160 years ago today - May 19, 1856

[Heber C. Kimball letter] ... These men and women whom you recommend, must be individuals, who pay their tithing from year to year; who pray in their families, and do not speak against the authorities of the Church and Kingdom of God; nor steal; nor lie; nor interfere with their neighbors things; nor their neighbors wives or husbands; who attend strictly to meetings and prayer meetings, and those who pay due respect to their presiding officers, and Bishops and those who do not swear. We shall expect you to pickup the old and infirm; the lame and blind and the righteous poor, but not the devils poor. We would like to see many of the young and sprightly young persons who are strict to obey their parents. We shall require the Bishops to send their names in a letter fully recommended and tell them to qualify themselves by washing their bodies in pure water and bringing Temple clothing and oil for their anointings. As they live in the country, we want them to bring their eggs, butter, meat, bread and flour, and the luxuries of [the farm] fit to grace the tables of the House of the Lord, to feed the men and women who administer unto them; and if there should be any left, that we may give it to the poor; and in so doing God will bless you and we will bless you. This by order of the First Presidency.

[Source: Heber C. Kimball to David Evans, May 19, 1856, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

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