PRESIDENT'S OFFICE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. GIBSON, MILLER & RICHARDSON, OMAHA. [sidways text] E. B. Wells [end of sideways text] P. O. BOX B. Salt Lake City, U. T. April 27th 1888. Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells, Editor "Woman's Exponent." Dear Sister: In a favor which I have received from you, under date of the 24th. inst., you ask, "First: Are sisters justified in administer- ing the ordinance of washing and anointing previous to confinements to ...

the Temple for the ordinances?" To begin with I desire to say that the ordinance of washing and anointing is one that should only be administered in Temples or other holy places which are dedicated for the purpose of giving endow- ments to the Saints. That ordinance ought not to be administered to any one, whether she has received or has not received her endowments, in any other place or under any other circumstances. But I imagine from your question that you refer to a practice that has grown ...

understood that they do this, not as members of the priesthood, but as members of the Church, exercising faith for, and asking the blessings of the Lord upon, their sisters; just as they, and every member of the Church, might do in behalf of the members of their families. In all these matters, however, care should be taken that wrong ideas be not imbibed and wrong practices be not adopted connected with ordinances of the Gospel. In reply, therefore, to your two questions, answering you in ...

tunity of receiving their endowments, any more than there would be were they to apply to have hands laid upon them by an Elder to rebuke sickness. As to your third question, “Is it the proper thing for a sister to preside over a Relief So- ciety who has not yet received her endowments?” I would naturally suppose that such a person would be rarely, if ever, called to preside over a Relief Society; because a woman who would be qualified for this, if married, would certainly honor ...

This is a correct copy of the original which Sister Wells has deposited in our office. Mar. 7th, 1906. (Signed) Joseph F. Smith. Salt Lake City, Utah. April 27th, 1888. Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells, Editor “Woman’s Exponent.” Dear Sister, In a favor which havre received from you, under date of the 24th. inst., you ask, “First: Are sisters justified in miniestering the ordinacnce of washing and annointing previous to confinements to those who have received their endowments and have ...

In all these matters, however, care should be taken that wrong ide[a]s be not imbibed and wrong practises be not adopted connected with ordinances of the Gospel. In reply, therefore, to your two questions, answering you in the above light, I think you are quite justified in doing anything you can for the benefit of the sisters who are in that condition, who may apply to you, even though they should be married to men outside of the Church; and certainly, as your second question implies, there should be ...

M Rockwood