Patrons of temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were greeted with a surprise in January of 2019 – the content and presentation of the endowment ceremony was changed.
This post will look at the nature of those changes and discuss some of the implications and possible motivations for the change.
Source
Shortly after the changes were announced, someone attended the temple endowment session, equipped with a personal audio recorder. That recorded audio was then transcribed and a “track changes” comparison was made with the script from the prior temple ceremony, which ran from 1990 to 2018.
You will find this tracked changes presentation, containing the full script of the new Endowment presentation, as well as an appendix to this article, in the video above.
Changes
[toc]To start with, I will not be covering every change.
There are some changes that are simply a removal of the redundancy when Elohim tells Jehovah to do something and then tells Michael or Peter James and John to do something — and then they do it and report back, etc. The same instructions used to be repeated about four times anytime something big was gonna happen. They have significantly streamlined things by removing that repetition.
There are also some minor wording changes, such as replacing “that will do” with the more evenly toned “thank you” after patrons comply with the instructions given by the officiators. I won’t be discussing changes like that.
I will be discussing most of the remarkable and noteworthy changes, though – so let’s get started!
Introduction and gas lighting
There was a brief audio-only message delivered at the start of the endowment ceremony, which is likely to be a temporary part of the presentation, and probably not be present beyond the first few months.
Before beginning the endowment session, we share the following statement from the first Presidency of the church:
Brothers and sisters, since the temple endowment was first administered in this dispensation occasional adjustments have been made by the First Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, acting unitedly in their capacity as prophets, seers, and revelators.
Upon seeking the will of the Lord and after solemn prayer in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple, the Lord has again revealed inspired adjustments to the temple ceremonies.
These adjustments, which you will notice during your worship experience in the temple today, will bring harmony to the way men and women make covenants with God. They deepen our understanding of His will and His relationship with his daughters and sons.
These modifications do not affect the sacred and eternal covenants associated with the saving and exalting ordinances of the temple,
As a reminder, due to the sacred nature of all temple ordinances, the fact and content of these changes should not be discussed outside the temple.
May you feel the Lord’s love as you serve in His holy house.
There are a few things to note here:
First, there is a long history in the church of two contradicting approaches to the Endowment Ceremony: one in which it is a restored ancient ceremony that should remain intact and not undergo change, and one in which there will be “no end to such adjustments“.
Next, it is interesting that this message conveys a strong idea that the Brethren of the church were inspired to make these changes while discussing with God in the holiest of places in the Temple. No mention of the many female voices which have been calling for much needed change for decades. No acknowledgement that those voices raising the issue of a lack of harmony between men and women in the old ceremony were right all along.
The disembodied voice assures us that the changes do not affect the eternal covenants – but is that true? As you will see, the changes affect the most fundamental element of any covenant or contract – who the parties of the covenant actually are. If you change from covenanting with your husband to harken and obey him to covenanting directly with God , then it is a foundational change to the very nature of the covenant. It is a different beast altogether.
This doesn’t even touch the issue of what to do with the hundreds of thousands of people who already had their work done by proxy under the old arrangement. The new covenant of the Law of Obedience is to a whole different entity, making it fundamentally different from the all the old covenants.
It cannot go unnoticed that this is probably the first and only time that an official utterance from the church describes God’s relationship “with His daughters and sons” in that order. It is a deliberate and symbolic gesture, and if it is not backed up with some real meaningful change then it is a form of empty rhetoric. However, as you will see, these changes are very significant and well thought-out within the scope of Mormonism.
The last comment here is that the bit at the end instructing members not to even discuss the “fact and content of the changes” outside of the temple is an embarrassing bit of Orwellian control. It compels members themselves to contribute to the inevitable gaslighting that will result when people consider the history of the Temple ceremony, the implications of the way things used to be, and how changes were brought about.
Introduction
There is a small but important change in the introduction to the ceremony, as follows:
Sisters, you have been washed and pronounced clean and anointed to become hereafter Queens and Priestesses
to your husbandsin the new and everlasting covenant.
A common experience you will likely have as you read about these changes is that you didn’t even realize how overwhelming the male dominance used to be in the ceremony, and just how subordinate women were to men. This is one of the first punches to the gut in that vein.
This change removes the explicit hierarchy previously present in the endowment. It used to be that Men were Kings and Priests to God the Father and women were Queens and Priestesses to their husbands. This viewpoint set the tone of imposed obedience and domination which used to be seen in the ceremony. This arrangement carried heavy echoes into the personal and private relationships of married Mormons for over a century. Men used to have religious sanction from the very house of God, making their will carry complete final say. Just the knowledge of that fact was enough to keep many women silent and submissive.
The implications of this single change are huge. Women no longer have God, the Prophet and the entire Kingdom of God echoing in their ear, reminding them that they are vassals to their spouses.
All this would be true if the change above said that Sisters were Queens and Priestesses to God – or even that they were queens and priestesses unto God and their Husbands as the brethren are Kings and Priests unto God and their Wives. But it doesn’t.
Here is the catch that the leaders don’t want you to really think about. What does it mean to be a Queen and Priestess in the New and Everlasting Covenant (NAEC)?
You can search on LDS.org about the NAEC and learn that it was introduced and described in the revelation in D&C 132. This was the revelation which introduced Plural Marriage and Eternal Marriage. It is also the revelation which has God threatening women with destruction if they refuse their Husbands request for additional wives. It is also the revelation which has women referred to and traded about as property between men. These are not ways that one treats an individual who is a co-equal Priestess and Queen unto God.
In church lessons on the New and Everlasting Covenant, you will find Quotes from Parley P Pratt indicating that Joseph Smith himself taught about the nature of this Queenly relationship when he restored the endowment:
It was from him [Joseph Smith Jr] that I learned the true dignity and destiny of a son of God, clothed with an eternal priesthood, as the patriarch and sovereign of his countless offspring. It was from him that I learned that the highest dignity of womanhood was, to stand as a queen and priestess to her husband, and to reign for ever and ever as the queen mother of her numerous and still increasing offspring.
Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, ed. Parley P. Pratt Jr. [1938], 297–98 lds.org
The editor of the Endowment Ceremony was not being anything but clever. By changing the verbiage to “Queens and Priestesses in the new and everlasting covenant” they haven’t actually changed anything. They simply didn’t state the fact that wives are still a Queen and Priestess to their husbands, just as Joseph Smith originally taught.
Future Kings and Queens?
This next change potentially changes the landscape of Temple Anointings:
Brethren and Sisters, if you are true and faithful, the day will come when you will be chosen, called up, and anointed Kings and Queens, Priests and Priestesses, through the holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant here after to rule and reign in the house of Israel forever whereas you are now anointed only to become such. The realization of these blessings depends upon your faithfulness.
One reason that this change is interesting is that the text in its prior form was not inherently sexist. It didn’t have any outward imbalance in its verbiage between men and women (though there are deeper imbalances in the nature of the Queenship as described above). So why is there this change?
This change may actually be clearing up something that has been a bit vague in the past. You see – it was always said at this part of the ceremony that men and women are “only anointed to become such” Kings and Queens sometime in a future ceremony – but it didn’t mention which ceremony exactly.
Was it the marriage sealing? Is that when the couple is actually anointed King and Queen and Priest and Priestess, rather than just the promise of such a future blessing?
Well, if you look at the script of the marriage sealing ceremony – it is actually vague:
SEALER: By virtue of the holy priesthood and the authority vested in me, I pronounce you, _________ and _________, 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 in glory, immortality, and eternal lives.
The promised blessings of the LDS Marriage Sealing Ceremony, pre-2019 source
I seal upon you the blessings of kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers, dominions, and exaltations, with all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and say unto you: be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You see – it mentions kingdoms and thrones and powers and dominions and stuff – but doesn’t directly say that the couple is now actually anointed Kings and Queens.
Historically, there is another ceremony which has that promised blessing fulfilled – the Second Anointing.
This secret ceremony was initiated by Joseph Smith in Nauvoo and reserved for his closest circle. The secrecy associated with the ceremony is compounded by instructions from the church that members do not discuss or speculate about it either. What scholars have been able to deduce from the historical record and comments from leaders who have been bold enough to touch upon the subject is that the Endowment ceremony is while in the Endowment individuals are anointed to become Kings and Queens, Priests and Priestesses as a promised future state – in the Second Anointing that promised state is realized when members are actually anointed as such. (see several comments to this effect from early church leaders here)
We now have the benefit of an individual who went through this ceremony and subsequently left the church and provided a detailed description of the Second Anointing which confirms this fact. (See Tom Phillips account of the Second Anointing here)
So until January of 2019 it was the Second Anointing which carried the fulfillment of the promissory anointing of the Endowment ceremony. This addition to the endowment changes all of that and places the fulfillment of the promise on the alter of the Marriage Sealing Ceremony! We will have to wait for a recording of the new Sealing Ceremony to find the details of how any new verbiage there reflects this new arrangement.
One caveat is that we still don’t know the exact wording of the Second Anointing ceremony. It is entirely possible and theologically consistent, historically, that you could not really say that you have the absolute fulfillment of the New and Everlasting Covenant until you and your spouse received the Second Anointing. That this boon is just something that a majority of members will have to wait till the afterlife to receive and just those select few are granted the blessing while in this estate. Such an arrangement would render the added language in this 2019 update meaningless, however.
Balance and Harmony
This next significant change is the core move of balancing the relationship between Man, Woman and God in the ceremony:
ELOHIM: Adam, here is a woman whom we have formed
and whom we give unto youto beayour companion and helpmeetfor you. What will you call her?
