-- Sep 2, 1887
The Indian girl Viroqua Johnson[,] concerning whose second anointings you write to me, I think is a case that should be deferred for the present. You are at liberty to have her baptized for and have someone have Endowments for her: but at present I think it is improper for the ordinance of Second Anointing to be administered in her behalf. [Wilford Woodruff to James H. Martineau, Sept. 2, 1887] (1)
-- Sep 5, 1887
We send the enclosed letter to you for Brother James H. Martineau, and send it unsealed that you may read its contents and obtain therefrom our views concerning the principle alluded to by him. We must be more strict in enforcing the rule which is here mentioned in regard to heirship in our Temples, and people must not be permitted to follow their whims in being baptized for any and every body whom they may choose to officiate for; and persons should be questioned upon this subject of being baptized for those not of their own kin. We are satisfied that no man has a right[,] outside of his own kindred[,] to attend to ordinances for the dead without consultation and permission from the Presiding authority of the Church. But as this, perhaps, would lead to great delay and large correspondence, you as President of the Temple are authorized to exercise a wise discretion in permitting persons to be baptized for friends, when they satisfy you that they have no representative in the Church. [Wilford Woodruff to Marriner Wood Merrill, Sept. 5, 1887] (1)
-- Oct 26, 1887
Your letter of the 18th inst. in which you express your wishes concerning an Indian girl who has been sealed to you receiving her second anointing, and also respecting her doing work for 7 or 8 of the early martyrs, unmarried women, and having them sealed to you, has been received. I think it is better for you to defer the ordinance of second anointing for this Indian girl who has been sealed to you since her death. It will be no los[s] to her for the present. As to the martyrs of whom you speak, we see no impropriety in having the ordinance of baptism attended to for them, especially if you know who they are: but before having them sealed to you, you should certainly have some knowledge of them and of your right to have them, as others may claim that they have a better right than you hereafter. [Wilford Woodruff to James H. Martineau, Oct. 26, 1887] (1)
-- Feb 28, 1888
[Marriner W. Merrill Diary] Olonzo came to the Temple and was baptized for his health and administered to. (2)
-- Oct 13, 1888
[Marriner W. Merrill Diary] Saturday. Went home with Temple team. Lumber wagon team went on to Lewiston. Stayed at Sarah's place. Went to South Farm Sunday, and went up to reservoir on Monday. Came to Logan on Monday. Sophia Angman came with Olonzo and me. She was baptized for her health on Tuesday, October 16. (2)
-- Nov 27, 1888
[Marriner W. Merrill Diary] We baptized 300 today. (2)
-- Dec 24, 1888
[Marriner W. Merrill Diary] In the Temple 17 baptisms today as tomorrow Temple will be closed. Am alone in Temple this evening, Christmas eve. I sent car of mill stuff to Salt Lake G. T. O. (General Tithing Office) today as follows: 5,000 pounds Golden Harvest flour, 8,000 pounds High Patent flour, and 7,000 pounds bran and shorts. (2)
-- Jan 29, 1889
[Marriner W. Merrill Diary] We baptized 252 today. Thermometer 10 below zero at 8 a. m. (2)
-- Feb 6, 1889
[Marriner W. Merrill Diary] We baptized 635 today. On Saturday Professor J. M. Tanner lectured in Temple, Charles W. Nibley being unable to lecture on account of Ellen, his wife, losing her child 2 years old. (2)
-- Feb 21, 1889
Church in April 1887, a month after the Edmunds Tucker Act became law, announcing that recommends for new plural marriages would be suspended. This letter was read in general conference that month (Richard S. Van Wagoner, Mormon Polygamy: A History [Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1989], 130). Remembered when the Nauvoo Temple was near completion, the saints look[ed] forward with fond anticipation to the time when they could go forth and do a work for their dead; but many were driven from Nauvoo before their anticipations could be realized and some of the last company, who did go through[,] never got further than the Terrestrial Room. Remember when men and women were baptized in the Miss[issippi] River, men for women and women for men, but they were told that this was wrong and that men should be baptized for men and women for women[,] which they did, in a Temple, in a font resting upon 12 wooden oxen, after which [it was] changed to stone oxen. In those days people flocked to the House of God by thousands to do a work for their dead. [David H. Cannon, Temple Minute Book, St. George, Feb. 21, 1889] (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship
2 - Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
