dead), and seal upon you this washing, that you may become clean from
the blood and sins of this generation, through your faithfulness, in the
name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
The patron then moves to the second (anointing) booth and the
officiator from that booth instructs the patron to sit on a stool and he
drips a drop of oil on the top of the patron's head. No other part of the
body is touched. He puts his hands on the top of the patron's head and
says:
"Brother N., having authority, I pour this holy anointing oil upon
your head (for and in behalf of [Patron gives the name and the
officiator repeats the name] N. N., who is dead), and anoint you
preparatory to your becoming a King and a Priest unto the Most High God,
hereafter to rule and reign in the House of Israel forever. I anoint
your head, that your brain and your intellect may be clear and active;
your ears, that you may hear the word of the Lord; your eyes, that you
may see clearly and discern between truth and error; your nose, that you
may smell; your lips, that you may never speak guile; your neck, that it
may bear up your head properly; your shoulders, that they may bear the
burdens that shall be placed thereon; your back, that there may be
marrow in the bones and in the spine; your breast, that it may be the
receptacle of pure and virtuous principles; your vitals and bowels, that
they may be healthy and strong and perform their proper functions; your
arms and hands, that they may be strong and wield the sword of justice
in defense of truth and virtue; your loins, that you may be fruitful and
multiply and replenish the earth, that you might have joy in your
posterity; your legs and feet, that you might run and not be weary, and
walk and not faint."
Another officiator steps into the booth and does the
"Confirmation of the Anointing". He (with the anointing officiator) puts
his hands on the patron's head and says:
"Brother N., having authority, we lay our hands upon your head
(for and in behalf of [Patron does NOT repeat the name] N. N., who is
dead), and confirm upon you this anointing, wherewith you have been
anointed in the Temple of our God, preparatory to becoming a king and a
priest unto the Most High God, hereafter to rule and reign in the House
of Israel forever; and seal upon you all the blessings hereunto
appertaining, through your faithfulness, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen."
The patron then steps into a third booth with the officiator that
just said the Confirmation prayer, and the officiator says:
"Brother N., under proper authority, the Garment placed upon you
is now authorized (for and in behalf of [Patron gives the name. Then
officiator repeats the name] N. N., who is dead), and is to be worn
throughout your life. It represents the Garment given to Adam when he
was found naked in the Garden of Eden, and is called the Garment of the
Holy Priesthood. Inasmuch as you do not defile it, but are true and
faithful to your covenants, it will be a shield and a protection to you
against the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work on
the earth."
The patron then returns to his locker, removes the shield,
dresses in the white temple clothing, and proceeds to the room where the
company is gathering. For what follows, click
here.