ADAM: She will be called Eve.ELOHIM: Why will you call her Eve?
ADAM: Because she is the mother of all living.
ELOHIM: That is right, Adam; because she is the mother of all living she will be called Eve. For thus have I the Lord God called the first of all women. Adam, Eve,
As you can see, previously Eve was gifted to Adam like a material possession. This reflected the way women are addressed and passed about like possessions in the Revelation on Polygamy and Eternal Marriage in D&C 132. Furthermore, the prior narrative had Adam, the mortal man, being the one to name Eve – just as he named all the animals of the Earth. Eve/woman was thus on the same level as the animals and subordinate to Adam/man.
These changes turn all of that up on it’s head, however. Now the Gods simply inform Adam that the woman was created or formed, just as Adam was, and is to be his companion – a term that carries no baggage of hierarchy and carries the theme of equality. A companion is not in front of or behind you, but at your side.
The term helpmeet is carried over, and this is a bit problematic. While it is true that they deleted the qualifier “for you” which makes helpmeet a term that invokes the idea that two people meet equally to help each other. The linguistic problem here is that the term “Helpmeet” is the result of a translation hiccup in the King James Version of the Bible.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(KJV, Genesis 2:18) lds.org
“Help meet” was two words and “for him” was an essential part of that phrase because it designated that Eve was help that was fit for or suitable for Adam. The church itself has made this distinction here. Words and language evolve and “help meet for him” became “helpmeet for him” which made the word a single noun rather than a noun and adjective pair and this eventually changed to “helpmate” in common usage.
All that is interesting to a certain extent, but there is another way of looking at this word usage which removes the problem. An examination of the Hebrew source behind the translation finds some verbal roots of the original which allude to the helper being “face to face” or “the other half” or equal and opposite (see Hebrew analysis here). This actually makes the word a perfect choice for restoring harmony.
Finally, we see that they have changed the source of Eve’s name. By granting the God Himself named Eve, the new temple ceremony places Adam and Eve on the same equal footing before God. Of course, we know that this ultimately is undone when a new name is given to each person and the Man is granted the knowledge of the woman’s new name, while the woman is denied that knowledge of the man’s new name.
Still – having the church show that it can at least make lip service to equality in naming and has some concept of the power encoded in the naming of someone is remarkable.
Adam, demoted
Of all the changes, this may be the most surprising
ELOHIM: Adam, Eve, we have created this earth, and have placed upon it all kinds of vegetation and animal life. We have commanded all these to multiply in their own sphere and element. Adam, Eve, we give you dominion over all these things,
and make you, Adam, Lord over the whole earth, and all things on the face thereof.
You see – it wasn’t just all about lifting Eve up to the level of Adam. The new changes have also taken Lordship away from Adam. By removing this line and title, men no longer have a claim of superiority over women and, well, everything by divine right as the Temple previously endorsed.
This also clarifies something ambiguous about “The Law of The Lord” which is discussed a bit later. When Adam was granted the title of Lord – it became less clear which Lord the “Law of the Lord” was referring to – Adam or Elohim. By removing this title from Adam, it is made explicitly clear.
Lucifer, demoted
The new changes also have taken something away from Lucifer
EVE: I know thee now. Thou art Lucifer, he who was cast out of Father’s presence for rebellion.
LUCIFER: Yes, you are beginning to see already.ADAM: What is that apron you have on?LUCIFER: It is an emblem of my power and Priesthoods.
ADAM:I amWe are looking for Father to come down to give us further instructions.
I always thought it was interesting that Satan claimed to have a form of Priesthood in the temple ceremony. Also, the costume for the character had fabric that was a cool sort of dark iridescent material. It was no wonder that Adam would notice it. I had always assumed that Satan just created his own fake Potemkin village type of priesthood in an imitation of the real power of God.
After getting a glimpse into the mindset of some of the more neo-fundamentalist Mormons of the sort who follow Denver Snuffer, I can see how this might be seen by church leaders as a temptation for some people to explore what priesthood Satan might possibly lay claim to or even to leave open the window that critics could accuse the Brethren of holding their own priesthood in similar posture…
It was also weird that so much of the speaking in a ceremony endorsed by God was done by Satan himself, so it would seem that reducing his lines is a good move where possible. This was always an unnecessary and superfluous detail so it is not surprising that it got removed.
Eve, elevated
More adjusting how Eve is treated
ELOHIM: Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, of which we commanded thee not to partake?
ADAM: The woman thougavest me, andcommandedthat sheshould remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat.
It is good to see that they are taking sections which refer to Eve as a possession to be gifted and removing that element to treat her more as a full and complete individual with self possession.
Eve, blameless and equal
This is a major one
ELOHIM: Adam, Eve, inasmuch as
Eve was the first to eatyou have eaten of the forbidden fruit,ifshewill covenant that from this time forthshe will obey the Law of the Lord, and will hearken unto your counsel as you hearken unto mine, andif you will covenant that from this time forth you will obey the Law ofElohimthe Lord, we will give unto you the Law of Obedience and Sacrifice, and we will provide a Savior for you, whereby you may come back into our presence, and with us partake of Eternal Life and exaltation.
EVE:Adam, I now covenant to obey the Law of the Lord, and to hearken to your counsel as you hearken unto Father.Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.
ADAM: Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.
In its older form, this section made a big deal of placing blame on Eve – specifically that she was the first to eat the fruit and so she would pay a higher price for the transgression. What was that price? Eve would be required to “harken unto” her Lord, Adam, just as Adam was to harken unto his lord, God. That is how the authority structure was set up. Eve’s initial transgression placed her lower on the totem pole.
No More. Now God gives equal blame to Adam and Eve without even mentioning that Eve was the first to transgress. Both of them are given the same consequences and on the same level with the same requirements.
This fundamentally changes the terms of the ordinance for Eve. Specifically, she previously turned to Adam and made her covenant directly with him by name. This act would have repercussions in the marriage dynamics of every Mormon couple because it established the pecking order in no uncertain terms. Now with this change, however, there is no pecking order. Eve no longer covenants with Adam, but instead covenants with God using the exact same language as Adam.
The covenant requirement to “Harken unto” Adam is no more!
New Covenant Executed
Notably, when you change who the principle parties are in the execution of a contract – you have a different agreement altogether. For these covenants, this means that there needs to be a new covenant made by each of the Sisters and this is what is covered in the next part of the endowment changes:
Brethren and sisters, this couple represents all of you as if at the altar. You must consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve.
ELOHIM: We will put eachsisterof you under covenant to obey the Law of the Lord, and to hearken to the counsel of her husband, as her husband hearkens unto the counsel of the Father. Sisters, arise.ELOHIM: Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will each observe and keep the law of the Lord, and hearken to the counsel of your husband as he hearkens to the counsel of the Father. Each of you bow your head and say “Yes.”WOMEN: Yes.ELOHIM: That will do.ELOHIM: Brethren, Arise.
ELOHIM: Brethren and sisters, Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and Each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angles, and these witnesses at this altar that you will obey the law ofGodthe Lord and keep his commandants. Each of you will bow your head and say “yes.”ADAM:PATRONS: Yes.
Elohim:That will do.Thank You.
As you can see – it was previously required that the Sisters perform a separate act of bowing the head and agreement – because the terms of their covenant were entirely different in that they were covenanting to obey or harken to a different person than the men were. Now since they both made the exact same covenant – they can do so at the same time.
This is a great change! Yet another jarring and sexist arrangement was surgically excised from the House of the Lord – thank you, Dr. Nelson!
Everyone who previously defended this imbalance against those feminist critics because it was previously Divinely sanctioned in the temple can now admit that the critics were right and give thanks that new light and knowledge came forth. Oh wait – they aren’t supposed to discuss the fact and nature of these changes… which also means that they can’t discuss the implications of them… dang.
Minor Tweaks in the Lone and Dreary World
There were some minor changes in the narrative setting up the Law of Sacrifice in the Lone and Dreary World after the Garden of Eden:
ELOHIM: Brethren and sisters, we will now put you under covenant to obey and keep the Law of Sacrifice, as contained in the Holy Scriptures. This Law of Sacrifice was given to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, who, when
he wasthey were driven out of the garden, built an altar on whichheAdam offered sacrifices; and after many days, an angel of the Lord appearedunto Adam,saying: “Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?” Adam said: “I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”
Here you can see that they are taking care to make sure that Eve is included when they discuss the actions and choices of Adam. I never realized how Adam centric even these narrative parts were. This reflects a good attention to detail in making the balance right.
LUCIFER: Yes, what do you want?
ADAM:I amWe are looking for messengers.
LUCIFER: Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want religion, do you? There will be many willing to preach to you the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture.
ADAM: ButI amwe are looking for messengers frommyour Father.
These changes make a good move towards inclusivity in the narrative. Adam isn’t calling the shots all by himself anymore – he uses the word “we” instead of “I”
Of course, he is still the only one participating in the conversation for most of the rest of the Endowment, while Eve remains silent, but we will take what we can get.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, send down Peter, James and John to visit
the manAdam and Eve in the Telestial World, without disclosing their identity. Have them observe conditions generally, see if Satan is there, and learn whether Adam and Evehashave been true to the token and sign givenhimto them in the garden of Eden. HavethemPeter, James and John then return and bring me word.
Even Elohim is getting in on the balancing act. Someone must have reminded him that he should be concerned about the fate and salvation of Eve as a fully actualized individual, as well as Adam. I think it was the feminists. We are glad He listened.
