125 years ago today - Jul 31, 1886

Owing to the peculiar circumstances in which we are placed, there has been some confusion and delay connected with the sending of recommends to the House of the Lord, to be endorsed by me. To obviate this difficulty, we desire you to instruct the Saints who intend to have Temple work done, to procure their recommends sufficiently early, that they can receive them properly endorsed by me, at their own homes, before they start, instead of going to the Temple and awaiting the receipt of the recommend there by mail. If they have them in their possession before they start, they can make their arrangements for going, and for the time they will remain, and for their return, and the expense they will be at, with some degree of certainty. We therefore urge this upon your attention, and desire that you represent the advantages of this system to all the Saints in your Stakes and Wards. [John Taylor, circular letter, July 31, 1886]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]