By Sandra Tanner

1. Washing and Anointing was changed from being naked and having a full bath to being completely covered by the garment and shield, with symbolic anointing to forehead (see Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony, by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 2005 ed., pp. 39-40; Mysteries of Godliness, p. 32).

2. When the garment was first introduced it was only worn for special occasions. However, in a special meeting of the Quorum of the Anointed in 1845 George A. Smith declared that the garment should be worn “at all times” (The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship, by David John Buerger, Smith Research Associates, 2002, p. 146).

3. Originally the garment was made of muslin, one-piece, full length with long sleeves and a collar. In 1916 President Joseph F. Smith emphasized that the garment was never to be altered (Evolution, p. 45, Mysteries, p. 150).

But in 1923 the First Presidency sent a notice to stake and temple presidents announcing that the garment could be modified. The sleeve could now end at the elbow, the leg could be shortened to just below the knee, the collar eliminated and the crotch closed. They could also be made of finer knitted material, even of silk, instead of the coarse, unbleached cotton material that was used originally.

However, the full-length garment was to be worn in the temple. Then in 1975 it became optional and one could elect to wear the shorter garment in the temple. In 1979 the shorter garment was again modified to a two-piece version (see Evolution, pp. 44-47; Mysteries, pp. 138, 142-154).

4. Originally only men participated in the temple ritual. In 1843 women were included (see Mysteries, p. 62).

5. The Second Anointing was added in 1843, in which couples were sealed to become gods (see Mysteries, pp. 62-68, 123).

6. A Christian minister, in clerical outfit, making a bargain with the devil to teach false doctrine was added in the 1850’s, then removed in 1990 (see Evolution, pp. 32-33; Mysteries, p. 80 footnote 23).

7. Prior to 1877 the endowment ceremony was only performed for the living. David Buerger writes:

The first recorded endowments for the dead were performed in St. George on 11 January 1877, according to temple president David H. Cannon. Shortly thereafter Wilford Woodruff, the new temple president, received a revelation about endowments and sealings for his dead, which he recorded in his journal . . . Accordingly on 1 March 1877 Woodruff spent his seventieth birthday in the St. George temple with 154 women performing proxy endowments for deceased women who had been or were being sealed to Woodruff. (Mysteries, pp. 108-109)

8. Dances were often held in the Nauvoo temple after an endowment session (see Mysteries, pp. 85-6). Parties were sometimes held in the temple. After Wilford Woodruff’s sealing to the women mentioned above one hundred people joined him for a Birthday/Wedding party in the St. George temple (see Mysteries, p. 109).

9. In 1894 the Law of Adoption, where a man could have unrelated men sealed to him as his sons, was changed to just sealing those in one’s own family (see Evolution, pp. 42-44).

10. Oath of Vengeance against those who killed Joseph Smith was removed in 1927 (see Evolution, p. 22; Mysteries, pp. 133-140).

11. Wording and demonstration of penalties (drawing thumb across throat, heart and bowels) went through several modifications prior to being removed in 1990 (see Evolution, p. 16; Mysteries, pp. 39, 52-54, 141).

12. Chant of “Pay Lay Ale” changed to “Oh God, hear the words of my mouth” in 1990 (see Evolution, p. 36).

13. Mocking of the Christian doctrine of God was removed in 1990 (see Evolution, p. 80).

14. Lecture at the veil, delivered at sessions for those taking out their endowments for the first time, was removed in 1990 (see Evolution, p. 37; Mysteries, pp. 81, 110-113, 137).

15. Embrace on the Five Points of Fellowship at the veil was removed in 1990 (see Evolution, pp. 29-30; Mysteries, pp. 55, 78, 170).

16. Woman’s Oath of Obedience to her husband was modified in 1990 (see Evolution, pp. 33-35).

17. Length of temple ceremony has varied through the years (see Mysteries, p. 80).