Mormon LDS ordinance of second anointing
THE ORDINANCE OFSECOND 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.
/s/ Vilate Kimball
2. Journal of Wilford Woodruff; May 5, 1844; CHO; Wilford Woodruff speaking.
I called my family together & blessed them. Phoebe washed my feet that I might be clean every whit.
3. Journal of Heber C. Kimball, “Book 92:, CHO; March 27, 1845; Typed w/o sic.
. . . in the Evening received the washing of my feet by Sarah W[hitney]
On December 15, 1845 we [David Fullmer and her] received our endowments and on the 19th of January, 1846, in the Temple of the Lord at Nauvoo we received our second anointings and ordination and the next day, the 20th of January we attended to the last anointings, that of the feet.
Williard Richards born Jan 24 1804 Hopkinton Middlesex Mass– & Jenntte Richards, (was born Aug 21–1817. Walkerford Chaidgley Lancashire England deceased) were sealed Husband & wife for time & all Eternity Amelia Elizabeth Peirson acting proxy for & in behalf of the (deceased) who died at Nauvoo; July 9th 1845 Done in presence of Heber Chase Kimble Orson Hyde & J.D. Lee Pres. B. Young officiating at the Alter done at 5 minutes to 9. evening—
Jennette Richards was Sealed to Williard as his wife for time and all Eternity–& with him attended to all the ordinances pertaining to the House of the Lord–to & including the washing of feet in the days of Pres. Joseph Smith Jr the first Prophet of the Church of the Last days–
F. D. Richards
[Note: This entry was in the handwriting of the recorder John D. Lee, though F. D. Richards was the clerk on the occasion of the performance of the ordinances.]
6. Phinehas Richards Journal; Church Archives; January 22d 1846
January 22d 1846. Visited the Temple with Wealthy she was sealed to me by the Prophet B. Young and then we repaired to the High Priests room where we were Anointed King and Queen. Priest and Priestess to the Most high God for Time and through out all Eternity by P.P. Pratt as mouth…
February 1st I labored in the Temple the last 8 working days Annointing in the High Priests Room. learnt the ordnance of the washing & anointing of feet for burial.
7. Journal of John D. Lee; February 5, 1847, Friday; Winter Quarters, Omaha, Nebraska, 1846-1847.
Morning pleasant. Pres. B. Young’s health is improving. At 10 Alanson Allen, my grandson, arrived in camp for the settlements in Mo. Brought in a load of meal. Said that Caroline [Wife No.4] and his mother’s family were all well. Today at 1 p.m. the aged men of Israel, called the Silver Grays, met and celebrated the praise of Zion’s kings at the hall. Pres. B. Young, Kimble and others of the 21 participated in the worship. About 9 I was washed in salaratus and water from head to foot, afterward in spirits, then anointed in like manner by Louisa [Wife No. 3] and Rachel [Wife No. 6] (as I told them) preparatory to my burial. They both were very kind and attentive to me. In the eve. I felt some better. Weather warm.
So, she. Nancy Wilson, departed this life at the age of 41 years having been the mother of eleven living children, nine of them on my hands. . .[she] died having been in the church 15 years. having become a member at the age of 26 years during which time she has attended every ordinance of the Gospel that has been offered in her day. and in fact all that I know anything about. She was baptized for the remission of her sins and had hands laid upon her for the reception of the Holy Ghost. and confirmed in the Church and has received blessings from time to time.
At the temple at Nauvoo she received her washings and anointings even to become a queen and a priestess, after which time she attended to one other ordinance which was to wash the feet of her husband and anoint him to be her king and priest and Savior, that she might have claim on him at the resurrection… Nancy Wilson, who knew and died in triumph of faith in the gospel of the Son of God, after having lived and obeyed all the laws and ordinances of the Church. . . died full in the faith of a glorious resurrection with the just and was buried on the Missouri Bluff just above Kanesville [20 July 1851].
