... By direction of Pres[iden]t John Taylor I mail to you two copies of the Revelation asked for in your letter of Feb. 4th 1883. And in reply to your 2nd question: Can you receive Second Anointings for your Brother David R. Crosley who died in the faith? Yes. Also in answer to your 3rd question, Can we receive Second Anointings for our dead fathers and mothers and others who we are proxy for? If your fathers and mothers were members of the Church in their lives and died as faithful members, Yes you can obtain Second Anointings for them, but if they and others who you are proxy for were NOT members of the Church in their lives, and for whom you have had certain ordinances performed in their behalf, it will be well to let that suffice for the present, as further opportunities may be granted hereafter.
[Source: L. John Nuttall to J. Crosley, Feb. 6, 1883, as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
What year did this policy change as it currently is today? i.e., The President of the Church (by his invitation only) offers this "Second Anointing" ceremony (only to LIVING General Authorities, Mission Presidents, and Temple Presidents and their wives).
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. Here is some related information:
ReplyDelete-- Oct 25, 1966
[David O. McKay diary, Oct. 25, 1966] Reference was made by President [N. Eldon] Tanner to a question raised at the lunch table last Thursday following the Council meeting to the effect that someone had said that he had seen on the desk of the president of the Manti Temple a book regarding second anointings. President [Hugh B.] Brown had conferred with President Petersen of the Manti Temple who said that he has such a book, that he has always kept it in the vault in the Temple and that no one has access to it. The Brethren had not understood that there were copies of this book in the Temples other than one in the Salt Lake Temple. I asked President Joseph Fielding Smith to look into this situation and if there is such a book, it should be brought here. President Tanner mentioned that following this discussion the question was raised about individuals in the Quorum of the Twelve who haven't received their second endowments. I asked that I be given a list of the names of the Brethren of the Twelve who have not received these blessings. (1)
-- Nov 9, 1966
[Temple] [David O. McKay diary, Nov. 9, 1966] We went over a list of the Brethren of the General Authorities who have not had their second anointings. I asked President Joseph Fielding Smith to officiate at these ordinances in behalf of these Brethren, to be assisted by Elder Spencer W. Kimball when Elder Kimball returns from South America. (1)
-- Jun 9, 1974
Spencer W. Kimball administers second anointing to his heart surgeon Russell M. Nelson and wife Dantzel in Holy of Holies of Salt Lake temple. Nelson becomes member of Twelve in 1984. There is a dramatic increase of second anointings during Kimball's presidency. (2)
-- During 1981
[Joseph T. Bentley, Life and Family of Joseph T. Bentley: An Autobiography, privately published, 1981; p. 142] About a year before we received our [mission] call to go to Hungary [in 1978], President Spencer W. Kimball wrote us a personal and sacred letter inviting us to come to Salt Lake and receive a special blessing. So on the date specified we went to Salt Lake and[,] along with ten or twelve others[,] went to the temple and[,] in the Holy of Holies in the Salt Lake Temple[,] were given the Second Endowment. It was very sacred and very impressive and a great comfort to us. We feel so grateful for this special blessing and * feel that if we remain true and faithful to the Church and to the Lord, our calling and election are sure. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com