Also, it seems someone mentioned that “have them return and bring me word” is a vague pronoun reference which could have applied to the Apostles or to Adam and Eve. While fixing the sexism, they went ahead and fixed the Grammar. Nice.
LUCIFER: Very well! Except
this man doesthese people do not seem to believe what is being taught.
PETER: Good morning. What do you think of this teaching?
ADAM:I amWe are looking for messengers frommyour Father to teachmeus.
PETER: That is good.
Whoever slapped Satan on the wrist and told him to make sure to include both Adam and Eve in his machinations in the Lone and Dreary World deserves a cupcake.
PETER: Do you sell your tokens or signs for money? You have them, I presume.
ADAM:IWe have them, butIwe do not sell them for money.IWe hold them sacred.I amWe are looking for the further light and knowledge Father promised to sendmeus.
PETER: That is right. We commend you for your integrity. Good day. We shall probably visit you again.
I told you the prior sexism was delicately woven throughout the ceremony in subtle linguistic ways that you may not have even realized till you see the changes. Actually, this is probably just true for Men like me. Women have probably been very aware of this the whole time.
No More Robe on the Left
The next significant change doesn’t deal with sexism but rather removes an aspect of the ceremony which is a bit confusing – initially placing the robe of the priesthood on the left shoulder.
ELOHIM: It is
wellgood. Jehovah, instruct Peter, James and John to go down in their true character as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial World, and to cast Satan out of their midst. Instruct them to give unto Adam and Eve and their posterity, the Law of the Gospel as contained in the Holy Scriptures; also give unto them a charge to avoid all lightmindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice; and cause these to be received by covenant.Instruct Peter, James, and John further to clothe Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood, with the robe on the left shoulder, and to give.Give unto them the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign. Then have them return and bring me word.
Remember that the robe on the left shoulder represented the preparatory or Aaronic Priesthood. This was made clear later in the ceremony in a later section that has also been altered:
CLOTHING IN THE ROBES OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOODPETER: We are instructed to clothe you in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood. Place the robe on your left shoulder. Place the cap on your head with the bow over the right ear, replace the apron, tie the girdle with the bow on the right side, remove the slippers from your feet, and put them on again as part of the temple clothing. You may now proceed to clothe.
SECOND TOKEN OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
PETER:A couple will now come to the altar. With the robe on the left shoulder, you are prepared to officiate in the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood.We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign. This Token is given by clasping the right hands and placing the joint of the thumb between the first and second knuckles of the hand, in this manner.
Having the robe on the left shoulder wasn’t inherently sexist so that really can’t be the reason for the change. I remember it used to be confusing to try to keep track of which shoulder was to be used when, and I had to re-position the robe a few times. It may be that this was meant to remove that confusion.
What doesn’t make sense is that something that has been so critical a part of the ceremony for over a century – to the point that if you didn’t do it before or if you did it wrong – then they would stop the entire ceremony and wait for you to do it right. Take this in conjunction with the critical importance that Elder Oaks recently gave to exactness in the ordinance of Sacrament being taken with the right hand (see this video). Exactness in the Temple Ordinances must be at least as critical as exactness in the Chapel.
Eve gets to speak
One of the criticisms heard in the past is that Eve is pretty much a silent passive character in the endowment once they leave the Garden of Eden. That is now rectified:
ADAM: Now
Iwe know that you are true messengers sent down from Father. These are true messengers,IWe exhort you to give strict heed to their counsel and teaching, and they will lead you in the way of life and salvation. Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened and in this life, I shall have joy and again in the flesh I shall see God.EVE: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed and never should have known good and evil and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
NARRATOR: The Officiator will represent Peter at the Altar.
Theologically speaking, this may be one of the most significant additions to the Endowment Ceremony. The added statements by both Adam and Eve here introduce the concept of Felix culpa or the “fortunate fall” into the central sacred ordinance of the Church. This is a key element in Mormonism’s unique theodicy paradigm, explaining why God allows evil to occur.
Prior to this addition in the Endowment, the main source of this concept in Mormon theology was found in the Book of Mormon:
22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
2 Nephi Chapter 2: 21-25lds.org
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
A helpful reader has pointed out that Moses 5 also contains these principles as originally articulated by Eve:
10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
Moses 5:10-11 lds.org
In fact, it is clear that this addition to the Endowment ceremony is actually just copy/pasting this part of the Book of Moses Chapter 5 into the ceremony, where it really should have been all along. Part of me is actually dissappointed because it really hasn’t been since Joseph that we got narrative revelation of new words from ancient biblical figures. It would be cool if today’s Prophets were so bold as to give us that and I thought maybe that is what we were seeing here… but no, just plagiarism from the Book of Moses.
Still, allowing Eve to be the character who originally articulated the full depth of this concept prior to any Priesthood holder is significant. It gives her a spiritual maturity and thought we don’t see depicted in many women, scripturally. We can see that in the Book of Mormon, Lehi was essentially quoting principles originally taught by Eve in his letter to his Son Jacob, recorded in 2 Nephi Chapter 2.
While it was Lucifer who originally spoke to Eve of the concept that there must be opposition in all things, he did so with the idea that the ultimate goal was losing innocence and having ones eyes opened to knowledge of the Gods. Eve here demonstrates that the real reason for opposition is to bring people to redemption and salvation/exaltation in God’s plan. It is this aspect articulate by Eve which later Prophets expound upon, not Lucifer’s distorted deception.
Of course, that is all from a faithful perspective in Mormonism. Looking at this from the outside – this ends up being yet another chance to distort morality with Mormonism so that Obedience is elevated to the level of an ethical value. In Mormonism obedience to God and Obedience to the leaders of the church is one and the same.
Eve just piles on more of the message that salvation is contingent on individuals surrendering their agency to the demands of the church under the heading of obedience. This is such a common theme in fundamentalist coercive religions that it is a cliche. It doesn’t matter if it is adorned with complicated or nuanced theological ornamentation.
The Higher Law?
The next significant change is a bit of a paradox
PETER: A couple will now come to the altar. Brethren and sisters, this couple at the altar represents all of you as if at the altar, and you will be under the same obligations as they will be. We are required to give unto you the Law of the Gospel which is the Higher Law taught by Jesus Christ as contained in the Holy Scriptures;
How is it a paradox? Well… here there is an addition which clarifies that the “law of the Gospel” is the “higher law” taught by none other than the very Son of God himself and is contained in the Holy Scriptures. Now if the Son of God, member of the Godhead gives a law and it is called the “Higher Law” then you better pay attention and there really can’t be anything higher or more. I mean – Jesus is the Savior whose whole reason for being is to fulfill the work and the glory of God: “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)
The paradox is that this endowment ceremony itself is found nowhere in the scriptures. The idea that you have to have a worthiness interview, go into a gaudy
So if the scriptures have the “Higher Law” taught by Jesus – then this entire endowment enterprise is something other than the higher law.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s the “Highest Law.” I suppose if Scientology can keep adding secret higher levels in their own “bridge to total freedom” then Mormonism can keep adding higher laws in its own soteriology. Sort of like the Second Anointing which most members are not aware of, but which the highest leaders have all participated in.
The New Law of Chastity
When you change the verbiage of the law, you are changing the law.
ELOHIM: Instruct Peter, James, and John further, to give unto them the Law of Chastity, and put them under covenant to obey this law, which is, that the
daughters of Eve, and the sons of Adamwomen of my kingdom and the men of my kingdomshall have no sexual relations except withtheir husbands or wives tothose whom they are legally and lawfully wedded according to my law…PETER: A couple will now come to the altar. We are instructed to give unto you the law of Chastity; which is, that
each of you shall have no sexual relations except with your husband or wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded.the women of God’s kingdom and the men of God’s kingdom shall have no sexual relations except with those to whom they are legally and lawfully wedded according to His law.All please arise.Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you individually covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses that you will observe and keep the Law of Chastity, as it has been explained to you. Each of you bow your head and say “yes.”PATRONS: Yes.
Oy. There are some interesting implications here.
First, They have eliminated the concept of “Sons of Adam” and “Daughters of Eve”. This is actually helpful to the church. It doesn’t have to make a case for direct lineage descendants from two humans in the span of about 6,000 years. DNA research makes that messy.
Next, you might be surprised to learn that the words “husband” and “wife” and any derivative thereof have been completely removed from the ceremony. Zip. Zilch. There is reference to “matrimony” and companion and helpmeet as we have already discussed, but with these changes, there is no husband or wife, so called, in the ceremony.
What are the implications of this?
Some people may see this as a way to set things in order now so that in years to come, marriage between two women or two men will be allowed. IF you look at the new language – there is nothing to prevent it:
the women of God’s kingdom and the men of God’s kingdom shall have no sexual relations except with those to whom they are legally and lawfully wedded
Now that gay marriage is legal and lawful, the elimination of the terms husband and wife make gay marriage a simple possibility…
…except for those next for words: “According to His Law”
I know it is only 4 words – but these are among the most troubling words to find in a sacred ceremony like this, to outsiders. Let me explain. In the 12th article of faith we find a passage which has the effect of assuring outsiders that Mormonism isn’t something they should worry about because they will obey the laws of the land:
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
12th Article of Faith lds.org
In a pluralistic society, we want organizations to follow the law. It is when such groups start talking about following God’s higher law over any other law that bad things happen. Warren Jeff’s was able to engage in all his abuses because he could make the case that God’s Law as he dictated it was a higher law than man’s laws. In this way he convinced his followers to be complicit in committing many heinous acts of abuse, rape, child sex trafficking and more because they believed they were following God’s Law.
