Washing and anointing

In preparation for the temple endowment, a person, generally over the age of 18, is sprinkled with water, then anointed with perfume or oil as a cleansing before God.[1] The modern LDS Church only performs these rites in temples set apart and dedicated for sacred purposes according to a January 19, 1841 revelation that Joseph Smith stated was from Jesus Christ.To ensure religious purity, Mosaic law required that designated individuals receive a ritual washing, sometimes in preparation for entering the temple.As the Latter Day Saints were completing their 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.[19] 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.[19] This practice of washing and anointing in the home was curtailed in the 1880s and by the April 1921 general conference, the consensus was that blessings performed by Melchizedek Priesthood holders should be sought whenever possible.Sarah Cleveland and Elizabeth Ann Whitney, who were counselors in the Relief Society Presidency, administered to Abigale Leonard "for the restoration of health."Minute notes also indicate that Sister Martha Sessions may have laid her hands on Eliza R. Snow to give her a blessing during this meeting.[21] In the following Relief Society meeting, on April 28th, 1842, Joseph Smith said that anyone who has faith can give priesthood blessings to heal the sick.[24] These modern rites are now only performed for LDS Church members in temples set apart and dedicated for sacred purposes, according to a January 19, 1841 revelation that Joseph Smith stated was from Jesus Christ.
One of ten washing and anointing rooms of the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints circa 1911.
Abraham Bloemaert, Ritual Washing of the Israelites, 1606, NGA 56692
Jesus washing Peter's feet. Painted by Ford Madox Brown .
Salt Lake Templethe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsritual purificationtemple endowmentSecond AnointingMormon fundamentalistsanointedtemple garmentMelchizedek priesthoodanointingsealinganointingsKirtland TempleNauvoo, IllinoistemplesJoseph SmithJesus ChristElishaSolomonMosaic lawPeter'sFord Madox BrownNew Testamenttevilahnetilat yadayimLatter Day Saintsfirst templeKirtland, Ohioin tonguesJoseph Smith Sr.washing of feetNauvoo endowmentritual undergarmentBrigham YoungEzra T. BensonCache Valleygeneral conferenceblessings performedJoseph Fielding SmithBelle S. Spaffordpriesthood blessingRelief SocietyElizabeth Ann WhitneyEliza R. Snowpriesthood blessingsHebrewAnointed QuorumSunstone MagazineEnsignLDS ChurchPacker, Boyd K.LiahonaEncyclopedia of MormonismMacmillan PublishersRoberts, B.H.History of the ChurchDeseret BookSmith, Joseph Fielding