E32: Temple Developments: Part 1

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:09)
The modern LDS church doesn't have nearly as many truly distinctive features as it once did. Still, temples and ordinances are certainly catchy for outside observers. You know, people like Cher. When White Horse Corporal Mitt Romney ran for president, remember those good old days, she tweeted that Obama better get his acting gear or the country would end up with, quote, the whitest man in magic underwear in the White House. Seriously, remember when that was the worst case scenario?
So quaint. Magic underwear, huh? Sounds like that needs some explainin.
Hi, this is Lindsay Hansen Park.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:51)
And this is Bryan Buchanan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:53)
Bringing you the story of Mormonism from the shadow of the Everlasting Hills, straight out of Zion. This isn't your grandpa's Mormon history.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:20)
This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:25)
Gird your loins, lock your hearts, and pay your tithing, because we're bringing you the story of Mormonism in all its paradisiacal glory.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:33)
It's the Sunstone History Podcast.
So to tell the story of how temple ordinance has developed in Mormonism, we're going to talk about the influence of some specific people.
And I think this is something that modern Mormons, especially LDS Mormons, really don't appreciate fully. The reason that things are the way they are now is often the direct result of one particular person who was A, in the right place at the right time, and usually B, persistent, sometimes verging on obnoxious. You know, you've got your Joseph Smiths, you've got your Brigham Youngs, but you've also got your lesser known George F. Richards' and just for good measure, well, we'll even throw in a fictional character today. And don't worry if you're already thinking, wait a minute, please, no, there's no way they're gonna try to one episode this. Frankie says, relax. There's way too much to do it justice in one episode. Lindsay told me to explain it this way. Just like the only good Star Wars movies worth watching, we're gonna do this in three parts.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (3:15)
In the beginning, there was Mormonism.
And in the beginning, it wasn't terribly exotic. Theology, whatever element you want to discuss, Mormonism looked mostly like its Protestant neighbors, like we've talked about. Certainly, not its popy, sucky Catholic neighbors. Keep that in mind. Sure, there was the Book of Mormon, but it was mostly its mere existence that made it controversial. Actual words in the book weren't really that revolutionary.
There were exactly zero temple ordinances. You had your sacrament, often called communion or the Lord's Supper. You had your baptism and confirmation, pretty standard. Occasionally something more sexy, like casting out devils, but no washings or endowments as far as the eye could see.

**Bryan Buchanan** (4:01)
Okay, time for our first influential character. His name is Joseph Smith. You might have even heard of him.
So he tended to innovate in very concrete terms. New scripture, bound in physical books, new priesthood offices bestowed by physical hands, new ordinances administered in buildings, physically transformed to suit the purpose. You get the idea, that kind of thing. For example, June 1831, they have a very momentous conference in Kirtland. And if you think back to season one, when we talked about the Ohio period, we talked about how Mormons had been promised that, if they would gather to the Ohio, which, speaking from personal experience, it's really fun to do. You should gather there sometime. They would be, quote, endowed with power from on high.
So at this conference, there were some very interesting events. What they did, they met in a schoolhouse over the course of a few days. If you remember, 1831, the Kirtland temple is just a Tunkle and Joseph Smith site at this point. The folks there in attendance would record in their diaries and other places, sometimes various spiritual manifestations like healings, prophecy. Easily the coolest among those was a chain of possession.
So they would cast the evil spirit out of one dude, moves into the guy next to him, and so on and so on. Lehman Copley channeled his best, Simone Biles, and quote, turned a complete summer set in the house and came his back across a bench and lay helpless. Make conference great again, man. No worries though. Lyman White was there to cast out Satan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (5:26)
All right, let's leave the sexy Satan stuff aside. This is a temple episode after all. We need to be more holy. At this conference, the first ordinations of high priests took place. Like so many of the innovations during this time, it wasn't really clear where it came from or even what it meant. The term was in the air though.