Under the prior wording, “legally and lawfully wedded” was understood by modern Mormons to mean that the wedding was done in accordance with the secular laws of the land. There was a marriage license, ceremony performed by an authority recognized by the state, etc.
I know, I know … early polygamy was performed more in line with the “God’s law is higher than man’s law” paradigm that we see exemplified by Warren Jeffs.. but this recent change addresses the recent understanding of the ceremony, as I have just described above.
By adding the “According to His Law” Mormonism is actually taking a step backward in accountability and transparency to the outside world. They are asserting once more that “God’s Law is higher than man’s law” and so will govern their own approach to marriage according to what the Prophet declares God’s Law to be.
There is one difference between Warren Jeffs and the LDS church approach to this God’s Law is higher than man’s law concept. Jeffs used God’s law to do things which man’s law declared to be illegal – the plural marriage and rape of underage girls. The LDS Church is using God’s law to restrict members from enjoying something which man’s law now considers legal and lawful – gay marriage.
You might rest easy as a Mormon considering that the church isn’t having you do things which are illegal according to the laws of the land. The problem is that you are still giving men claiming divine sanction the power to direct which laws you will be subject to. Sure, there is no problem today – but what if that changes? I don’t think that it is likely to do so, but I would feel more comfortable if the church stuck to the 12th article of faith rather than again invoking the “God’s laws are higher than man’s laws” concept. The history of men holding religious power and authority under that heading is ugly.
Certainly to gay members of the church today – this concept is ugly today. It is currently keeping them from enjoying the full measure of existence and happiness in their lives today. Hopefully those other changes are a hint at whats to come in the future.
Unveiled, The Truer Order of Prayer
The next change is probably one of the most sought after:
We have here a list of names of persons who are sick, or otherwise afflicted, who we are requested to remember in our prayer. We will place this list upon the altar and request the faith of those present in behalf of these persons.
The sisters in the room will please veil their faces.Each brother in the circle will take the sister at his left, by the right hand in the Patriarchal Grip. Each of you bring your left arm to the square, and rest it upon the shoulder or arm of the person at your left. Those in the Circle will repeat the words of the prayer.
(Officiator Prays)
PETER:The sisters will unveil their faces, andThe brethren and sisters in the circle will return to their seats. We will now uncover the Veil.
And with this change, the veil attached to the headdress of the women becomes a vestigial appendage. It no longer serves a purpose. It is no longer employed at any point in the ceremony.
Good Riddance. This was one of the most tangible forms of suppression and subordination in the temple ceremony. I think that, and I’m a guy. Plus it was creepy. Just look.
I predict that in the next iteration, they will get rid of the hat’s altogether. Remember when you used to have to wear shields when you observed baptisms for the dead? Yeah. Neither will your grandkids.
An aside – James/Jacob
There is something minor here which I want to comment on, simply because it is a change that was not made, and perhaps a missed opportunity. We all know that recently the church has made a great deal of noise about using the correct and proper name for things – specifically the name of the Church.
This insistence on using the correct name for things has even brought us to the unique point in history where the Prophet of God of the one true and living church on the earth referred to the Pope as “His Holiness” – something tantamount to blasphemy in the minds of prior prophets of this last dispensation (a dispensation only made necessary through the great apostasy which was conceived and executed by the great and abominable church named as the Catholic Church with the Pope at its head by numerous LDS Prophets and Apostles)
A careful examination of one of the most important and last great sermons of Joseph Smith, Jr. on the earth shows us that he too placed a great deal of importance on the correct naming of things. In
I have an old edition of the New Testament in the Latin, Hebrew, German and Greek languages. I have been reading the German, and find it to be the most [nearly] correct translation, and to correspond nearest to the revelations which God has given to me for the last fourteen years. It tells about Jacobus, the son of Zebedee. It means Jacob. In the English New Testament it is translated James. Now, if Jacob had the keys, you might talk about James through all eternity and never get the keys. In the 21st [verse] of the fourth chapter of Matthew, my old German edition gives the word Jacob instead of James.
The doctors (I mean doctors of law, not physic) say, “If you preach anything not according to the Bible, we will cry treason.” How can we escape the damnation of hell, except God be with us and reveal to us? Men bind us with chains. The Latin says Jacobus, which means Jacob; the Hebrew says Jacob, the Greek says Jacob and the German says Jacob, here we have the testimony of four against one. I thank God that I have got this old book; but I thank him more for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have got the oldest book in the world; but I have got the oldest book in my heart, even the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have all the four Testaments. Come here, ye learned men, and read, if you can.
King Follett Sermon lds.org
You can see the page Joseph was referring to in the polyglot bible he referenced here. Other
Here we have the great Prophet of the last dispensation telling us the importance of getting the name of one of the principle Apostles correctly – even mentioning that if Jacob was the one having the keys of the priesthood, then we better well use his name, because James doesn’t have them.
With this in mind, we have in this update to the Endowment a missed opportunity to make a correction to Elohim and Jehovah addressing those Apostles as “Peter, James and John” and instead make it the proper “Peter, Jacob and John”
I know to most people this isn’t the biggest deal, but the recent focus on using the correct name for things has made it a big deal to use the right name. If we are going to call the Pope “His Holiness” – then we should at least call an Apostle of Christ by his correct name.
Conclusion
Despite all the criticism I have described, I applaud the changes to the Endowment.
If people are going to surrender their spiritual identity to a multi-billion-dollar corporate entity – then it is good for that entity to at least make their ceremonies reflect commonplace notions of equality and human dignity for both of the sexes. I know it has its problems still, but just as removing the Temple Penalties made the experience less odious to many patrons, removing most of the sexism will also make the faithful experience more palatable to women growing up and living in the church.
More significantly, the importance of removing the title of Lord from the men of the church and removing the idea that women have covenanted to obey their husbands as their Lord cannot be understated. This alone will compel many men in the church to have to approach their marriage relationships from a position of equality which previously wasn’t part of the vocabulary of a priesthood led home.
I am hopeful that those who see changes to the Law of Sacrifice as a preparation for the inclusion of gay members in the New and Everlasting Covenant will see their dream come to pass.
Personally, I find greater peace in not being dependent on self-proclaimed prophets or their manipulative and fabricated ceremonies for my mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Appendix – Tracked Changes of the 2019 Endowment
Before beginning the endowment session, we share the following statement from the first Presidency of the church:
Brothers and sisters, since the temple endowment was first administered in this dispensation occasional adjustments have been made by the First Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, acting unitedly in their capacity as prophets, seers, and revelators.
Upon seeking the will of the Lord and after solemn prayer in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple, the Lord has again revealed inspired adjustments to the temple ceremonies.
These adjustments, which you will notice during your worship experience in the temple today, will bring harmony to the way men and women make covenants with God. They deepen our understanding of His will and His relationship with his daughters and sons.
These modifications do not affect the sacred and eternal covenants associated with the saving and exalting ordinances of the temple,
As a reminder, due to the sacred nature of all temple ordinances, the fact and content of these changes should not be discussed outside the temple.
May you feel the Lord’s love as you serve in His holy house.
NARRATOR: Brethren and sisters, we welcome you to the temple, and hope you will find joy in serving in the house of the Lord this day. Those of you who are here to receive your own Endowments should have been washed, anointed, and clothed in the Garment of the Holy Priesthood. For those who are representing deceased persons, the ordinances of washing, anointing, and clothing in the Garment of the Holy Priesthood, together with the ordaining in behalf of the deceased brethren were preformed previously. Each of you should have received a New Name in connection with this company. If any of you have forgotten the New Name, or have not received these ordinances as explained, please stand. (pause)
Please be alert, attentive and reverent during the presentation of the Endowment. As you are asked to proceed to the Veil, please do so in an orderly manner, row by row, as directed. After passing through the Veil into the Celestial Room, and in other areas in the Temple, if you need to communicate, please whisper, thus helping us maintain the quiet reverence that should prevail in the House of the Lord. We will now proceed with the presentation of the Endowment.
Brethren, you have been washed and pronounced clean, or that through your faithfulness, you may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation. You have been anointed to become hereafter Kings and, Priests unto the Most High God, to rule and reign in the House of Israel forever.
Sisters, you have been washed and pronounced clean and anointed to become hereafter Queens and Priestesses to your husbands in the new and everlasting covenant.
Brethren and Sisters, if you are true and faithful, the day will come when you will be chosen, called up, and anointed Kings and Queens, Priests and Priestesses, through the holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant here after to rule and reign in the house of Israel forever whereas you are now anointed only to become such. The realization of these blessings depends upon your faithfulness.
You have had a Garment placed upon you, which you were informed represents the garment given to Adam and Eve when they were found naked in the garden of Eden, and which is called the “Garment of the Holy Priesthood.” This you were instructed to wear throughout your life. You were informed that it will be a shield and a protection to you inasmuch as you do not defile it, and if you are true and faithful to your covenants.
You have had a New Name given unto you, which you were told never to divulge, nor forget. This New Name is a keyword which you will be required to give at a certain place in the temple today.
Your Endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and the tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation.
If you proceed and receive your full endowment, you will be required to take upon yourselves sacred obligations, the violation of which will bring upon you the judgment of God; for God will not be mocked. If any of you desire to withdraw rather than accept these obligations of your own free will and choice, you may now make it known by raising your hand.
