About the Changes Made in the Endowment Ceremony

Before we look at the changes made to the LDS Endowment Ceremony, we must first clarify one important fact. This is that Joseph Smith claimed to receive the ceremony directly from God. Mormon apostle John Widtsoe wrote: "Joseph Smith received the temple endowment and its ritual, as all else that he promulgated, by revelation from God." (Joseph Smith-Seeker After Truth, Prophet of God, 1951, p.249)

Joseph Smith himself acknowledged that such ordinances are "the same forever and ever" because God establishes them (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 208). "As temple work progresses, some members wonder if the ordinances can be changed or adjusted. These ordinances have been provided by revelation, and are in the hands of the First Presidency. Thus, the temple is protected from tampering." (Deseret News, Church Section, January 16, 1982, written by W. Grant Bangerter, member of the Quorum of Seventy and executive director or the Temple Department)

Obviously such claims of "revelation" and the "unchanging" nature of the Endowment Ceremony are false. Either the ordinances are false to begin with, or the LDS church is in a current state of apostasy for changing these alleged "ordinances of God." It is our contention that the LDS temples and ceremonies within them are not Biblically based (see The Bible and the Endowment Ceremony and Other LDS Temple Ceremonies for more information.) Remembering that the LDS church claims the temple ordinances are divine in origin, we now look at the nature of the changes made in 1990.

No More Death Penalties
One of the major changes made in 1990 was the removal of the death penalties one agrees to during the endowment ceremony. An example of these penalties is seen with the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

"The representation of the execution of the penalties indicates different ways in which life may be taken...the Execution of the Penalties is represented by placing the thumb under the left ear, the palm of the hand down, and by drawing the thumb quickly across the throat to the right ear."

These same types of penalties accompany the other tokens of the endowment ceremony. These tokens, along with the accompanying names, signs and penalties are considered "most sacred, and are guarded by solemn covenants and obligations of secrecy." Temple patrons are told that "under no condition will you ever divulge them" except in the temple (These words are still in the current version of the LDS endowment ceremony).

This oath of secrecy to such gruesome death penalties is not compatible to Biblical Christianity. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see Jesus commanding His disciples to keep His teachings secret. In fact, the opposite is true.

"Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." (John 18:20)

"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." (Matthew 10:27)

We concur with Jerald and Sandra Tanner that the removal of these death penalties "is a real victory for the many ministries working with the Mormons." (Tanner, Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony: 1842-1990, p.16) That being said, the removal of such material is inconsequential when we consider that Mormonism still claims that all Christian churches are apostate, still teaches that God is an exalted man, etc.

The Devil's Preacher
The second of the most notable changes involves the removal of the Devil's Preacher. This preacher teaches the "orthodox religion" which preaches "a God who is without body, parts, and passions; who sits on top of a topless throne; whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere; who fills the universe, and yet is so small that he can dwell in your heart; who is surrounded by myriads of beings who have been saved by grace, not for any act of theirs, but by his good pleasure."

This preacher was obviously meant to represent the preachers of Biblical Christianity. In the endowment ceremony Lucifer offers to pay the preacher well for teaching his religion. That Mormonism accused Christian preachers of being willing agents of Lucifer is most offensive.

The removal of this teaching is without a doubt a move in the right direction. This does not solve the problem though. "The Mormon Church still retains Joseph Smith's story of the First Vision in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History, versus 18-19. In this account, Joseph Smith asserted that Jesus himself told him that all other churches were wrong. "My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right... I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were all corrupt..." (Tanner, Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony; 1842-1990, p. 53)

(NOTE: The following are excerpts from Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony; 1842-1990)

Important Omission
The Los Angeles Times, May 5, 1990, gave this information concerning the removal of the "Five points of Fellowship" from the temple ceremony:

"Also dropped is an 'embrace' of a man representing God who stands behind a ceiling-to-floor veil. Reaching through the slit in the veil, the church member puts his or her hands to the back of the deity and presses against him at the cheek, shoulders, knees and feet with the veil between them. The contact at 'five points of fellowship,' including the hand to his back has been omitted, although the member must still give a secret handshake and repeat a lengthy password."

