Veiling Women’s Faces at Burial

I keep hoping eventually they’ll stop telling us altogether what to wear when we’re dead. I still dread the fact that someone in my family will, against my explicit wishes, bury me in temple clothes. I’m sure someone will think “Well, now that he’s on the other side and knows better, surely he will want to be buried in..” NO!

I keep hoping eventually they’ll stop telling us altogether what to wear when we’re dead. I still dread the fact that someone in my family will, against my explicit wishes, bury me in temple clothes. I’m sure someone will think “Well, now that he’s on the other side and knows better, surely he will want to be buried in..” NO!

A bit OT, but I heard a real horror story about a boy who commited suicide, and his parents buried him in his school uniform. Apparently he’d killed himself because he’d been bullied really badly at a private school.

Yeah. I had always thought that it had something to do with the scripture about hair and a “covering” for the woman in 1 Cor. 11:15

I suppose it could also related to the age old tradition of the bride veiling her face during the wedding ceremony (which has at least been around since OT times)

Since masonic rituals included no women, I speculate that JS must have taken his inspiration from elsewhere for this segment.

I agree, another little step. :thumbup:

Do you think the veil is on the way out? I’m trying to be careful here, but remember when the change came that people were dressed for initiatory but still wore the shield? Then after a fairly short time the shield was eliminated totally, I assume because it made no sense. If the veil is no longer used, why even have it? (As a side note, I don’t see that the men’s cap serves a purpose either.)

If veils don’t “veil”, they aren’t veils.

Just saying.

For that reason, I could see veils and caps being eliminated in the future. I also could see the caps remaining, since there is a direct connection to Biblical robe descriptions – so I could see the veil remaining in order to avoid one group having uncovered heads and the other group having covered heads. I think it probably will be both or neither. I think the leadership doesn’t want inequality again.

If veils don’t “veil”, they aren’t veils.

Just saying.

It’s a cap with a cape now.

Did we ever really know why there was a veil in place to begin with?

Historically, veils have been a symbol of separation from God. Moses’ veil, the veil of the temple between between the “holy place” and “holy of holies”, etc. In ancient times, it was also used to denote between those women who were married or widows, and those who were “available” (sort of like our wedding rings today). And Paul also mention the importance of women wearing veils in Corinthians 11:4-16. The JKV has a very strangely worded and confusing “translation”. To paraphrase:

-It’s shameful for a woman to pray or prophesy without a veil.

-Men shouldn’t veil themselves, because they were made in the image and glory of God, whereas woman was made from man.

Women veiling themselves and covering their heads was kept as common practice until the last century, mostly because of this scripture.

Another reason which was historically given is D&C 84: 21-22

And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

Since women weren’t given the priesthood, and the temple ordinances were meant to invoke the presence of God, they were required to veil their faces. There was also plenty of early Church doctrine, which in effect stated that women will be resurrected through the priesthood power of their husbands, and can only enter into the Celestial Kingdom through their husbands. More quotes:

Every man who overcomes all things and is thereby entitled to inherit all things, receives power to bring up his wife to join him in the possession and enjoyment thereof.

No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 291)

All good Mormons are buried in their endowment robes, and the veil worn by the women covers their faces when they are consigned to the grave. In the morning of the resurrection, this veil is to be lifted by the husband; otherwise no woman can see the face of the almighty in the next world. (History of Utah, 1840-1886)