Brethren and sisters, as you sit here, you will hear the voices of three persons who represent Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael. Elohim will command Jehovah and Michael to go down and organize a world. The work of the six creative periods will be represented. They will also organize man in their own likeness and image, male and female.
THE CREATION
FIRST DAY
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, see: yonder is matter unorganized, go ye down and organize it into a world like unto the other worlds we have hereunto formed. Call your labors the First Day and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done Elohim. Come Michael, let us go down.
MICHAEL: We will go down, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Michael, see: here is matter unorganized. We will organize it into a world like unto other worlds we have heretofore formed. We will call our labors the First Day and return and report.
MICHAEL: We will return and report our labors of the First Day, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Elohim, we have done as thou hast commanded, and have called our labors the First Day.
ELOHIM: It is well good.
SECOND DAY
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, go down again. Gather the waters together and cause the dry land to appear. The great waters call ye seas, and the dry land call ye earth. Form mountains and hills, great rivers and small streams, to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth. Call your labors the Second Day, bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Come Michael, let us go down.
MICHAEL: We will go down, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Michael, we will gather the waters together and cause the dry land to appear. The great waters we will call seas, and the dry land we will call earth. We will form mountains and hills, great rivers and small streams to beautify and give variety to the face of the earth. We will call our labors the Second Day and return and report.
MICHAEL: We will return and report our labors of the Second Day, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Elohim, we have done as thou hast commanded, and have called our labors the Second Day.
ELOHIM: It is well good.
THIRD DAY
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, return again to the earth that you have organized. Divide the light from the darkness. Call the light “day,” and the darkness “night.” Cause the lights in the firmament to appear; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. Cause the stars also to appear and give light to the earth, the same as with other worlds heretofore created. Call your labors the Third Day and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Come Michael, let us return again to the earth that we have organized.
MICHAEL: We will return, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Michael, we will divide the light from the darkness, and call the light “day,” and the darkness “night.” We will cause the lights in the firmament to appear, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night. We will cause the stars also to appear and give light to the earth; the same as with other worlds heretofore created. We will call our labors the Third Day and return and report.
MICHAEL: We will return and report our labors of the Third Day, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Elohim, we have done as thou hast commanded, and have called our labors the Third Day.
ELOHIM: It is well good.
FOURTH DAY
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, return and place seeds of all kinds in the earth that they may spring forth as grass, flowers, shrubbery, trees, and all manner of vegetation; each bearing seed in itself after its own kind. Call your labors the Fourth day and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Come Michael, let us go down.
MICHAEL: We will go down, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Michael, we will place seeds of all kinds in the earth that they may spring forth as grass, flowers, shrubbery, trees, and all manner of vegetation. We will call our labors the Fourth Day and return and report.
MICHAEL: We will return and report our labors of the Fourth Day, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Elohim, we have been down as thou hast commanded, and we have called our labors the fourth day.
ELOHIM: It is well good.
FIFTH DAY
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, now that the earth is formed, divided and beautified, and vegetation is growing thereon, return and place all manner of life upon the earth. Command the beasts, the fowls, the fishes, the insects, all creeping things, and other forms of animal life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind, and every kind of vegetation to multiply in its sphere, that every form of life may fill the measure of its creation and have joy therein. Call your labors the Fifth Day and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Come Michael, let us go down.
MICHAEL: We will go down, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Michael, now that the earth is formed, divided and beautified, and vegetation is growing thereon, we will place beasts upon the land: the elephant, the lion, the tiger, the bear, the horse, and all other kinds of animals; fowls in the air in all their varieties, fishes of all kinds, in the waters, and insects and all manner of animal life upon the earth. We will command the beasts, the fowls, the fishes, the insects, all creeping things, and other forms of animal life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind, and every kind of vegetation to multiply in its sphere, that every form of life may fill the measure of its creation and have joy therein. We will call our labors the Fifth Day and return and report.
MICHAEL: It is well good, Jehovah. Now that the earth is formed with vegetation growing thereon, and provided with all manner of life, it is glorious and beautiful.
JEHOVAH: It is, Michael.
MICHAEL: Let us return and report our labors of the Fifth Day, Jehovah.
JEHOVAH: Elohim, we have done as thou hast commanded, and have called our labors the Fifth Day.
ELOHIM: It is well good.
SIXTH DAY
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, is man found upon the earth?
JEHOVAH : Man is not found on the earth, Elohim.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, Michael, then let us go down and form man in our own likeness and in our own image, male and female, and put into them their spirits, and let us give them dominion over all things on the face of the earth. We will plant for them a garden, eastward in Eden, and place them in it to tend and cultivate it, that they may be happy, and have joy therein. We will command them to multiply and replenish the earth, that they may have joy in their prosperity.
We will place before them the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and we will allow Lucifer, our common enemy, whom we have thrust out to tempt them, and to try them, that they may know by their own experience the good from the evil. If they yield to temptation, we will give unto them The Law of Sacrifice, and we will provide a savior for them, as we counseled in the beginning, that they may be brought forth by the power of the redemption and the resurrection, and come again into our presence, and with us partake of Eternal Life and exultation. We will call this the Sixth Day, and we will rest from our labors for a season. Come, let us go down.
JEHOVAH: We will go down, Elohim.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, see the earth that we have formed. There is no man to till and take care of it. We are here to form man in our own likeness and in our own image.
JEHOVAH: We will do so, Elohim.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, man is now organized, and we will put into him his spirit, the breath of life, that he may become a living soul.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, is it good for man to be alone?
JEHOVAH: It is not good for man to be alone, Elohim.
ELOHIM: We will cause a deep sleep to come upon this man whom we have formed, and we will take from his side a rib from which we will form a woman to be a companion and helpmeet for him.
NARRATOR: Brethren and sisters, this is Michael, who helped form the earth. When he awakens from the sleep which Elohim and Jehovah have caused to come upon him, he will be known as Adam, and having forgotten all, will have become a little child. Brethren close your eyes as if you were asleep.
ELOHIM: Adam, awake and arise.
NARRATOR: All the brethren will please arise.
ELOHIM: Adam, here is a woman whom we have formed and whom we give unto you to be a your companion and helpmeet for you. What will you call her?
ADAM: She will be called Eve.
ELOHIM: Why will you call her Eve?
ADAM: Because she is the mother of all living.
ELOHIM: That is right, Adam; because she is the mother of all living she will be called Eve. For thus have I the Lord God called the first of all women. Adam, Eve, We have organized for you this earth, and have planted a garden, eastward in Eden. We will place you in the garden and we will there command you to multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity. Jehovah, introduce Adam and Eve into the garden which we have prepared for them.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim.
NARRATOR: We now go with Adam and Eve into the garden. The brethren will now please be seated.
ELOHIM: Adam, Eve, we have created this earth, and have placed upon it all kinds of vegetation and animal life. We have commanded all these to multiply in their own sphere and element. Adam, Eve, we give you dominion over all these things, and make you, Adam, Lord over the whole earth, and all things on the face thereof.
We now command you to multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity. We have also planted for you this garden, wherein we have placed all manner of fruits, flowers, and vegetation. Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat; nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee. But, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Remember these commandments which we have given unto you. Now, go to, dress this garden, take good care of it, be happy and have joy therein. We shall go away, but we shall visit you again and give you further instructions.
LUCIFER: Well, Adam, you have a new world here.
ADAM: A new world?
LUCIFER: Yes, a new world, patterned after the old one where you used to live.
ADAM: I know nothing about any other world.
LUCIFER: Oh, I see, your eyes are not yet opened. You have forgotten everything. You must eat some of the fruit of that tree.
LUCIFER: Adam, here is some of the fruit of this tree. It will make you wise.
ADAM: I will not partake of that fruit. Father told me that in the day I should partake of it I should surely die.
LUCIFER: You shall not surely die but shall be as the gods, knowing good and evil.
ADAM: I will not partake of it.
LUCIFER: Oh, you will not? Well, we shall see.
LUCIFER: Eve, here is some of the fruit of that tree. It will make you wise. It is delicious to the taste and very desirable.
EVE: Who are you?
LUCIFER: I am your brother.
EVE: You, my brother, and come here to persuade me to disobey Father?
LUCIFER: I have said nothing about Father. I want you to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, that your eyes may be opened, for that is the way Father gained his knowledge. You must eat of this fruit so as to comprehend that everything has its opposite: good and evil, virtue and vice, light and darkness, health and sickness, pleasure and pain – thus your eyes will be opened, and you will have knowledge.
EVE: Is there no other way?
LUCIFER: There is no other way.
EVE: Then I will partake.
LUCIFER: There, now go and get Adam to partake.
EVE: Adam, here is some of the fruit of that tree. It is delicious to the taste and very desirable.
ADAM: Eve, do you know what fruit that is?
EVE: Yes, it is the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
ADAM: I cannot partake of it. Do you not know that Father commanded us not to partake of the fruit of that tree?
EVE: Do you we not intend to obey all of Father’s commandments?
ADAM: Yes, all of them.
EVE: Do you not remember that Father commanded us to multiply and replenish the earth? I have partaken of this fruit and by so doing shall be cast out, and you will be left a lone man in the garden of Eden.
ADAM: Eve, I see that this must be. I will partake that man may be.
LUCIFER: That is right.
EVE: It is better for us to pass through sorrow that we may know the good from the evil.
EVE: I know thee now. Thou art Lucifer, he who was cast out of Father’s presence for rebellion.
