Lifting the VailFrom The Daily Tribune: Salt Lake, Sunday Morning, September 28, 1879 Lifting the Vail.
The Mormon Endowment House is a plain adobe building, two stories high,
built like a small dwelling house, so as not to attract attention. There
are blinds to all the windows which are nearly always kept down. It is
situated in the northwest corner of the Temple block, (which includes
the Tabernacle, New Temple, &c.) and the whole block is surrounded by
a very high wall.
The Salt Lake City Endowment House,
where temple ordinances were performed, On a certain day, not necessary to mention, I went to the Endowment House
at eight o’clock in the morning, taking with me my endowment clothes (consisting
of garments, robe, cap apron and moccasins). I believe people used to
take their own oil, but that is now discontinued, as fees are charged.
I went into a small room attached to the main building (designated in
the plan by the name of Reception Room,) which was crowded with men and
women having their bundles of clothing. The entrance door is on the east
side, and in the southwest corner there is another, next to which the
desk stood, where the clerk recorded the names, etc. Around the north
and west sides were benches for people to sit. The WashingOne of the women, an officiating high
priestess, told me to come behind the curtain (which I have indicated
by a waving line), where I could hear a great deal of splashing and subdued
conversation. I went, and after I was undressed I had to step into a long
bath, about half full of water, when another woman proceeded to wash me.
I objected strongly to this part of the business, but she told me to show
a more humble sprit. However, when she got down to my feet, she let me
go, and I was turned over to the woman who had spoken to me first, and
whose name is Bathsheba Smith (one of the widows of Apostle George A.
Smith). She wore a large, shiny apron, and her sleeves tucked up above
the elbows. She looked thoroughly like business. The AnointingAnother woman was standing beside her with a large wooden spoon and some green olive oil in a cow’s horn. This woman poured the oil out of the spoon into Bathsheba’s hand, who immediately put it on my head, ears, eyes, mouth, and every part of by body, and, as she greased me, she muttered a kind of prayer over each member of my body: My head, that I might have a knowledge of the truths of God; my eyes, that I might see the glories of the kingdom; my mouth, that I might at all times speak the truth; my arms, that they might be strong in defense of the gospel; my bosom—and here I must ask my readers to not think I want to tell this part of the story, but I do want people to know the truth, and how disgusting and indelicate this thing is. Mormon people deny many of these things, and civilized and decent people can scarcely realize that this institution is an infamous as it really is, but I solemnly assert that these things do exist. To continue: My bosom, that I might nourish the children whom I might raise by my husband (I was not then married, but expected to be), and another part of my body, that I might raise up a godly seed, that they might be pillars of strength to the upbuilding and strengthening of God’s kingdom upon the earth. And so she got down to my feet, when she hoped they might be swift in the paths of righteousness and truth. she than turned me over to the woman who had washed me, and who whisperedMy New And Celestial Namein my ear. I believe I am to be called
up on the morning of the resurrection by it. It was "Sarah." I felt disappointed.
I thought I should have received a more distinguished name. She told me
that the new name must never be spoken, but often thought of, to keep
away evil spirits. I should re required to speak it once that day, but
she would tell me in what part of the ceremony, and that I should never
again have to speak it. Endowment RobesShe then told me to put on my garments. These are made in one piece. On the right breast is a square, on the left a compass, in the centre a small hole, and on the knee a large hole which is called the "Stone." We were told that, as long as we kept them on,
no harm could befall us, and that, when we changed them, we were not to
take them off all at once, but slip out a limb at a time, and immediately
dive into the clean ones. The neck was never to be cut low, or the sleeves
short, as that would be patterning after the Gentiles. After that I put
on my clothes, and in my stocking feet waited with those who were washed
and anointed until she had finished the remaining two or three. This done,
the little calico curtains (marked A and B) were drawn aside, and the
men and women stood revealed to each other. The men looked very uncomfortable
and not at all picturesque. They only had their garments and shirts on,
and they really did seem as though they were ashamed of themselves, as
well as they might be. The Week-kneed Can Back OutJoseph F. Smith then came to where
we were all waiting, and told us that, if we wanted to back out, now was
our time, because we should not be able afterward, and that we were bound
to go right through. All those who wanted to go through were to hold up
their hands, which, of course, everyone did, believing that all the good
and holy things, that were to be seen and heard in the "House of the Lord"
were yet to come. He then told us that, if ever any of us attempted to
reveal what we saw and heard in the "House," our memories would be blighted,
and we should Be Everlastingly Damned,for they were things too holy to be
spoken of between each other, after we had once left the Endowment House.
We were then told to be very quiet and listen. Joseph F. Smith then went
away. Blasphemous MummeriesIn a few moments we heard voices talking
loudly, so that the people could hear them, in the adjoining room. It
was supposed to be a conversation between Elohim (Head God) and Jehovah.
The conversation was as follows: The Door Of The Garden Of Edenwas then opened, and we all marched
in with our bundles, the men going first, as they always take the precedence,
and we ranged ourselves round the room on benches. The four sides of this
room are painted in imitation of trees, flowers, birds, wild beasts, etc.
