Endowment Changes

For the list of the films, see film versions over time

1. 1842
2. 1845
3. 1858
4. 1877
5. 1912
6. 1927
7. 1954
8. 1966
9. 1969
10. 197x
11. 1990
12. 2005
13. 2008
14. 2014
15. 2019
16. 2020
17. 2023
18. 2024

1842

Joseph Smith introduces the endowment to a select group above his store in Nauvoo. The ceremony is not scripted but depicts the Garden of Eden Story, "bestows blessings," and teaches "the true order of prayer." It was exclusive to the "Anointed Quorum" and their reccommendees.

• other sources
  • https://archive.org/details/AnointedQuorum

1845

Offered to any qualified member inside the Nauvoo Temple. After Joseph Smith is killed, Brigham Young adds the Oath of Vengeance.

• other sources
  • https://archive.org/details/CatherineLewisNarrative/page/n8/mode/1up

1858

Endowments take place in Utah Endowment house while temple is built.

• other sources
  • https://archive.org/details/insidemormonism00distgoog/page/n14/mode/2up

1877

Brigham Young Jr and Wilford Woodruff complete a written version of the endowment. This included as part of the lecture the Adam-God doctrine.

• other sources
  • https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/the-development-of-the-mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony-2/

1912

Oath of Vengeance is changed to Law of Retribution in Saint George temple only, that instead of worshippers avenging Joseph Smith, worshippers prayed that God would do so

1919

Changes from apostles

1927

Oath of Vengeance removed. Length trimmed

1954

The endowment was now given with an instructional film instead of a live^[3] reenactment. Gordon B Hinckley was tasked with producing it, and this production included 350 feet of film from Fantasia,^[2] probably this section. It was reenacted and produced in several languages.

1966

• video: MISSING
• audio: MISSING
• transcript: MISSING
• changeset: MISSING

1969

• video
• transcript: MISSING
• changeset: MISSING

197x

• video: MISSING
• audio
• transcript: MISSING
• changeset: MISSING

1990

The suicide penalties are removed from the endowment ceremony. Women now pledge to God to follow their husbands, instead of pledging to their husbands.

The signs are simplified so that there is no pantomiming, but the hands are still placed where the method of suicide should begin. Members who did not participate before this change will not learn the penalties explicitly and will more than likely not associate any death penalties with the ritual.

• other sources
  • https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-05-vw-353-story.html

2005

Patrons no longer appear naked during the initiatory and are no longer touched, except on the head. They are to put on the garment (underwear) and shield (poncho) private before taking part in the initiatory

• other sources
  • https://packham.n4m.org/endow05.htm">https://packham.n4m.org/endow05.htm

2008

Participants are no longer made to stand while making covenants in the endowment.

2014

3 new films directed by Sterling Van Wagenen

• video
• transcript: MISSING
• changeset: MISSING

2019

MISSING

2020

The temple clothing was simplified and the rearrangement of robes was dropped.

• other sources
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20240612235458/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/19/jana-riess-lds-church/

2023

notable changes include a shortening of the endowment from 90 to 60 minutes

• video
• transcript: MISSING
• changeset
• other sources
  • https://religionnews.com/2023/02/10/more-jesus-less-touching-14-changes-to-the-mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony/

2024

notable changes include a shortening of the endowment from 90 to 60 minutes

• video
• transcript: MISSING
• changeset
• other sources
  • https://religionnews.com/2023/02/10/more-jesus-less-touching-14-changes-to-the-mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony/
  • https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/temple-changes-for-2019/
  • https://tokensandsigns.org/2023-temple-changes/

Additional Sources

The authors of these sources can offer further insight into the changes over time:

• [1] Dialogue Journal Vol 20, No. 4
• [2] David John Buerger, The Mysteries of Godliness (San Francisco: Smith Research Associates, 1994), 166-170.
• Utah Lighthouse Ministry Summary of Ceremony changes (1842-1990)
• [3] Live version in Salt Lake Temple