Baptism - to be performed by a priest of the Aaronic Priesthood or a Melchizedek Priesthood holder [this is known as a saving ordinance]

1. Take the person to be baptized down into the water
2. Hold the candidate's right wrist securely with your left hand and then place your left wrist in the candidate's left hand
3. Raise the right arm to the square
4. Call the candidate by full name and say, Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. (LDS D&C 20:73)
5. Have candidate hold nose with right hand, place the palm of your right hand high on the candidate's back and completely immerse individual
6. Assist person in coming up out of the water

Confirmation and bestowal of the Holy Ghost - to be performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder [this is known as a saving ordinance]

1. Lay hands on person's head and call person by full name
2. State that ordinance is being done by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
3. Confirm person a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
4. Bestow the Holy Ghost, using wording such as, say unto you receive the Holy Ghost
5. Add words of blessing as the Spirit may dictate
6. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Priesthood Ordination - Conferring the Priesthood and ordaining to an office - to be performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder (a priest may ordain a priest, teacher or deacon) [Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (for men) is known as a saving ordinance]

1. Lay hands on person's head and call person by full name
2. State that ordinance is being done by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
3. Confer the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood (unless previously conferred)
4. Ordain to the specific office in the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood
5. Bestow the rights, powers and authority pertaining to the office to which ordained, add words of blessing as the Spirit may dictate
6. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Sacramental prayer on the bread - to be performed by priest or by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder
After the bread has been broken into pieces for members to partake of a priest or elder kneels as says the following prayer:

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
(LDS D&C 20:77)

Sacramental prayer on the water - to be performed by priest or by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder
A priest or elder kneels as says the following prayer:

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

Naming and blessing children - to be performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder

1. Address God as in prayer
2. State that ordinance is being done by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
3. Give the child a name
4. Add words of blessing as the Spirit may dictate
5. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Consecrating olive oil - to be performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder

1. Hold open container of olive oil
2. Address God as in prayer
3. State being done by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
4. Consecrate the oil for the blessing and anointing the sick and for other approved holy purposes
5. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Administering to the sick - to be performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder

Anointing the sick

1. Anoint head of sick person, using a small amount of consecrated olive oil
2. Place hands on head of sick person and call person by name
3. State that ordinance is being done by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
4. State that you are anointing with consecrated oil
5. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Sealing the Anointing

1. Lay hands on sick person's head and call person by name
2. State that ordinance is being done by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
3. Seal the anointing of the consecrated oil
4. Pronounce a blessing as the Spirit may dictate
5. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Dedication of grave - to be performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder

1. Address God as in prayer
2. Dedicate and consecrate the burial plot as a resting place for the body of (full name of deceased) by authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood
3. May pray that place will be hallowed place until the resurrection
4. Ask the Lord to comfort the family of the deceased, add words as the Spirit may dictate
5. Close in the name of Jesus Christ

Patriarchal Blessings - to be performed by a man who holds the office of patriarch. There is usually a patriarch in each stake of the church. The patriarch blesses church members and may designate lineage relating to one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This blessing is looked upon as a special message from God through the inspired patriarch.

Temple Ordinances

For those persons who are church members certain ordinances are performed in dedicated temples known as the House of the Lord. The temple is considered the most sacred place on earth and the gate to celestial blessings. After being a church member for a year a member can obtain temple blessings after they have received a temple recommend from the appropriate church leaders. Ordinances for men and women (in separate departments) include the following:

Washing
First anointing
Clothed in the Garment of the Holy Priesthood
Receiving your New Name (to be given at the Veil of the Temple)

Temple Endowment [this is known as a saving ordinance]

The temple endowment is received by going through the temple. Whether seen live or through motion picture it is a drama of the story of the creation of the world as practiced in temples. Here the higher beliefs are taught to those who are taking out their endowments. This includes the naming of the Creation Gods, the commands and reports given during Creation and an enactment of the Garden of Eden with Lucifer tempting Adam and Eve. Covenants are taken by those going through the ceremony. An apron and robe are used as participants follow Adam and Eve through the remainder of the proceedings. Signs and tokens are given to everyone willing to continue through the endowment. Here they accept temple covenants and obligations. The True Order of Prayer in learned and the Temple Veil is explained with corresponding markings on each individual Garment of the Holy Priesthood. At the Veil the handclasps and names are given through the Veil to a man representing the Lord in the Celestial Kingdom.

Commenced in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1842 the endowment ceremony has constantly been revised through the years to the present time. A revision of the temple endowment occurred in 1990 when the execution (motion of hands) of the penial oaths were omitted from the ceremony. These revisions over the years have included such items as changes in the Garment of the Holy Priesthood, wording of obligations taken by endowment participants, and approaching the Veil of the Temple on the Five Points of Fellowship. The pattern relating to the Garment of the Holy Priesthood which is to be worn by those who have received their endowment has also been modified.

Since the giving of the endowment in the Nauvoo Temple the ceremony has been made a public record. Participants, most of whom found something objectionable about the ceremony, published their experiences. These accounts of the ceremony were not as accurate as they could have been. At the present time the text of the current temple endowment is available to any person interested in the topic. The Internet has provided the LDS temple rituals to a world wide audience.

