Editing Washing and anointing (section)

==History==

=== Old Testament period ===
[[File:Abraham_Bloemaert,_Ritual_Washing_of_the_Israelites,_1606,_NGA_56692.jpg|thumb|Abraham Bloemaert, Ritual Washing of the Israelites, 1606, NGA 56692]]
Ritual anointings were a prominent part of religious rites in the biblical world. Recipients of the anointing included temple officiants (e.g., [[Aaron]]), prophets (e.g., [[Elisha]]), and kings (e.g., [[Jehu]], [[Solomon]]).<ref name="perry" /> In addition, sacral objects associated with the Israelite sanctuary were anointed. Of equal importance in the religion of the Israelites were ablutions (ceremonial washings). To ensure religious purity, [[Mosaic law]] required that designated individuals receive a ritual washing, sometimes in preparation for entering the temple.<ref name="perry" />

=== New Testament period ===
[[File:Jesus washing Peter's feet.jpg|left|thumb|[[Jesus]] washing [[Saint Peter|Peter's]] feet. Painted by [[Ford Madox Brown]].]]
In the [[New Testament]] Jesus washes his disciples' feet prior to his crucifixion.<ref>John 13:1-17</ref> Joseph Smith published his own version of these New Testament passages, adding new materials which said, "Now this was the custom of the Jews under their law; wherefore, Jesus did this that the law might be fulfilled."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=JST, John 13:8–10 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/jst/jst-john/13?lang=eng&id=10 |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=Joseph Smith Translation (JST) |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/joseph-smith-translation?lang=eng |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |date=July 1833}}</ref>

Cleansing rituals such as ''[[tevilah]]'' and ''[[netilat yadayim]]'' have existed in Judaism for millennia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yonatan |first1=Adler |title=On the Origins of Tevilah (Ritual Immersion) |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/on-the-origins-of-tevilah-ritual-immersion |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref> However, rabbinical scholars argue that these rituals served the purpose of removing impurity after activities that would make one "impure" such having contact with a corpse, or bodily discharge of a sick person.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yitzhaq |first1=Feder |title=Tum’ah: Ritual Impurity or Fear of Contagious Disease? |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/tumah-ritual-impurity-or-fear-of-contagious-disease |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayah |first1=Katz |title=Biblical Purification: Was It Immersion? |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/biblical-purification-was-it-immersion |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Joseph |first1=Weinstein |title=Red Heifer: A Soap Ritual |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/red-heifer-a-soap-ritual |publisher=TheTorah.com |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref>

Smith's claim that the foot-washing was part of Jewish "law" is not supported by historical sources.

=== Kirtland period ===
As the [[Latter Day Saints]] were completing their [[Kirtland Temple|first temple]] in [[Kirtland, Ohio]], founder Joseph Smith led many of the prominent male church members in a pre-endowment ritual patterned after similar washings and anointings described in the Bible.<ref name = buerger35>{{Harvtxt|Buerger|1987|p=35}}.</ref> This ritual took place over several days, beginning on 21 January 1836 in the attic of a printing office.<ref name = buerger35/> 

These ritual meetings were opened by Joseph Smith praying, speaking, and even singing [[speaking in tongues|in tongues]].<ref name=minutes/> Each participant washed their own hands, faces, and feet with water. After this, Joseph "girded himself with a towel" and personally washed the feet of each participant, wiping them with the towel. When he reached his father [[Joseph Smith Sr.]], he asked his father for a blessing before he would wash his father's feet. Smith Sr. placed his hands upon Joseph's head, "pronouncing upon his head that he should continue in his Priests office untill Christ come."<ref name=minutes>{{cite web |last1=Frederick G. |first1=Williams |title=Minutes, 22–23 January 1833 |url=https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minutes-22-23-january-1833/1#full-transcript |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |date=January 1833}}</ref> 

Soon after the temple's dedication on 27 March 1836, about 300 Latter Day Saint men participated in a further ritual [[Maundy (foot washing)|washing of feet]] and faces.<ref name = buerger35/>

=== Nauvoo period ===
Several years later, after Latter Day Saints moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith revised the washing and anointing rituals as part of the new [[Endowment (Mormonism)|Nauvoo endowment]].<ref name = buerger35/> On 4–5 May 1842, nine prominent male church members were inducted into this endowment ceremony in the upper story of Smith's store.<ref name = buerger35/> The first woman (Smith's first wife, [[Emma Hale Smith|Emma]]) was inducted into the endowment ceremony on 28 September 1843.

As the washings and anointings were practiced in Nauvoo, men and women were taken to separate rooms, where they disrobed and, when called upon, passed through a canvas curtain to enter a tub where they were washed from head to foot while words of blessing were recited.<ref name = ABVW>{{Harvtxt|Anderson|Bergera|Van Wagoner|2005}}.</ref> Then oil from a horn was poured over the head of the participant, usually by another officiator, while similar words were repeated.<ref name = ABVW/> As part of the ceremony, participants were ordained to become kings and queens in eternity.<ref name = ABVW/> Men performed the ritual for men, and women performed the ritual for women.<ref name = ABVW/> Also, as part of the ceremony, participants were given a new name and a [[temple garment|ritual undergarment]] in which symbolic marks were snipped into the fabric.<ref name = ABVW/><ref>{{Harvtxt|Buerger|1987|p=56}}.</ref>

=== Early-Utah period ===
After the Latter Day Saints left Nauvoo, women continued to administer washings and anointings in their homes as well as in temples. The in-home rituals were part of a practice of administering to the sick.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Newell |first=Linda King |date=December 1999 |title=A Gift Given: A Gift Taken Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women |url=https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/115-6-30-43.pdf |journal=[[Sunstone Magazine]] |issue=115 |pages=30–43}}</ref> These washings and anointings were encouraged by church leaders of the time including [[Brigham Young]].<ref name=":0" /> In one instance [[Ezra T. Benson]] called on women who were ordained to wash and anoint to get rid of a disease affecting the [[Cache Valley]].<ref name=":0" /> This practice of washing and anointing in the home was curtailed in the 1880s and by the April 1921 [[General Conference (LDS Church)|general conference]], the consensus was that [[Priesthood blessing|blessings performed]] by Melchizedek Priesthood holders should be sought whenever possible.<ref name=":0" /> In 1946, [[Joseph Fielding Smith]] sent a letter to [[Belle S. Spafford]] saying these washings and anointings were discouraged.<ref name=":0" />