Initiatory Ordinances

The initiatory ordinances are a pre-requisite for the endowment ceremony. The first time a patron visits the temple they must go through these ordinances and then the endowment ceremony. After going through the ordinances themselves, they may do so again on behalf of those who are dead.

Once a patron shows their temple recommend to a worker stationed in the lobby, the patron enters the temple and passes into the men’s/women’s dressing area where they are assigned a locker. The patron, leaving their clothing in the locker, covers themselves in a shield. The shield is a white, poncho-like linen covering which is open on both sides. The initiate must hold it shut while walking. Covered with the shield, the patron carries one pair of temple garments (one-piece style) to the washing and anointing area and waits on a bench until directed by a temple worker to enter one of the washing and anointing rooms, through a veiled partition. The booths are simply small cubicles made up of suspended linen veils.

The temple garments, also known as Garments of the Holy Priesthood, are worn by the patron after the washing and anointing take place. They are also worn outside of the temple under regular clothing. The garments have four symbols known as Marks of the Holy Priesthood sewn into them. Over the left breast is “the mark of the compass” and over the right breast is “the mark of the square.” There is also a one inch horizontal line over the navel and the right knee. The significance of each mark is explained in the endowment ceremony.

The initiate hands their garments to a temple worker who waits inside the booth while the washing and anointing take place.

As the initiate stands upright in their shield, the temple worker wets his fingers under a small faucet of running water in the booth, and touches each area of the initiate’s body through the slits on the side of the shield, as the body parts are mentioned in the purification ritual. (NOTE: the washing and anointing are performed by temple workers that are the same gender as the patron. Men for men and women for women.)

 

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Brother ______, having authority, I wash you preparatory to you receiving your anointings [for and in behalf of _______, who is dead], that you may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation. I wash your head, that your brain and your intellect may be clear and active; your ears, that you may hear the word of the Lord; your eyes, that you may see clearly and discern between truth and error; your nose, that you may smell; your lips, that you may never speak guile; your neck, that it may bear up your head properly; your shoulders, that they may bare the burdens that shall be placed thereon; your back, that there may be marrow in the bones and in the spine; your breast, that it may be the receptacle of pure and virtuous principles; your vitals and bowels, that they may be healthy and strong and perform their proper functions; your arms and hands, that they may be strong and wield the sword of justice in defense of truth and virtue; your loins, that you may be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity; your legs and feet, that you may run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.

Two temple workers then place their hands upon the patron's head, and one of them recites the Confirmation of the Washing.

Brother ____, having authority, we lay our hands upon your head [for and in behalf of ________, who is dead], and seal upon you this washing, that you may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation through your faithfulness, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The patron then steps through a veiled partition into another part of the booth where he sits upon a chair. He is anointed with olive oil from a glass anointing horn, which is shaped like a bull's horn. During this anointing, the parts are touched as they are mentioned, as was done in the washing.

Brother ____, having authority, I pour this holy anointing oil upon your head [for and in behalf of _____, who is dead], and anoint you preparatory to your becoming a King and a Priest unto the Most High God, hereafter to rule and reign in the House of Israel. I anoint your head, that your brain and your intellect may be clear and active; your ears, that you may hear the word of the Lord; your eyes, that you may see clearly and discern between truth and error; your nose, that you may smell; your lips, that you may never speak guile; your neck, that it may bear up your head properly; your shoulders, that they may bare the burdens that shall be placed thereon; your back, that there may be marrow in the bones and in the spine; your breast, that it may be the receptacle of pure and virtuous principles; your vitals and bowels, that they may be healthy and strong and perform their proper functions; your arms and hands, that they may be strong and wield the sword of justice in defense of truth and virtue; your loins, that you may be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity; your legs and feet, that you may run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.

The anointing is then confirmed, as was the washing, by the two temple workers.

Brother ______, having authority, we lay our hands upon your head [for and in behalf of _____, who is dead], and confirm upon you this anointing, wherewith you have been anointed in the temple of our God, preparatory to becoming a King and a Priest unto the Most High God, hereafter to rule and reign in the House of Israel forever; and seal upon you all the blessings hereunto appertaining, through your faithfulness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The patron now steps through a third veiled partition into another section of the booth. A temple worker holds the patron's garment open wide at the neck, into which the patron steps (right leg, left leg), and it is then pulled up the sides, and the right arm and left arm are then slipped through the sleeves.

THE GARMENT OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD AND THE NEW NAME

Brother _______, having authority, I place this Garment upon you [for and in behalf of ______, who is dead], which you must wear throughout your life. It represents the Garment given unto Adam when he was found naked in the Garden of Eden, and is called the Garment of the Holy Priesthood. Inasmuch as you do not defile it, but are true and faithful to your covenants, it will be a shield and a protection to you against the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work here on earth. With this Garment I give you a New Name, which you should always remember, and which you must keep sacred, and never reveal except at a certain place which will be shown you hereafter. The name is "______."

The New Name is then repeated by the patron, who has now completed the Initiatory Ordinances, and is ready to clothe for the Endowment. Upon giving the New Name, the worker writes either a "1" or a "2" on the name slip. This indicates which of the "New Names" in use that day the patron received. The New Name may be almost any given name found in the Bible or the Book of Mormon.

When the patron has not undergone Initiatory Ordinances, but is simply about to do an "Endowment for the Dead" he receives the New Name in a booth, dressed in his white shirt, tie, pants (if femal, a white dress), socks and slippers. Holding a name slip, he/she obtains the New Name by the following rite:

Brother ______, having authority, I give you a New Name, for and in behalf of ____, (patron and the worker read name of deceased), who is dead, which you should always remember, and which you must keep sacred, and never reveal except at a certain place that will be shown you hereafter. The name is "_______".