| As he was on a mission in Kentuky and Tennessee when the endowment was introduced in April 1836, Wilford receives his on April 2–3, 1837. Prepares by reading world history. Theocracy to come §. Water washing, perfumed washing, second day washings §. Washes, perfumes others §. Anointing by quorums §. Anointing §. Vows to obtain a blessing from the Lord §. Pray, fast, remain awake 24 hours §. |
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| April 2 |
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April 2nd Attended worship in the Lords house upon this Sabbath day. |
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WWJ
Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 9 vols., compiled by Scott G. Kenney (Midvale: Signature Books, 1981-1984).
1:128–129 (Apr. 2, 1837). |
| Reads world history |
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I have spent the time for several days past In perusing the Outlines of ancient and modern HISTORY on a new plan, By Rev Royal Robbins. |
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Robbins' two-volume Outlines of Ancient and Modern History on a New Plan Embracing Biographical Notices of Illustrious Persons and General Views of the Geography, Population, Politics, Religion, Military and Naval Affairs … was published in 1835 and reprinted in 1849, 1862, and 2009. |
| World history |
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It strikes the reflecting mind with deep sensibility to contemplate the scenery of the rise progress decline & fall of the Nations and kingdoms of the earth from the days of ADAM until 1837 years after Christ. |
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| Fulfillment of prophesy |
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And it is equally interesting to contemplate the day that is now at hand & hath already began in fulfillment of Ancient prophecy in bringing the Church of Christ out of the wilderness in esstablishing Israel upon those lands by a Theocratical government in fulfillment of the [128] covenants God made with Abram Isaac & Jacob. … |
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| Seventy, special witnesses |
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As this hath began in my day & I am called to at a part in the work by being placed with the first Seventy Elders of Israel to become a special witness of Jesus christ to all Nations I need much faith fortitude, holiness, & wisdom. |
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| Free of blood |
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May the Lord enable me not to seek honour from man but God & be faithful in clearing my garments of the blood of Gentile & Jew and do honour to the HOLY Priesthood & the Annointing that now awaiteth me. |
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| April 3 |
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April 3rd The day had now arived for preperations for the solumn assembly the Annointing & the endowment of the Elders of Israel or at least for those that were not endowed in Kirtland the strong hold of the daught[ers] of Zion in the spring of 1836 … |
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| Counsel |
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I upon this third day of April met in the house of the Lord with a number of the seventies to receiev counsel respecting our washing & anointing. |
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| Prepares perfumes and oil |
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I was appointed with Elder G. Meeks to visit President F. G. Williams & have the perfumes & oil prepared against the day following. I consider’d it a privilege to wait upon the Elders of Israel in this thing that we might become the annointed of the Lord according to the words of the Poet & the Revelations of JESUS CHRIST. |
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| Phelps lyrics |
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We’ll wash and be washed and with oil be anointed
Withal not omit the washing of feet
For he that receiveth his PENNY appointed
Must surely be clean at the hearvest of wheat. |
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This is a stanza 4 of W. W. Phelps' "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning." It has been omitted in recent hymn books.
PENNY is an allusion to the parable of the laborer in the vineyard (Matt 20:1-16). |
| First washing |
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After attending to the duties above spoken I repaired to a room in Company with Elder Meeks & Priest J Turpin to attend to our first washing. |
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| Second and third washings |
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After washing our bodies from head to foot in soap & watter we then washed ourselves in clear watter next in perfumed spirits. The spirit of God was with us [129] & we had a spiritual time. We spent the evening with several Elders in Prayer before God & the Power of God rested upon us. |
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| April 4 |
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At 1 pm the following day, Wilford and twenty-three elders meet at Jonathan Hales' home "for the purpose of attending to the ordinance of washing the body with clean watter & perfumes that our bodies might be prepared for the anointing." |
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elders: used generically for elders, seventies, and high priests. In this case all were probably all seventies. Wilford was a seventy; and Joseph Young, one of the seven presidents of the Seventy presided. |
Fourth washing
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… Myself & Elder G. W. Meeks were the first washed under the hands of President Joseph Young. We then assisted President Young in washing our Brethren the Elders. Much of the spirit of God rested upon us. |
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| Washes others |
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I washed & perfumed the bodies of a number of my Brethren & the interview Closed after expressing our feelings to each other. |
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| Quorums meet in the evening |
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At early candle light the seventies meet with the elders in one "apartment," of the upper floor of the House of the Lord, and the deacons, teachers, and priests in another. Three presidents of the Seventy—Hazen Aldrich, Joseph Young, and Zebedee Coltrin—are present. Zebedee opens with prayer |
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& after conversing plainly to those who were to be anointed they proceded to business. |
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| Consecrated oil |
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The presidency consecrated the oil before God that it might be holy. |
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| Person consecrated, anointed, blessed |
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The person to be anointed then took a seat & the presidency then laid hands upon his head & Consecrated him unto God & then anointed him in the name of the Lord & pronounced such blessings upon his head as the testimony of Jesus shall direct which is the spirit of prophecy. … |
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| Fifteen anointed |
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There were fifteen annointed in our quorum mostly by President Coultrin. The power of [130] God rested upon us. |
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| Anointed, blessed |
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President Coultrin anointed me & the following are some of the blessing that he pronounced … |
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Wilford Woodruff's Kirtland Endowment Blessing |
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The meeting ends about 10 a.m. Wilford, Joseph B. Noble, and G. W. Meeks "spend the night (after being anointed) in prayer & fasting before God." |
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| Fast, stay awake until God blesses |
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The vales being closed We entered the Elders pulpit & there upon our knees we plead with God & we covenanted with each other in the holy stand that we would not give sleep to our eyes neither take food until we received a blessing from God by the outpourings of his spirit upon us if it was until the end of three days. |
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| Quorums meet separately |
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And according to our Covenant we commenced praying & a [131] part of the night we had a severe trial of our faith by great temptation from Satan but before the day we gained a good degree of victory over the Devil & the Lord poured out his spirit upon us & we felt it good to be in the house of God while nature was hushed in silenced by the sable shades of night. |
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| Pray, fast, remain awake 24 hours |
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After spending the night in prayer we returned to our homes in the morning intending to spend the day in prayer & fasting for still greater blesings this being upon |
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I spent a part of the day in attending the high Council the remainder in writing, Prayer, & fasting. |
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I again repaired to the upper <lower> part of the house of the Lord at 5 oclock PM. with the quorum of the Seventies for a solimn assemby anointing &c. Three out of the seven presidents were present & anointed twelve. … I returned home with those bren with Whom I had covenanted for a blessing & took some food & retired to rest being 24 hours since we had taken food or sleep. |
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