Year: 1869

one-half at a time. / was told that il


/ wore these garments and remained


faithful / should be protected from


disease, and even death itself, and


that it would even turn the bullets OF


our enemies, so that we should not be


hurt by them.


"After having donned the garments,


was told to put on a clean, white


petticOat over them, and the white


sacqUe which my acquaintance had


advised me to have made. Some of the


women present were not so fortunate


as to have them, and in consequence


the upper and front portions OF their


bodies were exposed through the


opening in the garments. The rest OF


the women now being ready, we


awaited the signal from the other side


of the curtain which was to inform


US that the men were also ready. In


a few moments one corner of the cur


tain was pulled aside, and a voice


called to Eliza Snow, asking if we


were ready. An affirmative answer


having been returned, at given sig


nal the curtain was drawn aside, and


men and women were again together


in the same room. Notwithstanding


certain degree Of nervousness,


caused by the uncertainty as to what


was to come next, curiosity was pre-


dominant in both men and women,


and we cast our eyes in their direc-


ton at the same moment that they


looked in ours. If we presented as


ridiculous an appearance as they did,


the smile which Overspread their


cOuntenances as they caught sight of


us was certainly eXcusable. Upon


our part, we could scarcely refrain


from laughing outright at the sight


which met our eyes. The men were


not naked, but the only articles Of


attire which they had on were the


garments which | have described and


a white shirt, such as they were in


the habit of wearing every day, with


white socks on their feet. The wO-


men were dressed in the garments,


white petticOats and white stock


ings, some with and some


without sacqueS ID cover


the upper portion Of their


bodies, To add to the beauty Of our
apDearauce. the olive oil was stream
inc from our heads down over our
faces and clothes, giving us all de-
cidedlV greasy look. Several OF Brig


hams daughters, ana some young
men of their acquaintance were pass


ing through the Endowment ceremo-
nies, and they appeared to be particu-
larly amused at each others appear
ance. presume they had never seen
each other 50 nearly undressed before.
Those conducting the ceremonies now


withdrew, after explaining TO Us that
this portion Of the affair should be con-
Quoted with the men and women en-
tircly naked, but that In consequence
of the preiudice existing in the minds
of individuals against that method OF
proceeding, coupled with the fact that
we were not yet sufficiently perfect
and pure-minded, and that our enc
mics would use i IS a weapon against
us. it was considered necessary that
we should be clothed. We We're not
left long IN suspension as to what was
to follow, ana suddenly we heard
voice speaking TO some person, who
replied, both being concealed rom our
view. The voice was supposed 10 De
that of EiOheim in conversation with
Jehovah, and the formula used was
pretty much the samea as that contained
in the first chapter Of Genesis
describing the creation Of the World.
Finally ElOheim and Jehovah


conclude to come down and visit the
earth, which they do, and pronounce
it good. but ind that one thing is
wanting, a being Of a higher order Of
than the brute beast, who
shall govern and control them ali. Mi
chqel is now called into reqUisitiOu,
and placed upon the eatth as Adam,
and dominion IS given him over all
the beasts Of the field, the fowls Of the
air, the fishes OF the SGD, and the fruits
Of the earth, only he is charged not TO
eat Of the fruit of one tree which
stands in the midst Of the garden.
This tree IS represented bya large bush,
upon which several bunCheS OF raislns
are hung for the fruit. 1t Is now dis
covered that Adam needs a cOmpan-
ion, and ElOheim holds another out
side conversation with JEHOVAH, dur
ing which it is finally determined that
it is not good for man to be alone. He,
therefore, causes a deep sleep to fall
upon Michael, or Adam as he must
now becalled. We were here directed
to assume an attitude as if asleep by
our heads upon our breasts.
Eloheim and jehovah then come down
upon the earth and 60 through the
of removing a rib from the
body of the sleeping Adam, Out OF
which they made an Eve, who now
appears upon the scene in the person
Of Miss Eliza Snow.


"ElOheim was represented by VIII
ford Woodruff, one of the twelve
apostles. L have forgotten the name
OF the individual personaIing JchO-
yah. Another character now makes
his appearance upon the scene, which
is no less a parsonage than the devil
himself. His Satanic Majesty is ably
by w. W. Phelps, who
looks every inch a devil. He was
dressed in a tight-fitting suit of black
velvet, fancifully Ornamented, consist
ing of short Jacket and knee-breecheS
cut in the Italian style, with black
and slippers. He at once
proceeds to make himself agreeable 10
Eve, whom he meets while taking a
walk in the garden. He tiatters the
Eve terribly, and, as
this il something which she has not
been accustomed TO receive from
Adam, she seems to rather like it, and
considers the devil spien-
did sort of a fellow. He finally per-
suades her to eat Of the fruit upon the
forbidden tree, which she does, and
the devil then leaves her. Eve then
persuades Adam to eat also Of the
fruit, and their eyes are opened 50 that
they see each other in their supposed
naked state. They then cover them
selves with a white apron, upon which
are seWed fig leaves cut out of green
silk. Here all the neOphites are re-
qUired to produce similar aprons,
which they have brought with them,
and which are then placed upon them
by the person officiating.
Eloheim now appears again upon the
scene, and calls Adam, VINO hides him.
seiT with Eve in another part Of the
garden. The curse is then pronounced
upon the serpent, etc, and Phelps
runs out on his hands and knees, hiss
ing, to represent a snake. We were
then All driven forth from the garden
into another room, and the first scene
in the endowment drama, represent
ing the creation, was ended. We were
now supposed TO be out in the world,
fulfilling the command to multiply
and replenish the earth, and earning
our bread by the sweat Of our brows.
We were informed that although we
had been driven out from the presence
of our Lord, q plan Of salvation would
be arranged by which we might re-
gain his presence, and which would
be communicated to us at some future