and had
neither wagons nor teams. Teams - with Gentile horses loose on
the range - were more easily obtained than wagons. People traded
off their lots and personal property for outfits. Many of the
wagons had wooden hoops in place of tires, though iron and
everything else was at the lowest price. Common labor was only
twenty-five cents per day, but money was hard to get.

About the 1st of December, 1845, we commenced filling up the
Temple rooms for giving endowments. I assisted in putting up the
stoves, curtains, and other things. It was about fifteen days
before we got everything ready. I must mention that when the
doctrine of baptizing for the dead was first introduced the
families met together, down by the riverside, and one of their
number, of the order of the Melchisedek Priesthood, officiated.
They were baptized in behalf of all the dead friends they could
remember, the men for men, and the women for women. But when the
fount was ready in the Temple, which rested on the twelve carved
oxen, they went and were baptized in it, after the same order,
except that a clerk must make a record of it, and two witnesses
must be present, and the name of the person baptized and for whom
he or she was baptized, and the date of baptism, together with
the name of the officiating elder and those of the clerk and
witnesses must be entered in the record. All who are baptized
must also be confirmed. Men and women alike pass through the same
ceremony, and the fact is entered in the record kept for that
purpose.

This is done for all who have died without the knowledge of the
gospel. As Jesus, while His body lay in the tomb, preached to the
spirits in the spirit world the doctrine of his gospel to all who
had died before hearing it since the days of Noah, so through
baptism for the dead can our friends, and those who have gone
before us, be made partakers of this new and last gospel sent to
us, and receive its blessings and eternal reward.

No person, however, is allowed the privilege of this baptismal
fount, or his washings or anointings, unless he has paid his
tithings and has a certificate to that effect. In many cases,
also, where men require it, just debts must be settled before one
is permitted to be baptized, washed, or anointed.

In the Endowment a list is made out the day previous, of those
who are to take their endowments. Every person is required to
wash himself clean, from head to foot. Also to prepare and bring
a go