There can be no question that the "Five Points of Fellowship" were derived from Masonry. The reader can clearly see this from the comparison, which follows:

Masons: Her (the candidate) is raised on what is called the five points of fellowship...This is done by putting the inside of your right foot to the inside of the right foot of the person to whom you are going to give the word, the inside of your knee to his, laying your right breast against his, your left hands on the back of each other, and your mouth to each other's right ear (in which position alone you are permitted to give the word); and whisper the word Mahhah-bone...He is also told that Mahhah-bone signifies marrow in the bone." (Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 84-85)

Mormons: "the five points of fellowship are given by [putting the inside of the right foot to the inside of the Lord's, the inside of you knee to his, laying your breast close to his, your left hands on each other's back, and each one putting his mouth to the other's ear, in which position the Lord whispers: Lord: This is the name of the Token: "Health to the navel, marrow in the bones..." (Temple Mormonism, page 22)

That the "Five Points of Fellowship" were in the temple ceremony while the Mormons were still in Nauvoo, Illinois is verified by a reference in Heber C. Kimball's Journal under the date of Dec. 11, 1845, the scribe (William Clayton) wrote: "...they receive...the second token of the Melchizedeck Priesthood and also the key word on the five points of fellowship."

The Five Points of Fellowship remained a very important part of the temple ceremony until the ritual was revised in April 1990. In the 1984 version of the endowment ritual (see 1984 Version of the Endowment Ceremony), the reader will find that when those receiving their endowments arrive at the "veil" and seek entrance into heaven, they are lacking an extremely important key- i.e., the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, The Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail. When the Lord asks the recipient to "give it [the name] to me?" the response is "I cannot. I have come to converse with the Lord through the veil" The Lord gives the vital information and then asks for the name again: "Will you give it to me?" This time the recipient says, "I will upon the Five Points of Fellowship through the veil." After the secret words are given, the Lord says, "That is correct." Shortly after this, the recipient is allowed to enter into the presence of the Lord in the "Celestial Room."

For almost a century and a half, therefore, the Mormon leaders taught that these secret words could only be whispered in the ear while the Lord and the recipient were touching on all "Five Points of Fellowship." Since the revision of the ceremony in 1990, those who participate in the ritual are only required to place "left arms.. upon right shoulder." They do not put their feet and knees together and the entire wording concerning the "Five Points of Fellowship" has been completely deleted. These words previously appeared in five different places in the ritual-the "Lord spoke of the "Five Points of Fellowship" twice; the apostle Peter referred to the "Five Points of Fellowship" twice, and the recipient mentioned them once. Below is a comparison of a portion of the 1984 version with the new revised version.

Lord: You shall receive it upon the Five Points of Fellowship through the veil.
(The officiator demonstrates the Five Points of Fellowship through the Veil with the temple worker who represents the Lord, as each point is mentioned.)
Peter: The Five Points of Fellowship are 'inside of right foot by the side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to ear."

The Lord then gives the name of his 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, upon the Five Points of Fellowship through the Veil.
(1984 Version of the Endowment Ceremony)

The reader will notice that in the 1990 revised version, shown below, all references to the Five Points of Fellowship have been cut out:

Lord: You shall receive it through the Veil.
Peter: It is received as left arms are placed upon the right shoulders through the Veil.
(The officiator places his left are through the mark of the compass and rests his hand on the right shoulder of the Lord, as the Lord places His left arm through the mark of the square and rests his hand on the right shoulder of the Officiator. The right hands remain clasped in the Patriarchal Grip.)
Peter: The Five Points of Fellowship are "inside of right foot by the side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to ear." 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.
(1990 Version of the Endowment Ceremony)

The Missing Lecture
One of the important changes in the new ceremony is that the Lecture At the Veil has been completely removed. This lecture was previously given to all those who were passing through the ritual for the first time. It was not deemed necessary, however, for those who were going through the endowment ceremony for the dead. The words "penalty" or "penalties" were used six times in this lecture, and it also referred to the "sectarian minister" who preached false doctrine (i.e., the minister who was employed by Lucifer). A simple word count shows that the Mormon leaders removed over 2,100 words when they took out the Lecture At the Veil!

Since the Mormon leaders claim to be led by direct revelation, one would think that if they made any changes in the endowment ceremony it would be to add important new spiritual truths. Instead, however, the great majority of the changes are deletions of material, which once was an important part of the ritual. There is one insert of 81 words in the section concerning the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It explains that it "has reference to the crucifixion of the Savior." This material, however, is not new. It is taken directly from the Lecture At The Veil- i.e., the lecture that has been deleted.

There is another place where 56 words have been added at the start of the ceremony by the "Second Lecture" who speaks of "passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words...and gain you eternal exaltation." These words, however, are not new. They are, in fact, a slightly condensed version of the words of Brigham Young, which we cited earlier in this work (see Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.31).

Other than these two interpolations, the other insets in the ceremony range from one to twenty-four words long and, as far as we can tell, do not reveal anything of real significance.

There is a change in The Law of Chastity where the men and women agree not to have "sexual intercourse" except with their lawfully wedded wife or husband. In the 1990 revision of the ritual this has been changed to "sexual relations."

The reader who wishes to learn more about the changes made in 1990 should carefully study the Comparison of 1984 Version to the 1990 Version section of our web site.