Mormon LDS ordinance of second anointing

THE ORDINANCE OF SECOND ANOINTINGS

The Washing of The Feet

by Richard Ware

The following are concepts that are important to understand in order to comprehend the ramifications of this ordinance.

1. Heber C. Kimball and his wife, Vilate Kimball, were anointed king and queen, priest and priestess in January of 1844. In April of this year Heber receives the second part of the ordinance from Vilate. She anointed not only his feet, but notice all else that she did. And not only was it a "washing", but also an "anointing" as well. The purpose was that Vilate might have claim upon Heber in the resurrection. (1)

2. Wilford Woodruff and his wife Phoebe received the first part of their second anointings in January of 1844. In May of this same year, Phoebe washed Wilford that he "might be clean every whit." (2)

3. Here Heber C. Kimball receives the washing of feet from a plural wife. (3)

4. Rhoda Ann Fullmer calls this part of the ordinance "the last anointings." (4)

5. The washing of the feet is here referred to as an ordinance "pertaining to the house of the Lord". Jennette Richards indicates that she attended to this ordinance with Willard Richards. her husband. (5)

6. Phinehas Richards receives his second anointings under the hands of Parley P. Pratt, not the President of the Church. Phinehas indicates his learning about the "washing & anointing of feet for burial." (6)

7. Nancy Wilson attended to the washing of the feet after she had become a queen and a priestess. She anointed her husband to be her king, priest. and Savior, and that she might have claim on him in the resurrection. (8)

8. Indicates the Savior was married. Spoke of an ordinance that only one of his wives had attended to. (9)

9. Ruth anoints Samual's feet, wipes them with her hair, and then kisses them after the New Testament pattern. Both the house and room had been dedicated for this purpose. (10)

10. It is not necessary to perform this part of the ordinance by proxy. (11)

11. George Q. Cannon performs the second anointing upon his son, Abraham H. Cannon. After this ordinance the washing of the feet ordinance was explained. (12)

12. John R. Winder administered the second anointings upon William Smart and his wife. They later dedicated a room in their home wherein they performed "the second part of the ordinance of second anointings." (13)

Matt. 26

6. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

8. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9. For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

12. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

13. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Mark 14

3. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

4. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

5. For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

6. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

9. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Luke 7

36. And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.

38. And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

John 11

1. Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

John 12

1. Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with odour of the ointment.

4. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

5. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

7. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.*

8. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

*7. I.V.: ". . .for she hath preserved this ointment until now, that she might anoint me in token of my burial."

Footnotes

1. Journal of Heber C. Kimball, "Book 91", CHO; April 1, 1844; Typed w/o sic.

Apriel the first day 1844 I Heber C Kimball received the washing of my feet, and was annointed by my wife Vilate fore my burial. that is my feet head Stomach. Even as Mary did Jesus, that She mite have a claim on him in the Reserrection

in the City of Nauvoo [next page]

In 1845 I received the washing of my feet by [left black in the original; Heber C. Kimball's handwriting stops here and Vilate Kimball's begins:]

I Vilate Kimball do hereby certify that on the first day of April 1844 I attended to washing and anointing the head Stomach and feet of my dear companion Heber C Kimball, that I may have claim upon him in the morning of the first resurrection.