(The artist who painted the room was evidently more acquainted with whitewashing
than painting.) The ceiling was painted blue, dotted over with golden
stars. In each corner was a Masonic emblem. In one corner is a compass,
in another a square, the remaining two were the level and the plumb. On
the east side of the room, next the door, was a small wooden altar. This gentleman was supposed to be 'the Devil.'
Certainly his appearance made the supposition quite easy (by the by, I
have since seen that same gentleman administering the sacrament in the
tabernacle on Sundays). He went up to Eve and remarked that this was a
beutiful place, and that the fruit was so nice, would she like to taste
one of those apples. She demurred a little, and said she was told not
to, and therefore mustn't. But he pretended to pluck one of the painted
apples and gave it to her, and she pretended to eat it. He then told her
to ask Adam to have some, and she did. Adam objected strongly to tasting,
knowing the penalty, but Eve eventually overcame his scruples, saying:
"Oh, my dear, they're so nice, you haven't any idea, and that nice old
gentleman here (poitning to the Devil) says that he can recommend them,
and you need not be afraid of what Jehovah says. The apron is a square half yard of green silk. A voice was then heard calling for Adam, who pretended to hide, when in came Jehovah. He gave Adam a good scolding, but finally told him that he would give him certain instructions, whereby he would have a chance to regain the presence of his Father and God after he was driven out into the world. These instructions consisted of grips, &c., and the garments he wore would protect him from all evil. (Mormons say of these garments that the pattern was revealed direct from heaven to Joseph Smith, and are the same as were originally worn by Adam.) They then put on their caps and moccasins, the women's caps being made of Swiss muslin; it is one yard square, rounded at one corner so as to fit the head, and there are strings on it which tie under the chin. The moccasins are made of linen or calico. The men's are made exactly like those of pastry cooks, with a bow on the right side. I should here mention, before I go further, that
Bathsheba Smith and one of the priests enacted the parts of Adam and Eve,
and so stood sponsors for the rest of us, who were individually supposed
to be Adams and Eves. The men then took the oath of chastity and the
women the same; but they don't consider ploygamy at all unchaste, but
said that it was an heaven ordained law, and that a man to be exalted
in the world to come must have more than one wife. The women then took
the oath of obedience to their husbands, having to look up to them as
thier gods. It is not possible for a woman to go to Christ, except through
her husband. Obedience to the Mormon PriesthoodAnd now the highest or grandest grip of the Melchisedec priesthood was given. We clasped each other round the hand with the point of the index finger resting on the wrist, and little fingers firmly linked together. The place on the wrist where the index finger points is supposed to be the place where Christ was nailed to the cross, but they tore out and he had to be nailed again; and so you place your second finger beside the index on the wrist; it is called the Sure Sign of the Nail,and if this grip is properly given,
it is very hard to pull apart. The robe was changed from the left to the
right sholder to receive the grip. This over, the priest took a man to the vail to one of the openings,
(marked 1,) where he knocked with a small wooden mallet that hung on the
wooden support. A voice on the other side of the vail (it was supposed
to be Peter's) asked who was there, when the priest answering for the
man said, "Adam, having been faithful, desires to enter." The priest then
led the man up to the west side of the vail, where he had to put his hands
through and clasp the man or Peter (to whom he whispered his new name,
and the only one he ever tells, for they must never tell their celestial
names to their wives, although the wives must tell theirs to their husbands)
through the holes in the vail. He was then allowed to go through to the
other side, which was supposed to be heaven, and this is where a strong
imagination might be of some use, for anything more unlike heaven, I can't
conceive. The man having got through, he went to the opening (No. 2) and
told the gatekeeper to call for the woman he was about to marry, telling
him her name. She then stepped up to the vail where the marks "B" are.
They couldn't see each other, but put their hands through the openings,
one of their hands on each other's shoulder and the other around the waist.
(The marks at the plan at the sides are for the arms, and all the marks
in the plan on the vail are exactly as they are in the endowment house.
The top round mark is the place where they spoke through, and the square,
compass and stone correspond with the marks on the garments; the two bottom
marks were where the feet are put through,) with the arms so fixed, the
knees are placed within each other, the feet of course being the same,
the woman's given name was then whispered through the vail, then her new
and celestial name, then the priestess who stood by to instruct the women
told them to repeat after her a most disgusting formula or oath. I can
not remember it thoroughly, but what I do, consists of "the heart and
the liver, the belly and the thighs, the marrow and the bones." The last
and highest grip of the Melchezedec priesthood was then given through
the vail. Before I go further I must tell how they believe the entrance into heaven
is to be gained on the morning of the resurrection. Peter will call up
the men and women, (for it is not possible for a woman to be resurrected
or exalted, or to be made a queen in heaven, unless some man takes pity
on her and raises her). If the marks on the garments are found to correspond
with those on the vail, (the dead are buried in the whole paraphernalia),
if you can give the grips and tokens, and your new name, and you are dressed
properly in your robes, why, then, one has a sure permit to heaven, and
will pass by the angels, (who they suppose are to be only ministering
servants,) to a more exalted glory; the more wives they have, they think,
the higher their glory will be. |