-- Jun 21, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... I then went to the Endowment House & there was Baptized [ ] & W Woodruff sealed 145 Couple for the Dead & J F Smith 36 Couple. I was vary much distressed in my lungs before I Closed. (1)
-- Jun 22, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 22d I went into the Endowment House with my family and others & we were Baptized for our dead friends for 924 Nine hundred & Twenty Four mostly for the Hart Family & Carters As Follows: Azmon Woodruff for 103 Wilford Woodruff sen 110, Ezra Carter Foss 46, Matthias Foss Cowley 130, Bulah A. Woodruff Beatie 123, Emma Smith Woodruff for 62, Emma M. Woodruff 106, Sarah B Foss for 21, Sarah Elizabeth Foss Fox 33, Rhoda H Richards 25, Elizabeth Pierce 40 Ida Foss Woolly 93, & Sarah Elizabett Richards 32. I then Returned home and went to the field & back. 6.
I Sealed 2 dead women to my Brother Azmon Woodruff Harriet Cole & Lydia Ann Wheeler Also Elizabeth Hart to Wakeman Stanley. Samuel H. B. Smith done all the Baptizing during the two days labor. (1)
-- October 1, 1876
A woman is considered healed from possession by an evil spirit when baptized for her health [George W. Hill, Letter, October 1, 1876] (2)
-- Oct 11, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 11 Oct 1876 I spent this day in the Endowment House. Brother Samuel H. B. Smith Baptized this day Persons 1,207 times for the dead, the most ever Baptized in this last dispensation in one day by one man, and probably the most Ever Baptized since the world began in one day by one man. Daniel H. Wells sealed for the Dead 102 Couple & Wilford Woodruff 108 Couple Total 210 sealings. (1)
-- Oct 12, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] Oct 12 I also spent this day in the Endowment House. We Baptized 603, And Daniel H Wells sealed at the altar 175 Couple mostly for the dead and Wilford Woodruff sealed at the Altar for the Dead 125 Couple. Total sealed at the Altar 300 Couple in one day the most sealings Ever performed in one day by two men in this dispensation, if not during the age of the world. (1)
-- Oct 18, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] Oct 18 I spent the day in the Endowment House. Brother S. H. B. Smith Baptized 1,119. D. H. Wells sealed 94 Couple for the Dead W. Woodruff 86, G. Q. Cannon 53. Total Sealed 233 Couple 16 of which were sealed to W Woodruff. (1)
-- Oct 19, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... I spent the day in the Endowment House. We Baptized 1,300. W Woodruff sealed 75 and my lungs Entirely gave out and I had to leave the House. D H Wells sealed 150, & Joseph F Smith sealed 35 Total sealed 250. (1)
-- Nov 10, 1876
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 10 In Company with President Young G Q Cannon B. Young jr I visited the Temple and went through evry depart[ment] of it from Baptismal font in the Basement to the top of the Roof and it was a glorious sight. The power of God rested upon us. The Temple is nearly finished and will soon be ready for dedication. The Temple in St George is 143 feet long, 93 feet wide, 84 feet high to the square and is as white as snow both inside and out and is a Beautiful Contrast with the red appearance of the surrounding Country. The Stands at the Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthoods were Plain but vary Beautiful. The following are the letters to be placed upon the East Stand:
P.M.P.H President of the Melchizedeck Priesthood
P.S.Z. President of the Stake of Zion
P.H.P.Q. President of the High Priest Quorum
P.E.Q. President of the Elders Quorum
Letters upon the West Stand are
P.A.P. President of the Aaronic Priesthood
P.P.Q. President of the Priest Quorum
P.T.Q. President of the Teachers Quorum
P.D.Q. President of the Deacons Quorum
After Passing over the House we returned to our abode. The main Hall of the Temple is 99 feet long 78 wide. I wrote 4 letters to Phebe, Emma, Sarah & Delight. (1)
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 - Stapley, Jonathan & Wright, Kristine, '"They Shall Be Made Whole": A History of Baptism for Health,' Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
