[Joseph Smith Diary] Monday, 14th This morning a number of brethren from New York call[ed] to visit me and see the Egyptian records. Elder [Martin] Harris also returned this morning from Palmyra, N[ew] York. Br[other] Frazier Eaton of the same place called to pay us a visit. A verry fine man. Also Sister Harriet How[e] called to pay us a visit.
After dinner we went to attend the funeral of Sylvester Smith's youngest child. In the evening meet [met] according to notice previously given to make ar[r]angements to guard against fire and organized a company for this purpose. Counciled also on other affairs of a temporal nature.
To day Samuel Branum came to my house much afflicted with a swelling on his left arm which was occasioned by a bruise on his elbow. We had been called to pray for him and anoint him with oil, but his faith was not sufficient to effect a cure. My wife prepared a poultice of herbs and applyed to it and he tarryed with me over night.
Spent the day at home reading Hebrew and visiting friends who called to see me. To day I received a letter fram Elder Orson Hyde from his own hand. (1)
-- Dec 26, 1835
Section 108, Place: Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio.
Historical Note: The day after Christmas in 1835, Lyman Sherman approached the Prophet Joseph Smith and said, "I have been wrought upon to make known to you my feelings and desires, and was promised that I should have a revelation which should make known my duty." The Lord's promise was fulfilled to Sherman, for Joseph Smith received a revelation for him that very hour. The revelation informed Sherman that he would receive an ordination in conjunction with the "first of mine elders," a term which referred to a chosen few who were to receive an "endowment." The Kirtland endowment was to consist of a rich outpouring of God's spirit upon the faithful elders. Preparation for the "endowment" occupied much of the Church leaders' time during the early months of 1836. Brethren who had been selected to participate in this important event met regularly in the Kirtland Temple during January and February 1836. This preparation, intended to sanctify the brethren, involved the following:.
1. Confessing the sins and asking forgiveness,.
2. Covenanting to be faithful to God,.
3. Having one's body washed and bathed with cinnamon-perfumed whiskey,.
4. Washing one's own body with pure water and perfume,.
5. Having one's head anointed with holy oil,.
6. Having the anointing blessing sealed with uplifted hands (the sealing blessing consisting of three parts: solemn player, a sealing prayer, and the hosanna shout), and.
7. Washing of faces and feet and partaking of the Lord's Supper.
Publication Note. Section 108 was first published in the Deseret News (10 July 1852) and was included as section 108 in the 1876 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. (2)
-- During 1835
(Almon W. Babbitt) When brought before the Kirtland High Council in 1835 for failing to keep the Word of Wisdom, Babbitt claimed that he "had taken the liberty to break the word of wisdom, from the example of President Joseph Smith, Jr., and others," whereupon the Prophet charged him with "traducing my character." Babbitt was disfellowshipped and later received back into fellowship after "confessing his error." (3)
Footnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith
3 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: the Word of Wisdom
Mormon Timeline: the Word of Wisdom
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
