-- Jun 6, 1905
There is a rule in the temple forbidding girls over years entering that building unless they have either had their endowments or are going there for that purpose, and this rule is being strictly adhered to. But in the case of Sister Christy Ellingson, we thought, under the circumstances, we would make her an exception to the rule. You may therefore issue a recommend in her favor stating thereon the nature of the work to be done by her, namely, to be baptized for her health. [Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to Andrew Fjeld, June 6, 1905] (1)
-- During ca. 1905
... INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING TEMPLE ORDINANCE WORK At least one year should be allowed to elapse after death of individuals before Temple ordinances are performed in their behalf, unless it is known the deceased persons were faithful members of the Church, or that they were prepared to obey the Gospel before their death. Individuals who were members of the Church, at time of death, do not need to have the ordinance of baptism performed in their behalf, unless they had become unworthy of membership. * A living woman cannot receive endowments while her husband is alive, if the husband has not been endowed. * Baptisms, or other ordinances, must not be performed in behalf of any individual whose death is not positively known, except one hundred years, at least, have elapsed from date of birth. When there is no evidence of the dead having attained a sufficient age in life, (fourteen years or over), ENDOWMENTS should not be performed in behalf of such persons until after the evidence is obtained. The ordinance of endowment must not be repeated in behalf of any individual who has once been endowed, living or dead. * The dead who have been endowed can only be represented in any vicarious work by those who have themselves been endowed. A living person cannot be represented by proxy in any Temple ordinances. When baptisms for the dead have been attended to, the other ordinances to which the individuals are eligible should be performed without delay. Husband and wife, dead, should be sealed on same day they are endowed, if possible. Those who do ordinance work have not the right to make matches between people who are deceased, except in cases of persons who were married in life. In all other instances the President of the Temple must be consulted. Persons who committed murder or suicide, or who apostatized or were excommunicated from the Church, cannot be officiated for except by special permission of the President of the Temple. He should be appealed to in all matters involving doubt or complications. Before children are sealed to parents or adopted, all the other ordinances to which they are eligible should first be attended to. All the members of a family should be sealed to their parents at the same time, if possible. If the sealing is to another person than the father or mother, that fact must be stated. Children under eight years of age do not need to have any Temple ordinances performed in their behalf, other than being sealed to parents if they were not born in the Covenant. Those eight years of age must be baptized, and dead children, who attained over fourteen years of age in life, should be endowed before being sealed to parents. No persons should have the ordinance of Sealing of Children performed for those who are not of their own lineage. Those who do Temple work, or get it done, should be careful to designate their proper relationship to each one of the dead. A clear distinction should be made between blood kindred and those to whom they are married; the latter whom are known as relatives in law, thus a man is nephew-in-law to his uncle's wife, cousin-in-law to his cousin's wife, etc. If the dead are known to be blood relations, but the degree of relationship cannot be stated, the word RELATIVE is to be given. When there is no family connection, the word FRIEND should be used. The relatives, or friends[,] of a wife should be listed separately from those of her husband, and the work for her kindred should be at the instance of her brother, if he is a member of the Church, or of her eldest son. In the performance of work for the dead, the right of heirship (blood relationship) should be sacredly regarded. When practicable, relatives should represent the dead. The name of the individual at whose instance (by whose authorization or permission) the work is done, and his or her relationship to each of the dead is required for [the] record, if the relationship is known. As a rule, the eldest living MALE representative of the family, who is a member of the Church, is the recognized heir. Any individuals who are eligible may act as proxies for the dead but, unless the proxy is the heir, their relationship to the dead, if any, is not to be entered. It is advised that individuals having Temple ordinances performed should limit that work to persons bearing the SURNAMES of their parents and grandparents, and who resided in localities where those ancestors lived; that provides four family lines. To include other lines than those involves the probability of repeating Temple ordinances that individuals representing other families may have a better right to have performed. Every possible precaution should be taken to prevent such undesirable repetition. Temple work may be done for dead individuals who were married to your blood relations, but the family lines of such relatives-in-law must not be included in that work.
The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scrupulously clean. Those who are to be baptized, or officiate in endowments, should each bring a towel for personal use. Shoes worn out of doors should be removed from the feet, in the Temple Annex, and slippers substituted therefor. Males should be ordained Elders before they come to the Temple to receive their own endowments. The Saints who attend to baptisms for the dead should be amply dressed in white before entering the font. All participants in the ordinance of sealing children should also be dressed in white. Males over 21 or females over 18 years of age, are not permitted to witness or take part in any Temple ordinances, except baptism for the dead, until they have received their own endowments. Each individual should be provided with the endowment clothing they need. The garments must be white, and of the approved pattern; they must not be altered or mutilated, and are to be worn as intended, down to the wrist and ankles, and around the neck. These requirements are imperative; admission to the Temple will be refused to those who do not comply therewith. The living who receive their own endowments are required to state their names in full, date and place of birth, date of baptism, and names of parents. Couples who come to the Temple to be married (sealed), must bring Licenses issued by County Clerks of this State; if this is not complied with the ceremony will not be performed. Those who have been legally married before do not require such licenses. Marriages of first cousins are prohibited by state law. Personal permission, or authorization by legal affidavit, of parent or guardian is required by County Clerks before issuing a license for marriage of a man under 21 or a woman under 18 years of age. Marriages can not be performed in the Temple unless the individuals are endowed. Husbands and wives must be sealed before their children can be sealed to them. Individuals, or families, who cannot conveniently attend personally to the performance of Temple work in behalf of their dead kindred, or friends, can make arrangements to have such work done at their instance. There is no charge made by the Temple authorities for performance of the ordinances, but, when proxies have to be obtained to act in endowments for the dead, which occupies the time of an entire session in Temple work, it is customary to pay such proxies a small sum, to partly remunerate them for personal expenses; usually a man receives 75 cents, and a woman 50 cents, for such service. Persons who desire to perform Temple ordinances in behalf of the dead, but have not names of their own kindred, or friends, for that purpose, can be provided with names from lists that are on file in the Temple Recorder's office. The Saints residing in Missions of the Church, who desire to have Temple ordinances performed in behalf of their dead kindred, can have arrangements made therefor by applying to their respective Mission Presidents. Those who reside in Stakes of Zion are advised to have their Temple work performed in the Temple that is nearest the locality where they reside. * The Temple is open on all working days at 7:30 a.m., and all ought to be in the building not later than 8:30. Monday is devoted to taking the record[s] of Baptisms for the dead, which are performed on Tuesday. Baptismal records are not taken after eleven o'clock Mondays. The higher ordinances are attended to on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; the record of this work is taken between the hours of 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. on the day it is performed. The earlier the Saints come to [turn] in record[s] the better. Children who are to be sealed to parents should not be brought to the Temple before 12 m. [noon] A second company, taking endowments for the dead only, is received in the Temple at 12 m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The morning company includes all who are to receive their own endowments, or who have sealings to perform, and those who reside outside of Salt Lake City. All who enter the Temple must patiently observe good order and proper decorum; loud and irrelevant conversation should be avoided. ALL WHO COME TO THE TEMPLE TO PERFORM ORDINANCE WORK ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE DONATIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, TO AID IN MEETING NECESSARY EXPENSE, BUT THE POOR WHO HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE ARE EQUALLY WELCOME. Recommends for the privilege to work in the House of the Lord must be renewed every six months. Each individual needs a recommend, including children over eight years of age. [Joseph F. Smith, ca. 1905; emphasis in original18] (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