LUCIFER: Yes, you are beginning to see already.
ADAM: What is that apron you have on?
LUCIFER: It is an emblem of my power and Priesthoods.
ADAM: I am We are looking for Father to come down to give us further instructions.
LUCIFER: Oh, you are looking for Father to come down, are you?
ELOHIM: Jehovah, we promised Adam and Eve that we would visit them and give them further instructions. Come, let us go down.
JEHOVAH: We will go down, Elohim.
ADAM: I hear their voices, they are coming.
LUCIFER: See, you are naked. Take some fig leaves and make you aprons. Father will see your nakedness. Quick! Hide!
ADAM: Come, let us hide.
NARRATOR: Brethren and sisters, put on your aprons.
ELOHIM: Adam … Adam! … Adam!! Where art thou?
ADAM: I heard thy voice and hid myself, because I was naked.
ELOHIM: Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, of which we commanded thee not to partake?
ADAM: The woman thou gavest me, and commanded that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat.
ELOHIM: Eve, what is this that thou hast done?
EVE: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
ELOHIM: Lucifer, what hast thou been doing here?
LUCIFER: I have been doing that which has been done in other worlds.
ELOHIM: What is that?
LUCIFER: I have been giving some of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil to them.
ELOHIM: Lucifer, because thou hast done this, thou shalt be cursed above all the beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust thou shalt eat all the days of thy life.
LUCIFER: If thou cursest me for doing the same thing which has been done in other worlds, I will take the spirits that follow me, and they shall possess the bodies thou createst for Adam and Eve!
ELOHIM: I will place enmity between thee and the seed of the woman. Thou mayest have power to bruise his heal, but he shall have power to crush thy head.
LUCIFER: Then with that enmity I will take the treasure of the earth, and with gold and silver I will buy up armies and navies, false priests who oppress, and tyrants who destroy, and reign with blood and horror on the earth!
ELOHIM: Depart!
ELOHIM: Jehovah, let cherubim and a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of the Tree of Life, lest Adam and Eve put forth their hands, and partake of the fruit thereof, and live forever in their sins.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim.
JEHOVAH: Let cherubim and a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of the Tree of Life, lest Adam and Eve put forth their hands and partake of the fruit thereof and live forever in their sins. It is done, Elohim.
ELOHIM: Adam because thou hast partaken of the forbidden fruit, the earth shall be cursed for thy sake. Instead of producing fruits and flowers spontaneously, it shall bring forth thorns, thistles, briars, and noxious weeds to afflict and torment man. And by the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread all the days of thy life, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
THE LAW OF OBEDIENCE
ELOHIM: Adam, Eve, inasmuch as Eve was the first to eat you have eaten of the forbidden fruit, if she will covenant that from this time forth she will obey the Law of the Lord, and will hearken unto your counsel as you hearken unto mine, and if you will covenant that from this time forth you will obey the Law of Elohim the Lord, we will give unto you the Law of Obedience and Sacrifice, and we will provide a Savior for you, whereby you may come back into our presence, and with us partake of Eternal Life and exaltation.
EVE: Adam, I now covenant to obey the Law of the Lord, and to hearken to your counsel as you hearken unto Father. Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.
ADAM: Elohim, I now covenant with thee that from this time forth I will obey thy law and keep thy commandments.
ELOHIM: It is well good. Jehovah, inasmuch as Adam and Eve have discovered their nakedness, make coats of skins as a covering for them.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim.
NARRATOR: Brethren and sisters the garment that was which has been placed upon you in the washing room is to cover your nakedness and represents the coat of skins spoken of. The officiator will represent Elohim at the Altar. A couple will now come to the altar.
Brethren and sisters, this couple represents all of you as if at the altar. You must consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve.
ELOHIM: We will put each sister of you under covenant to obey the Law of the Lord, and to hearken to the counsel of her husband, as her husband hearkens unto the counsel of the Father. Sisters, arise.
ELOHIM: Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will each observe and keep the law of the Lord, and hearken to the counsel of your husband as he hearkens to the counsel of the Father. Each of you bow your head and say “Yes.”
WOMEN: Yes.
ELOHIM: That will do.
ELOHIM: Brethren, Arise.
ELOHIM: Brethren and sisters, Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and Each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angles, and these witnesses at this altar that you will obey the law of God the Lord and keep his commandants. Each of you will bow your head and say “yes.”
ADAM: PATRONS: Yes.
Elohim: That will do. Thank You.
THE LAW OF SACRIFICE
ELOHIM: Brethren and sisters, we will now put you under covenant to obey and keep the Law of Sacrifice, as contained in the Holy Scriptures. This Law of Sacrifice was given to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, who, when he was they were driven out of the garden, built an altar on which he Adam offered sacrifices; and after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: “Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?” Adam said: “I know not, save the Lord commanded me.” And then the angel spake saying: “This is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, who is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou dost in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent, and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.”
The posterity of Adam down to Moses, and from Moses to Jesus Christ offered up the first fruits of the field, and the firstlings of the flock, which continued until the death of Jesus Christ, which ended sacrifice by the shedding of blood. And as Jesus Christ has laid down his life for the redemption of mankind, so we should covenant to sacrifice all that we possess, even our own lives if necessary, in sustaining and defending the Kingdom of God.
All arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will observe and keep the Law of Sacrifice, as contained in the Holy Scriptures, as it has been explained to you. Each of you bow your head and say “yes.”
PATRONS: Yes.
ELOHIM: That will do Thank you.
THE FIRST TOKEN OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
ELOHIM: We will now give unto you the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign. Before doing this, we desire to impress upon your minds the sacred character of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign, as well as that of all the other tokens of the Holy Priesthood, with their names and signs, which you will receive in the temple this day. They are most sacred and are guarded by solemn covenants and obligations made in the presence of God, angels and these witnesses to hold them sacred and under no condition will you ever divulge them, except at a certain place in the temple that will be shown you.
The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood is given by clasping the right hands and placing the joint of the thumb directly over the first knuckle of the hand, in this manner.
ELOHIM: Adam, we give unto you the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. We desire all to receive it. All arise.
ELOHIM: If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand.
The name of this token is the New Name that you received in the temple today. If any of you have forgotten the New Name, please stand.
The sign is made by bringing the right arm to the square, the palm of the hand to the front, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended. This is the sign.
ELOHIM: I will now explain the covenant and obligation which are associated with this token, its name and sign which you will be required to take upon yourselves. If I were receiving my own Endowment today, and had been given the name of “John” as my New Name, I would repeat in my mind these words, after making the sign:
I, John, covenant before God, angels and these witnesses, that I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign.
ELOHIM: All arise.
ELOHIM: Each of you make the sign of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, by bringing your right arm to the square, the palm of the hand to the front, the fingers together, and the thumb extended. This is the sign. Now, repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant.
I ________, think of the new name, covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses, that I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign.
That will do Thank you.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, see that Adam and Eve are driven out of this beautiful garden into the lone and dreary world, where they may learn from their own experience to distinguish good from evil.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim.
THE LONE AND DREARY WORLD: THE TELESTIAL KINGDOM
NARRATOR: We go now with Adam and Eve into the lone and dreary world. Brethren and sisters, this represents the Telestial Kingdom, or the world in which we now live. Adam and Eve, on finding himself themselves in the lone and dreary world, built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words he Adam uttered:
ADAM: Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.
LUCIFER: I hear you; what is it you want?
ADAM: Who are you?
LUCIFER: I am the God of this world.
ADAM: You, the God of this world?
LUCIFER: Yes, what do you want?
ADAM: I am We are looking for messengers.
LUCIFER: Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want religion, do you? There will be many willing to preach to you the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture.
ADAM: But I am we are looking for messengers from my our Father.
ELOHIM: Jehovah, send down Peter, James and John to visit the man Adam and Eve in the Telestial World, without disclosing their identity. Have them observe conditions generally, see if Satan is there, and learn whether Adam and Eve has have been true to the token and sign given him to them in the garden of Eden. Have them Peter, James and John then return and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim.
JEHOVAH: Peter, James and John, go down and visit the man Adam in the Telestial World, without disclosing your identity. Observe conditions there, and learn whether Adam has been true to the token and sign given to him in the garden of Eden. Then return and bring us word.
PETER: It shall be done, Jehovah. Come James and John, let us go down.
(The three turn and leave, and the scene turns to the lone and dreary world. Adam and Eve are shown walking through a forested area with Lucifer following them. Peter, followed by James and John approach Adam, Eve, and Lucifer.)
PETER: Good morning.
LUCIFER: Good morning gentlemen.
PETER: What are you doing here?
LUCIFER: Observing the teachings of these people.
PETER: What is being taught?
LUCIFER: The philosophies of men, mingled with scripture.
PETER: How is this teaching received?
LUCIFER: Very well! Except this man does these people do not seem to believe what is being taught.
PETER: Good morning. What do you think of this teaching?
ADAM: I am We are looking for messengers from my our Father to teach me us.
PETER: That is good.
PETER: Have you any tokens or signs?
LUCIFER: Have you any money?
PETER: We have sufficient for our needs.
LUCIFER: You can buy anything in this world with money.
PETER: Do you sell your tokens or signs for money? You have them, I presume.
ADAM: I We have them, but I we do not sell them for money. I We hold them sacred. I am We are looking for the further light and knowledge Father promised to send me us.
PETER: That is right. We commend you for your integrity. Good day. We shall probably visit you again.
