E34: Temple Developments, Part 3

**Bryan** (0:09)
Contrary to popular opinion, there is actually a 20th century in Mormon history. Now, some of you are saying, actually once Nauvoo is over, Mormon history ceases to exist, but there is a 20th century and it's actually kind of interesting. Some of the trends we've seen in the past episodes solidify here. The move towards standardizing becomes a key example. However, sometimes things went the other way. Instead of administering the second donating to more people, it was essentially shelter time.
And when will that temple ship sail?
This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Lindsay** (1:23)
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** (1:31)
It's the Sunstone History Podcast.

**Lindsay** (1:53)
After a 40-year sojourn into the construction desert, the Salt Lake Temple was finally nearing completion. The other temples had been smaller, but geez, 40 years? Woodruff thought about temple stuff frequently anyway, but with the temple dedication coming up, it was even more on his mind. After thinking over matters, in 1894, Woodruff announced in general conference a revelation regarding the law of adoption.
It's a little odd because we don't seem to have the revelation. In his journal on the day before conference began, he wrote in his journal, quote, The following is a revelation to Wilford Woodruff, and the rest of the page is blank. We can get the gist of it from his remarks, which he said, quote, When a man receives the endowment, adopt him to his father, not Wilford Woodruff, not to any other man outside the lineage of his father. That is the will of God to this people. We want the Latter-day Saints from this time to trace their genealogies as far as they can and be sealed to their parents, and run this chain through as far as you can get it. However, the last person you could find was then supposed to be sealed to Joseph Smith.
So, still kind of adoption-y. To reinforce the family nature of these ceilings, the Genealogical Society was incorporated later that year. It's kind of a cool story that that's how family history and Mormonism really get started.

**Bryan** (3:19)
And when the Mormons start doing genealogy, holy crap, they go crazy.
And I think one thing that historians don't always appreciate is the tools of family history can absolutely help historians. There's been a couple cases where I've helped with manuscripts, and there's been a question about something. I'm like, oh, I know exactly how we can fix that, you know, census or these kind of records that genealogists turn to immediately, but historians aren't necessarily familiar with.

**Lindsay** (3:45)
I just think it's cool to say that maybe the modern genealogical program is from the law of adoption.

**Bryan** (3:51)
Oh, yeah, there's no mistaking the connection between his revelation, ending adoption, essentially, and modern genealogy.

**Lindsay** (4:01)
And if you don't know what we're talking about, go rewind it back to episodes, because we're talking the history of the temple.

**Bryan** (4:07)
And if you know non-Mormons who really have genealogy, weird them out by telling them it has to do with adoption ceremonies and that. They'll love to hear that. So as the 19th century turns into the 20th century, we get a lot more on second anointing.
In a letter to a stake president, Joseph F. Smith, by now president of the church, explains the general requirements, quote, The second anointing is not intended for every male member of the church and goodness alone is not a sufficient recommendation to receive the higher blessings. Recommends for the second anointing should only be given to men and women who have lived together as husband and wife and who, through long years of faithfulness, are still found to be worthy before the Lord and their brethren. They should be men of good report, men whose faith has never been shaken, whose integrity to the Lord and his servants has been beyond question, men who have been valiant for the truth, men who have either defended the servants of the Lord or would do so at all hazards should circumstances required at their hands. They should be men who have done what they could, whether in preaching or working or otherwise helping their file leaders in the building up of Zion, and who are ever ready and willing to labor in the interests of Zion at home or abroad. And all those thus recommended must be in harmony with the First Presidency and general authorities of the Church, also those immediately presiding over them.
And this spirit also must characterize their wives in order to make them eligible to be associated with their husbands in receiving these blessings.