-- Jan 8, 1877
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 8 I spent the forenoon going through the Temple to prepare for Endowments or Baptisms for the dead. The afternoon I spent writing. I wrote a letter to Bishop Hunter. (1)
-- Jan 9, 1877
[Apostle Brigham Young Jr. Diary] [At the temple in the morning] Wilford Woodruff step[p]ed into the font and baptised Susan Y. Dunford for some dead friends. Some 225 persons were officiated for in the font. (2)
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 9 This is the day that the first ordinances of the Endowments for the dead was performed in the Temple of God in St George at 12 oclok Presidet Brigham Young being present we Commenced to Baptized for the dead. W. Woodruff Baptized the first 141 persons and Confirmed the first persons Presidet Young laying on hands at the same time. John L Smith Baptized the next 83 person making 224 Baptized on this day. John D T. Mcallister Confirmed 44 A H Raleigh 15 H. W. Bigler 124 Erastus Snow 20. Susie Amelia Young Dunford was the first Baptized & Confirmed By W Woodruff. (1)
-- Jan 10, 1877
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 10 A P Winsor Baptized 87 to day for the dead. W Woodruff Confirmed 22 A H Raleigh 36, Erastus Snow 29. (1)
-- Wed 10.
[John Nuttle Diary] fine clear day. to work at Temple at 9. A.M. A.P. Winsor baptized 87 for the dead, W. Woodruff confirmed 22 A. R. Raligh 36. E. Snow 29. I was Recorder. assisted in fixing carpets &c in upper room- spent the evening with Bros Woodruff & Raleigh at President Youngs - in talking over the business and Workings for tomorrow - made and recommends for L. C. Marriger. John T. Eager Eliza Bunting & Lovina Johnson. (3)
-- Mon 22.
[John Nuttle Diary] At Temple ruled out some forms for Baptizms for the dead. to be takin as a sample by the Missionaries so as to put the Saints in a Way of getting ready for Work - at President Youngs office copying letters of instructions to missionary (3)
-- Wed 7
[John Nuttle Diary] At Temple. I officiated as Recorder at the font - palso [sic] in the Sealing Room in anointing where Josiah Guile Hardy & his wife Ann Denston Hardy - had their 2 anointing also Mathew Clayton - also Sarah Johnson Macdonald anointed to A F Macdonald his wife Elizabeth Graham McD. as proxy - rpFanny [sic] Van Cott Macdonald was also anointed to A. F. Mcdonald - W. Woodruff anointing. H. W. Bigler held the horn. 386 Baptizms. J. L. Smith - D. H. Cannon confirmed 185. A. H Raleigh 61. H. W. Bigler 77. D. D. McArthur 63 - wrote to my wife Elizabeth & son Leonard - after supper went to President Youngs present. Prest Young. W. Woodruff. E. Snow. B. Young Jr. I. G. Bleak. E. M Greene & myself. works in the Temple being under consideration Prest Young was filled with the spirit of God & revelation & said when we got our washings and anointings under the hands of the Prophet Joseph at Nauvoo we had only one room to work in with the exception of a little side room or office were we were washed and anointed had our garments placed upon us and received our New Name. and after he had performed these ceremonies. he gave the Key Words signs, tokens [sic] and penalties. then after we went into the large room over the store in Nauvoo. Joseph divided up the room the best that he could hung up the veil, marked it gave us our instructions as we passed along from one department to another giving us signs. tokens. penalties with the Key words pertaining to those signs and after we had got through. Bro Joseph turned to me (Prest B Young) and said Bro Brigham this is not arranged right but we have done the best we could under the circumstances in which we are placed, and I [DEL: Thur. 8 at the Temple officiated as Recorder :DEL] [sic] wish you to take this matter in hand and organize and systematize all these ceremonies with the signs. tokens penalties and Key words I did so and each time I got something more so that when we went through the Temple at
Nauvoo I understood and Knew how to place them there. we had our ceremonies pretty correct -
In the creation the Gods entered into an agreement about forming this earth. & putting Michael or Adam upon it. these things of which I have been speaking are what are termed the mysteries of godliness but they will enable you to understand the expression of Jesus made while in Jerusalem. This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. We were once acquainited [acquainted] with the Gods & lived with them but we had the privilige of taking upon us flesh that the spirit might have a house to dwell in. we did so and forgot all and came into the world not recollecting anything of which we had previously learned. We have heard a great deal about Adam and Eve. how they were formed &c some think he was made like an adobie and the Lord breathed into him the breath of life. for we read "from dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return" Well he was made of the dust of the earth but not of this earth. he was made just the same way you and I are made but on another earth. Adam was an immortal being when he came. on this earth he had lived on an earth similiar to ours he had received the Priesthood and the Keys thereof. and had been faithful in all things and gained his resurrection and his exaltation and was crowned with glory immortality and eternal lives and was numbered with the Gods for such he became through his faithfulness. and had begotten all the spirit that was to come to this earth. and Eve our common Mother who is the mother of all living bore those spirits in the celestial world. and when this earth was organized by Elohim. Jehovah & Michael who is Adam our common Father. Adam & Eve had the privilege to continue the work of Progression. consequently came to this earth and commenced the great work of forming tabernacles for those spirits to dwell in. and when Adam and those that assisted him had completed this Kingdom our earth he came toil. and slept and forgot all and became like an Infant child. it is said by Moses the historian that the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam and took from his side a rib and formed the woman that Adam called Eve-this should be interpreted that the Man Adam like all other Men had the seed within him to propagate his species. but not the Woman. she conceives the seed but she does not produce it. consequently she was taken from the side or bowels of her father. this explains the mystery of Mose's dark sayings in regard to Adam and Eve. Adam & Eve when they were placed on this earth were immortal beings with flesh. bones and sinues. but upon partaking of the fruits of the earth while in the garden and cultivating the ground their bodies became changed from immortal to mortal beings with the blood coursing through their veins as the action of life= Adam was not under transgression until affter he partook of the forbidden fruit this was nesesary that they might be together that man might be. the woman was found in transgression not the Man- Now in the law of Sacrifice we have the promise of a Savior and man had the privilege and showed forth his obedience by offering of the first fruits of the earth and the firstlings of the flocks- this as a showing that Jesus would come and shed his blood.
[Four lines without any writing on them.] Father Adam's oldest son (Jesus the Saviour) who is the heir of the family is Father Adams first begotten in the spirit World. who according to the flesh is the only begotten as it is written. (In his divinity he having gone back into the spirit World. and come in the spirit to Mary and she conceived for when Adam and Eve got through with their Work in this earth. they did not lay their bodies down in the dust, but returned to the spirit World from whence they came.
I felt myself much blessed in being [DEL: peraitted :DEL] [sic] permitted to Associate with such men and hear such instructions as they savored of life to me- (3)
Footnotes:
1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - Diary Excerpts of L. John Nuttall, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