LUCIFER: Now is the great day of my power. I reign from the rivers to the ends of the earth. There is none who dares to molest or make afraid.
PETER: Jehovah, we have visited the man Adam and Eve in the Telestial World as thou didst command us. We found Satan there, striving to lead the their posterity of Adam astray with all manner of false doctrine. But Adam has they have been true and faithful to the token and sign given him them in the garden of Eden, and is they are waiting for the further light and knowledge you promised to send him them. This is our report.
JEHOVAH: It is well good, Peter, James and John. Elohim – Peter, James and John have been down to the man Adam and Eve in the Telestial World. And have done all that they were commanded to do. They found Satan there, striving to lead the posterity of Adam astray with all manner of false doctrine. But Adam has been true and faithful to the token and sign given him in the garden of Eden, and he is waiting for the further light and knowledge you promised to send him. This is their report.
ELOHIM: It is well good. Jehovah, instruct Peter, James and John to go down in their true character as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial World, and to cast Satan out of their midst. Instruct them to give unto Adam and Eve and their posterity, the Law of the Gospel as contained in the Holy Scriptures; also give unto them a charge to avoid all lightmindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice; and cause these to be received by covenant. Instruct Peter, James, and John further to clothe Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood, with the robe on the left shoulder, and to give. Give unto them the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign. Then have them return and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Peter, James and John, go down in your true character as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial World and, to cast Satan out of their midst. Give unto them Adam and Eve and their posterity the Law of the Gospel as contained in the Holy Scriptures; also a charge to avoid all lightmindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice. Cause them to receive those by covenant. Clothe them in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood, with the robe on the left shoulder, and give unto them the Second Token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign. Then return and bring us word.
PETER: It shall be done, Jehovah. Come James and John, let us go down.
PETER: I am Peter.
JAMES: I am James.
JOHN: I am John.
LUCIFER: Yes, I thought I knew you. What are you going to do now?
PETER: We will dismiss you without further argument.
LUCIFER: Aah! You have looked over my kingdom, and my greatness and glory. Now you want to take possession of the whole of it. I have a word to say concerning these people. If they do not walk up to every covenant, they make at these altars in this temple this day, they will be in my power!
PETER: Satan, we command you to depart!
LUCIFER: By what authority?
PETER: In the name of Jesus Christ, our Master.
Adam, Eve, we are true messengers from the Father, and have come to give you the further light and knowledge He promised to send you.
ADAM: How shall I know that you are true messengers?
PETER: By our giving unto you the token and sign you received in the garden of Eden.
ADAM: What is that?
PETER: The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.
ADAM: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
ADAM: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I cannot, for it is the New Name, and I have made a covenant not to disclose it, but this is the sign.
ADAM: Now I we know that you are true messengers sent down from Father. These are true messengers, I We exhort you to give strict heed to their counsel and teaching, and they will lead you in the way of life and salvation. Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened and in this life, I shall have joy and again in the flesh I shall see God.
EVE: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed and never should have known good and evil and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
NARRATOR: The Officiator will represent Peter at the Altar.
THE LAW OF THE GOSPEL, THE HIGHER LAW
PETER: A couple will now come to the altar. Brethren and sisters, this couple at the altar represents all of you as if at the altar, and you will be under the same obligations as they will be. We are required to give unto you the Law of the Gospel which is the Higher Law taught by Jesus Christ as contained in the Holy Scriptures; to give unto you also a charge to avoid all light mindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice, and to cause you to receive these by covenant.
All arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square. Each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses, that you will observe and keep the Law of the Gospel and this charge as it has been explained to you. Each of you bow your heads and say “yes.”
PATRONS: Yes.
PETER: That will do Thank you.
CLOTHING IN THE ROBES OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD
PETER: We are instructed to clothe you in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood. Place the robe on your left shoulder. Place the cap on your head with the bow over the right ear, replace the apron, tie the girdle with the bow on the right side, remove the slippers from your feet, and put them on again as part of the temple clothing. You may now proceed to clothe.
SECOND TOKEN OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
PETER: A couple will now come to the altar. With the robe on the left shoulder, you are prepared to officiate in the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood. We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood with its accompanying name and sign. This Token is given by clasping the right hands and placing the joint of the thumb between the first and second knuckles of the hand, in this manner.
PETER: We desire all to receive it. All arise.
If any of you have not received this token, please raise your hand. The name of this token is your own first given name if you are going through the temple for your own Endowment, or, if you are going through for the dead, it is the first given name of the person for whom you are officiating.
The sign is made by bringing the right hand in front of you, with the hand in cupping shape, the right arm forming a square, and the left arm being raised to the square. This is the sign. I will now explain the covenant and obligation which are associated with this token, its name and sign, which you will be required to take upon yourselves.
If I were receiving my own endowment today, and if my first given name were “David,” I would repeat in my mind those words, after making the sign:
I, David, solemnly covenant before God, angels and these witnesses, that I will never reveal the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign.
All arise. Each of you make the sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic priesthood by bringing the right hand in front of you, with the hand in cupping shape, the right arm forming a square, and the left arm being raised to the square. This is the sign.
Now, repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant:
I _________, think of the first given name, solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses, that I will never reveal the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign. That will do Thank you.
We will return and report. Jehovah, we have been down to Adam and Eve and who have their posterity in the Telestial World, and have cast Satan out of their midst. We have given unto them the Law of the Gospel as contained in the Holy Scriptures; also a charge to avoid all lightmindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice, and have caused them to receive these by covenant. We have also clothed them in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood and have given unto them the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign. This is our report. done all that we were commanded to do.
JEHOVAH: It is well good, Peter, James and John. Elohim – Peter, James, and John have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Telestial World, have cast Satan out of their midst, and have done all else that they were commanded to do.
ELOHIM: It is well good. Jehovah send down Peter, James, and John again to the Telestial World. Have Adam and Eve and their posterity to change their robes to their right shoulder, Instruct them to clothe Adam and Eve and their posterity in the robes of the Holy Priesthood with the robe on the right shoulder, preparatory to officiating participating in the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood; and introduce them into the Terrestrial World. Instruct Peter, James, and John further, to give unto them the Law of Chastity, and put them under covenant to obey this law, which is, that the daughters of Eve, and the sons of Adam women of my kingdom and the men of my kingdom shall have no sexual relations except with their husbands or wives to those whom they are legally and lawfully wedded according to my law. Give unto them the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or the Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign. Have them return and bring me word.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Peter, James, and John, go down again to the Telestial World; instruct Adam and Eve and their posterity to change their robes to their right shoulder, preparatory to officiating in the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood; and introduce them into the Terrestrial World. Give to them the Law of Chastity, and put them under covenant to obey this law, which is, that the daughters of Eve, and the sons of Adam shall have no sexual relations except with their husbands or wives to whom they are legally and lawfully wedded. Give unto them the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or the Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign; and return and bring us word.
PETER: It shall be done, Jehovah. Come James and John, let us go down. We are instructed to have you remove the robe and change it to the right shoulder, preparatory to officiating in the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood; We are instructed to clothe you in the robes of the Holy Priesthood and to introduce you into the Terrestrial World. You may now remove the robe.
Place the robe on your right shoulder. Place the cap or veil on your head with the bow over the left ear for the brethren, replace the apron, tie the girdle with the bow on the left side. You may now proceed to clothe.
THE TERRESTRIAL WORLD
NARRATOR: We now enter the Terrestrial World. Brethren and Sisters please follow the officiators into the room which represents the Terrestrial World.
THE LAW OF CHASTITY
PETER: A couple will now come to the altar. We are instructed to give unto you the law of Chastity; which is, that each of you shall have no sexual relations except with your husband or wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded. the women of God’s kingdom and the men of God’s kingdom shall have no sexual relations except with those to whom they are legally and lawfully wedded according to His law.
All please arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you individually covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses that you will observe and keep the Law of Chastity, as it has been explained to you. Each of you bow your head and say “yes.”
PATRONS: Yes.
PETER: That will Do Thank You.
FIRST TOKEN OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD OR SIGN OF THE NAIL
PETER: We will now give unto you the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or the Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign. This token is received by bringing the right hand into this position: the hand vertical, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended; and the person giving the token placing the tip of the forefinger of his right hand in the center of the palm, and the thumb opposite on the back of the hand of the one receiving it, in this manner. We desire all to receive it. All arise.
PETER: If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand. The name of this token is “the Son”, meaning the Son of God.
The sign is made by bringing the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square; the right hand is also brought forward, the palm down, the fingers close together with the thumb extended. This is the sign.
I will now explain the covenant and obligation which are associated with this token, its name and sign and which you will be required to take upon yourselves. If I were receiving the Endowment today, either for myself or for the dead, I would repeat in my mind these words, after making the sign:
I solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses, in the name of the Son that I will never reveal the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign.
All arise Each of you make the sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail by bringing the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square; the right hand is also brought forward, the palm down, the fingers close together with the thumb extended. This is the sign.
Now repeat in your mind after me the words of the covenant.
I solemnly covenant before God, angels, and these witnesses, in the name of the Son that I will never reveal the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign.
That will do Thank you.
PETER: Jehovah, we have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity, have placed the robe on the right shoulder and have introduced them into the Terrestrial World. We have put them under covenant to observe and keep the Law of Chastity. We have also given them the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying name and sign. This is our report. and have done all that we were commanded to do.
JEHOVAH: It is well good, Peter, James, and John. Elohim – Peter, James, and John have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity and have done all that they were commanded to do.