The temple endowment is public knowledge and only the current wording of the Second Anointing is not known for sure. Though this higher ordinance is promised to those who remain faithful there are only a few who have received this ordinance. In this ceremony the husband has consecrated olive oil put upon his head and he is anointing a king and a priest. His wife has consecrated olive oil put on her head and she is anointed a Queen and Priestess in connection with her husband. These anointings are sealed by the officiator.

Temple Marriage (Sealing) [this is known as a saving ordinance]

Couples are united by an officiator who has been given the sealing keys to perform marriage for time and all eternity. This sealing for this life (time) and the afterlife (all eternity). Children born to this union are born in the new and everlasting covenant. Those individuals who were previous married by civil authority can be sealed together for time and eternity. Their children can then be sealed to their parents. The sealing of an additional living wife is not authorized for those who are already married.

Plural Marriage

Although plural marriage is not presently authorized, the Temple Marriage Ceremony contains the basic wording and promises relating the New and Everlasting Covenant of Celestial Marriage which includes in LDS terminology plural marriage (polygamy with more than one wife). A man can be sealed to one wife at a time for time and all eternity. A previous wife married in the temple may have passed away or if there was a temple divorce a women can be sealed to the another man for time and eternity. As long as the sealing has not been canceled it is the church teaching that in the hereafter the man will have more than one wife in the celestial kingdom.

Any person doing research into the historical origins of the Latter-day Saints knows that priesthood ordinances have changed over the years. Sometimes the change was made very early in the Restoration and for other ordinances it was a gradual process taking many years. Like any other organization development has occurred over the years.

Temple work for the dead is performed but will not be discussed since it is the same as for the living except it is performed for and in behalf of a deceased person in temples. After a person has received their own endowment they may perform ordinances of the endowment and sealing for the dead. Baptism and confirmation for deceased individuals can be performed by unendowed members of the church.

The above temple rites are different from the priestly offerings and sacrifices performed by Levites as described in the Old Testament. The LDS temple ordinances are what Joseph Smith orally administered before his death and afterwards modified for administration in the Nauvoo Temple. As circumstances presented itself alterations have been made up to the present time. Further revisions are expected.

A few ordinances that have been modified since 6 April 1830 are:

1. Replacement of liquids in the sacrament (mainly water) that do not contain wine. Wine is omitted from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and the wording of the sacramental prayer that includes its reference is omitted. (see below)

2. Priesthood ordination (see below)

3. Temple Endowment (briefly discussed above)

Sacramental wine:

O, God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. (LDS Moroni 5:2; incorporated in LDS D&C 20:79)

Ordination to an Office or Conferral of the Priesthood:

Authority is a very important issue with priesthood holders in the LDS church. It appears that in the early years of the church there were various ways this authority was given. The Book of Mormon contains the set prayer that is to be used for the basic wording for priesthood ordination. Though it has not been used in every case in the church, it still remains in that body of LDS canon. The wording is as follows:

In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest, (or, if he be a teacher) I ordain you to be a teacher, to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen. (LDS Moroni 3:3)

For example, the wording for the ordination of a priest would be:

In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest, to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.

The above ordination prayer (basic wording) was used in the early church but it was not used in all cases. The usual procedure was to ordain to an office, giving keys, powers and authority pertaining to the authority in the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood. After years of discussion a basic set prayer for ordination was suggested. It was thought best to confer priesthood and then ordained to an office in that priesthood.

Circa March 1912, basic wording (Administration of Joseph F. Smith):

In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood vested in us, we lay our lands upon your head and confer upon you the Melchizedek Priesthood, and ordain you to the office of an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

(The Elders' Manual, Southern States Mission, 1914)

The idea was to confer the Priesthood and then to ordain to an office within the Priesthood. Shortly after the death of Joseph F. Smith a modification was given wherein a person was ordained to an office in the priesthood and then had bestowed rights and so forth pertaining to that office in the priesthood.

April 1921, [printed in April 1919] basic wording (Administration of Heber J. Grant):

By the authority (or in the authority) of the Holy Priesthood and by the laying on of hands, I (or we) ordain you an Elder, (or Seventy, or High Priest, or Patriarch, or Apostle, as the case may be), in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and confer upon you all the rights, powers, keys and authority pertaining to this office and calling in the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In 1921 it was decided to use the basic wording of ordaining to an office in the Priesthood and not to use the form that contained the wording conferred the Priesthood upon the individual receiving the ordination as insisted by President Joseph F. Smith. This change was also made in the existing church temples for ordinations for and in behalf of the dead. After a period of thirty-six years the manner of ordination was changed so that it reverted back to the way it was suggested during the administration of President Joseph F. Smith.

April 1957, basic wording (Administration of David O. McKay):

By the authority of the Holy Priesthood in us vested, we lay our hands upon your head and confer upon you the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordain you an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and bestow upon you all the rights, powers and authority pertaining to this office and calling in the Melchizedek Priesthood, and we do this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This is the basic form to be used in the church today.

This change was made in the temple ordinance of ordination for and in behalf of the dead.

The above brief overview of LDS ordinances is provided to help members and non-members understand what the current saving ordinances are within the church.

Note: Some priesthood ordinances are not done any more, such as:

1. Washing of Feet (in the School of the Prophets)
2. Rebaptism (renewal of baptismal covenant by baptism)
3. Patriarchal Blessings for the dead (done in a few instances)
4. Law of Adoption (Sealing of men to men)