THE ENDOWMENT AND ANOINTING

INTRODUCTION

• Most Christians agree that faith in Jesus Christ is essential.

• Most Christians agree that repentance is necessary.

• Most Christians agree that baptism is important.

But what happens after baptism?

Are there additional ordinances required by God?

Did Jesus Christ restore sacred temple ordinances through Joseph Smith?

Or are these ordinances additions that cannot be found in the Bible?

Today we examine two uniquely Mormon ordinances:

The Endowment and The Anointing.

Let's see what Joseph Smith taught—and what the Bible actually says.

PART 1
ENDOWED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH

Joseph Smith taught that after baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, faithful members should receive additional ordinances in the temple.

One of these ordinances is called the Endowment.

The word "endowment" means a gift.

In LDS theology, the Endowment is a sacred ordinance designed to prepare a person for God's presence and provide spiritual power.

Joseph Smith claimed that this ordinance was revealed by Jesus Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:32

"And there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high."

Doctrine and Covenants 95:8

"I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high."

Doctrine and Covenants 105:33

"It is expedient in me that the first elders of my church should receive their endowment from on high."

Notice the phrase repeated over and over:

"Power from on high."

But is this idea found in the Bible?

Surprisingly, yes.

Shortly before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples:

Luke 24:49

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

The question is not whether believers can receive power from on high.

The question is:

Was Jesus referring to a temple ordinance?

Or was He referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost?

The Bible never describes a temple endowment ceremony similar to the modern LDS Endowment.

Instead, Luke records that the promised power came through the outpouring of the Holy Ghost.

This distinction becomes important as we continue.

PART 2
THE ANOINTING

Another temple ordinance taught by Joseph Smith is the Anointing.

Unlike the Endowment, anointing is found throughout the Bible.

In the Old Testament, priests were anointed with oil.

Exodus 28:41

"And shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them."

Exodus 30:30

"And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons."

Leviticus 8:10

"And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle."

Anointing represented consecration.

Something was being set apart for God's service.

• Kings were anointed.

• Priests were anointed.

• Even sacred objects were anointed.

David referred to Saul as:

"The Lord's anointed."

2 Samuel 1:14

In the New Testament, believers are also described as being anointed.

Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 1:21

"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God."

John wrote:

1 John 2:20

"But ye have an unction from the Holy One."

And again:

1 John 2:27

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you."

Notice something important.

The New Testament emphasis is not upon an oil ceremony.

The emphasis is upon God's Spirit dwelling within believers.

The physical anointings of the Old Testament pointed toward a greater spiritual reality fulfilled in Christ.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Before moving on, I would like to share a personal experience concerning the temple ordinances.

When I first joined the LDS Church, I struggled with accepting the temple ordinances.

The first time I went through the Temple before my mission…I thought…”Oh My! …We Are A Cult!”

They were unlike anything I had experienced in other Christian churches. I had questions. I had concerns. I wanted to know for myself whether these ordinances truly came from God.

Rather than relying solely upon the opinions of others, I decided to do what I had done with every other important doctrine.

I fasted and prayed. I asked my Heavenly Father directly to help me understand these sacred ordinances and whether they were truly part of His plan.

As I prayed, my Heavenly Father spoke to me clearly into my mind, He said:

"Which comes first, the things of God or the things of Satan?"

This answer from Heavenly Father cleared up all of my misunderstandings and questions on the Temple ordinances!

Throughout the scriptures, Satan is portrayed as an imitator and a counterfeiter.

• He seeks to mimic the things of God.

• He imitates truth.

• He imitates authority.

• He imitates miracles.

Paul even warned that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

As I reflected on the answer I had received, I realized that the existence of a counterfeit helps prove the original is true.

In fact, a counterfeit only exists because there is something genuine worth imitating.

For example:

• There are counterfeit prophets because there are true prophets.

• There are counterfeit miracles because there are true miracles.

• There are counterfeit churches because Christ established a true Church.

Likewise, if there are counterfeit ordinances or distorted versions of sacred things, that does not necessarily mean the original did not come from God.

Again, this answer removed every question I had about the Temple ordinances!

It brought me peace and encouraged me to continue studying, praying, and seeking understanding of our Heavenly Father’s ways.

As I continued my study of the scriptures and the teachings of Joseph Smith, I gradually gained a testimony that these ordinances were intended to bring me closer to Jesus Christ and help prepare me to return to the presence of my Heavenly Father.

I share this experience not as proof for anyone else, but simply as part of my own journey in seeking truth.

PART 3
THE REAL QUESTION

At this point we must ask an important question.

If temple ordinances such as the Endowment and Anointing are required for exaltation...

Why are they not clearly taught by Jesus or His apostles?

The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes:

1. Faith in Christ.

2. Repentance.

3. Baptism.

4. Receiving the Holy Spirit.

5. Enduring to the End.

Yet there is no detailed explanation of an Endowment ordinance similar to that practiced in modern LDS temples.

This does not automatically prove Joseph Smith was wrong.

But it does raise an important question every seeker of truth should ask:

If these ordinances are necessary for eternal exaltation, why are they not plainly taught in Scripture?

The people of Berea were praised because they searched the Scriptures daily to determine whether the teachings of the Apostle Paul were true.

Acts 17:11

"They searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

That is exactly what we should do.

This is exactly what I am doing with this series “Joseph Smith and the Bible!”

CONCLUSION

Joseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ restored sacred temple ordinances through modern revelation.

The Bible certainly contains examples of being endowed with power and being anointed.

However, the Bible does not clearly describe the modern LDS Endowment ceremony.

Nor does it teach that participation in such ordinances is necessary for salvation.

This leaves us with a choice.

Should we accept these ordinances because Joseph Smith claimed divine authority?

These ordinances are something that each and everyone of us needs to pray about.

Next, we will test the ordinance that has become one of the most distinctive teachings of Mormonism:

Eternal Marriage.

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