160 years ago today - Dec 18, 1857

Some of the Brethren inquired upon Pres[ident] [Brigham] Young to make inquiries upon certain teachings of Joseph [Smith] concerning the endowments.

Elder Geo[rge] A. Smith said that Joseph taught that but one king and priest could be anointed at one meeting in a private room dedicated by permission to anoint in, and but one person could be anointed in a day, but in the Temple several could be anointed in a day, but at each anointing the meeting was dismissed and then came together again.

Pres[ident] Young said that Joseph taught him to take the quorum and anoint them kings and priests to God, and when he got through with that begin at the beginning again to administer for the dead. When the Temple is finished and a place duly prepared we should not be confined to any particular number in sealing and anointing. The rooms next to the east pulpit, or over it[,] will be the place to attend to the second anointings.

Under the pulpit in the west end will be the place to offer sacrifices; there will be an altar prepared for that purpose so that when any sacrifices are to be offered they should be offered there.

[Wendall Mace said he heard Joseph Smith give similar instructions to apostles in 1839: "Joseph told them they must go to Kirtland, and cleanse and purify a certain room in the Temple, that they must kill a lamb and a sacrifice unto the Lord, which shouìd prepare them to ordain Willard Richards a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles."]

[Source: Journal History, Dec. 18, 1857, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

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