9. Mary Ellen A. Kimball Journal, Church Archives; February 18, 1857; W/O sic.
[Heber C. Kimball] came to our room [and] said he did not feel well. spoke of an ordinance which he had previously taught and said that only one of his wives had attended to it. he then spoke of our Savior and his wives but more particularly of Mary [and her] faithfulness to her Lord Said Mary felt to say that she intended to devote her time to him for he had told her that his time was short and he must soon leave them Now she says I design to attend to his words and teaching Let Martha and the rest say what they would. The Savior then told Martha to let Mary alone for she had chosen the better part which should never be taken from her Now said He follow me and you shall see my father This she did even to the tomb and was the first to see him resurrected from the grave.
10. Samuel Hollister Rogers Journal; BYU Special Collections, Mss/1134/V.II/p.78 22 September 1879
Monday 22 September 1879 the evening of the fifty second Anniversary of the Angel delivering of the Plates of the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Lord, I dedicated the house and room also blest the Oil after which my Ruth Anointed my feet and wiped them with the hair of her head, then kissed them after the pattern as written in the Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salt Lake City Feb 24th President Woodruff
Dear Brother
Will you please answer a few questions. I wish to ask. you I am the widow of Thomas. C Jones of your Circle he died soon after we came from Logan Temple working for our Dead and having our 2d Ontingins where we told to attend to the Washing of Feet at home the baby was sick after we came home so I asked Bro Jones when we should attend to it and he said we had better wait till the baby is better but he was taken sick and Died before it was attended to can that be done by Proxy or not as I feel sorry about it for he was a good man and I gave him 2 living Wives and 3 Dead ones and worked hard to help him to keep them.
[Letter from Pres. Woodruff to Eliza I. Jones; Church Archives under date:]
Feb. 24th, 1888.
Mr. Eliza I. Jones
10th Ward, Salt Lake City
Dear Sister:
The ordinance of which you speak. and which you say you failed to attend to before the death of your husband. is one that should not be written about, and it cannot be attended to by proxy. Your husband is dead and, so far as the ordinances is concerned, it is all right.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7th, 1893 . . . At 6 o’clock I went to the [Salt Lake] Temple where I met my folks, we having received permission from Pres. Woodruff to receive our second anointings. Father [George Q. Cannon of the First Presidency] was there to perform the ceremony. Bro. [Francis M.] Lyman was also there to be with his wife Susan D. Callister Lyman as she received this blessing. Father anointed and spoke the words. John D. T. McAllister held the horn [containing the consecrated oil], and Lorenzo Snow and John R. Winder were the witnesses. Sister Lyman was the first anointed in the presence of us all, she thus being the first to receive this blessing in this building. I then received mine, and my wives followed in the order of their marriages. I felt very much pleased to be thus favored. The ordinance of the washing of feet was explained by Bro. McAllister, after the anointings had been given.
30 May 1901 [Thursday]: . . . This afternoon my wife and I took train for Salt Lake City to get our second anointings and attend 100th anniversary of Brigham Young’s birth.
31 May 1901 [Friday]: Went to Temple this morning presenting recommend which Pres. Snow gave me about 3 months ago. We had not come before for our second anointing as the baby was young. and because we desired to become settled in our new home.
I was called to speak during the services of the temple. Dwelt principally upon the necessity of keeping awake during temple services and keeping awake in our duties. I consider this a very great honor to be called to speak in the House of the Lord. Bp John R Winder annointed us and Elder Madsen instructed us. These are the greatest blessings that are bestowed upon man in the flesh. We were both melted in tears and I felt the patriarchal spirit of pure affection more than I have done before. The witnesses to the annointing were John R. Winder annointed. Adolph Madsen assisted John Nicholson Recorder.
21 June 1901 [Friday; at their home; he was the Wasatch Stake President in Heber Utah at this time]: This evening from about 9-30 to 12 O.C. my wife and I attended to the second part of the ordinance of second anointings. We besides the ordinance itself sang “We thank thee O God for a prophet,” conversed concerning our duties to each other and children, read from John XII: 1-8 verses, read the Rev. on the Eternity of the Marriage Covenant. Section 132. We dedicated [the] room for the purpose of this meeting. Closed by singing: “Oh My father thou that dwellest.” Anna was mouth in preliminary prayer, I gave the dedicatory prayer and the benediction. The spirit of the Lord was with us and we felt nearer together than usual: were much encouraged in pressing onward in an endeavor to succeed in life. We fasted during the day and broke our fast together a little after 12 O.C.