ELOHIM: It is well. Jehovah, send down Peter, James and John and instruct them to give to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial world the Law of Consecration in connection with the law of the Gospel and the Law of Sacrifice, and to cause them to receive it by covenant; to give unto them the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign, and to teach them the Order of Prayer and prepare them in all things to receive further instructions at the Veil. Then have them report at the Veil.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Peter, James, and John, go down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial World, and give unto them the Law of Consecration, in connection with the Law of the Gospel and the Law of Sacrifice, and cause them to receive it by covenant. Give unto them the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign. Teach them the Order of Prayer and prepare them in all things to receive further instructions at the Veil. Then report at the Veil.
PETER: It shall be done, Jehovah. Come, James and John, let us go down.
THE LAW OF CONSECRATION
PETER: A couple will now come to the altar We are instructed to give unto you the Law of Consecration as contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in connection with the Law of the Gospel and the Law of Sacrifice which you have already received. It is that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.
All arise. Each of you bring your right arm to the square.
You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion.
Each of you bow your head and say “yes.”
PATRONS: Yes.
PETER: That will do Thank You.
SECOND TOKEN OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD, THE PATRIARCHAL GRIP, OR SURE SIGN OF THE NAIL
PETER: We will now give unto you the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign.
This token has reference to the crucifixion of the Savior. When he was placed upon the cross, the crucifiers drove nails through the palms of his hands, then fearing that the weight of his body would cause the nails to tear through the flesh of the hands, they drove nails through his wrists. Hence, in the palm is the Sign of the Nail, and in the wrist is the Sure Sign of the Nail, or the Nail in the Sure place.
This token is given by clasping the right hands, interlocking the little fingers, and placing the tip of the forefinger upon the center of the wrist, in this manner. We desire all to receive it. All arise.
If any of you have not received this token, you will please raise your hand.
This token has a name and a sign. You will be under the same sacred obligation in connection with this token and sign as you are with the other tokens and signs of the Holy Priesthood which you have received in the temple this day. The name of this token will not be given to you at this stage in the Endowment, but it will be given later on.
The sign is made by raising both hands high above the head and while lowering the hands repeating aloud the words: “Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!” repeated three times.
PETER: When Adam and Eve was were driven out of the Garden of Eden, he they built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words that he Adam uttered: “Oh God, Hear the words of my mouth!”, repeated three times.
All arise. Each of you make the sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, by raising both hands high above the head, and while lowering the hands repeating three times the words:
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
PETER: That will do Thank you. Brethren and Sisters with the robe on the right shoulder you are prepared to be taught the True Order of Prayer; and to be introduced at the Veil.
THE PRAYER CIRCLE AND THE TRUE ORDER OF PRAYER
PETER: A few of you, including couples, will please come forward and form a circle around the altar.
NARRATOR: Only the best of feelings should exist in the Circle. If any of you have unkind feelings toward any member of this circle, you are invited to withdraw so that the Spirit of the Lord may be unrestrained.
In the Circle we make the signs of all the tokens of the Holy Priesthood.
We will begin by making the Sign of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This is done by bringing the right arm to the square, the palm of the hand to the front, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended. This is the sign. The name of this token is the New Name received in the temple today.
We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. This sign is done by bringing the right hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the right hand forming a square, and the left arm being raised to the square. This is the sign. The name of this token is your first given name if you are going through the temple for your own Endowment, or if you are going through for the dead, it is the first given name of the person for whom you are officiating.
We will now make the sign of the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail. This is done by bringing the left hand in front of you with the hand in cupping shape, the left arm forming a square. The right hand is also brought forward, the palm down, the fingers close together with the thumb extended. This is the sign. The name of this Token is “the Son”, meaning the Son of God.
We will now make the Sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail. This is done by raising both hands high above the head, and while lowering the hands repeating three times the words:
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!
We have here a list of names of persons who are sick, or otherwise afflicted, who we are requested to remember in our prayer. We will place this list upon the altar and request the faith of those present in behalf of these persons.
The sisters in the room will please veil their faces. Each brother in the circle will take the sister at his left, by the right hand in the Patriarchal Grip. Each of you bring your left arm to the square, and rest it upon the shoulder or arm of the person at your left. Those in the Circle will repeat the words of the prayer.
(Officiator Prays)
PETER: The sisters will unveil their faces, and The brethren and sisters in the circle will return to their seats. We will now uncover the Veil.
THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE: ENTRANCE TO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM
PETER: Brethren and sisters, this is the Veil of the temple. I will now explain the marks on the Veil. These four marks are the marks of the Holy Priesthood, and corresponding marks are found in your individual garment.
On the right is the mark of the square. It is placed in the Garment over the right breast, suggesting to the mind exactness and honor in keeping the covenants entered into this day.
On the left is the mark of the compass. It is placed in the Garment over the left breast, suggesting to the mind an undeviating course leading to Eternal Life, a constant reminder that desires, appetites and passions are to be kept within the bounds the Lord has set, and that all truth may be circumscribed unto one great whole.
This is the navel mark. It is placed in the Garment over the navel, suggesting to the mind the need of constant nourishment to the body and spirit.
This is the knee mark. It is placed in the right leg of the garment, so as to be over the knee cap, suggesting that every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Christ.
These other three marks are for convenience in working at the Veil. Through this one, the person representing the Lord puts forth his right hand, to test our knowledge of the tokens of the Holy Priesthood. Through the one on our right, he asks us certain questions, through the one on the left, we give our answers.
PETER: As all of you will have to pass through the Veil, we will show you how this is to be done. The person is brought to this point, and the worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet. Whereupon, the Lord parts the Veil, and asks:
LORD: What is wanted?
PETER: Adam, having been true and faithful in all things, desires further light and knowledge, by conversing with the Lord, through the Veil.
LORD: Present him at the Veil, and his request shall be granted.
PETER: The person is the brought to this point, whereupon the Lord puts forth his right hand, gives the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I will, through the Veil.
PETER: The person then gives, through the Veil, the name of this token, which is the New name received in the temple today. The Lord then gives the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I will, through the Veil.
PETER: The person then gives the name of this token, which is his first given name, if he is going through the temple for his own Endowment, or if he is going through for the dead, it is the first given name of the person for whom he is officiating. The Lord then gives the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or Sign of the Nail, and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I will, through the Veil.
PETER: The person then gives the name of this token, which is “the Son,” meaning, the Son of God. The Lord then gives the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I cannot. I have not yet received it. For this purpose I have come to converse with the Lord through the Veil.
LORD: You shall receive it through the Veil.
PETER: It is received as left arms are placed upon right shoulders through the Veil.
PETER: The Lord then gives the name of this token, and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I will, through the Veil.
PETER: The person then repeats back to the Lord the name of this token, as he receives it, whereupon the Lord says:
LORD: That is correct.
PETER: The person is again brought to this point, and the worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet. The Lord parts the Veil and asks:
LORD: What is wanted?
PETER: Adam, having conversed with the Lord through the Veil, desires now to enter his presence.
PETER: The Lord puts forth his right hand, takes the person by the right hand, and says:
LORD: Let him enter.
PETER: He is admitted into the presence of the Lord.
We will now report. Jehovah, we have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial World, and have given unto them the Law of Consecration, and have caused them to receive it by covenant. We have given unto them the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, with its accompanying sign, and have taught them the Order of Prayer. They are now ready to converse with the Lord through the Veil. And have done all that we were commanded to do. This is our report.
JEHOVAH: It is well good, Peter, James, and John. Elohim – Peter James and John have been down to Adam and Eve and their posterity in the Terrestrial World and have done all that they were commanded to do.
ELOHIM: It is well good. Jehovah, instruct Peter, James, and John to introduce Adam and Eve and their posterity at the Veil, where we will give unto them the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, preparatory to their entering into our presence.
JEHOVAH: It shall be done, Elohim. Peter, James, and John, you will introduce Adam and Eve and their posterity at the Veil, where we will give unto them the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, preparatory to their entering into our presence.
PETER: It shall be done Jehovah. Come James and John, we will introduce them at the Veil.
Brethren and sisters, we are instructed to introduce you at the Veil, where you will receive the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or the Sure Sign of the Nail, preparatory to your entering into the presence of God.
CEREMONY AT THE VEIL
(The worker gives three distinct taps with the mallet.)
LORD: What is wanted?
WORKER: (Adam or Eve), having been true and faithful in all things, desires further light and knowledge, by conversing with the Lord, through the Veil. [for and in behalf of _____, who is dead].
LORD: Present him at the Veil, and his request shall be granted.
(The Lord gives the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood through the opening in the Veil.)
LORD: What is that?
PATRON: The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I will, through the Veil. (The New Name is given).
(The Lord gives the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.)
LORD: What is that?
PATRON: The Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I will, through the Veil (The First Name is given)
LORD: What is that?
PATRON: The First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I will, through the Veil – the Son.
(The Lord gives the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood.)
LORD: What is that?
PATRON: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I cannot. I have not yet received it. For this purpose, I have come to converse with the Lord through the Veil.
LORD: You shall receive it through the Veil.
LORD: This is the name of the Token – Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity.
LORD: What is that?
PATRON: The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PATRON: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PATRON: I will, through the Veil – Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity.
LORD: That is correct.
LORD: What is wanted?
WORKER: (Adam or Eve), having conversed with the Lord through the Veil, desires now to enter his presence.
LORD: Let him enter.
