History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

ENDOWMENT. 357
house, and in which special apartments are being constructed
for these purposes. 17
17 The ceremony of Endowment, or as it is termed, going through the endowment
house, occupies usually about eight hours. It has been described
at length by several persons who have experienced it, and I give herewith a
condensation of the most reliable accounts. Minor changes have been introduced
since the days of Joseph Smith, but, in the main, the rites are as they
were in the beginning. Certain days in each week, throughout the year, ace
set apart, upon which candidates present themselves at the endowment house,
as early as seven o'clock a. m. Each is required to bring a bottle of the best
olive-oil, and supposed to bring his robes also, although it is common to
borrow the latter from friends, tor the first appearance, after which every
good Mormon possesses his own. These garments are described as follows:
The temple robe, alike for both sexes, is a long, loose, flowing garment, made
of white linen or bleached muslin, and reaching to the ankle. It is gathered
to a band sufficiently long to pass around the body from the right shoulder
underneath the left arm, thus leaving the latter free. A linen belt holds it
in place. The women wear a head covering made of a large square of Swiss
muslin, gathered in one corner so as to form a sort of cap to fit the head, the
remainder falling down as a veil. For the men, a round piece of linen, drawn
up with a string and a bow in front, something after the fashion of a Scotch
cap, is used. The under garment, which is also alike for both sexes, is a sort
of jacket and trousers together, something like the night-dresses made for
children; and is worn night and day. When changed, only an arm or a leg
must be removed at once, the fresh garment being thus put on as the
other is taken off. This garment protects from disease, and even death,
for the bullet of an enemy will not penetrate it. The prophet Joseph
carelessly left off this garment on the day of his death, and had he not
done so, he would have escaped unharmed. Over the inner garment the men
wear an ordinary shirt, and the women a white skirt. White stockings and
a pair of white linen slippers complete the costume. Entering the building,
the candidate's own name and age are registered, and also the names of the
parents. The candidates hand in their oil, remove their shoes, and pass with
their bundles of clothing into a bath-room divided down the middle by a
heavy curtain which separates the sexes. Here the ceremony of purification
is performed, the women being washed by women, and the men by men. The
person washed is informed that he or she is now cleansed from the blood of
this generation, and if faithful, shall never be subject to the plagues and miseries
which arc about to come upon the earth. Next follows the anointing.
The oil is poured from a large horn into the hand of the person officiating, and
applied to the crown of the head, eyes, ears, mouth, and feet of the candidate.
The eyes are touched, that they may be quick to see; the ears, that the hearing
may be sharp; the mouth, to bestow wisdom upon speech; and the feet,
that they be swift to run in the ways of the Lord. Then a new name, which
is rarely to be mentioned, is whispered into the ear, and all are marched into
room No. 2, where they are seated, the sexes on opposite sides of the room,
and facing each other. Here they are told by a priest that any person not
strong enough to proceed may retire; but if any portion of the ceremony is
disclosed, the throat of the person so offending will be cut from ear to car.
Those faltering, if any, having retired, the remainder are taken into room No.
3, where a representation of the creation, the temptation, and fall is given.
Each candidate then puts on over his robe an apron of white linen, upon
which are sewn pieces of green silk representing fig-leaves, and also the cap
or veil. All good Mormons are buried in their endowment robes, and the veil
worn by the women covers their faces when they are consigned to the grave.
In the morning of the resurrection, this veil is to be lifted, by the husband;
otherwise no woman can see the face of the almighty in the next world. This
ends the first degree; and the initiated are now driven out of Eden into room No.