Veiling Women’s Faces at Burial

[Anonymous]

dande48 wrote:

H.H. Bancroft wrote: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)

Fascinating! It seems that the veil was tied into women needing to be seperated from God and also dependant on their husbands for exaltation as the divine intermediary. This seems to also tie into sexist ideas of days gone by and the eschatology of polygamy. How very appropriate that it no longer be required given the recent changes in the endowmwnt and sealing ceremonies.

[Anonymous]

Roy wrote:

Fascinating! It seems that the veil was tied into women needing to be seperated from God and also dependant on their husbands for exaltation as the divine intermediary. This seems to also tie into sexist ideas of days gone by and the eschatology of polygamy. How very appropriate that it no longer be required given the recent changes in the endowmwnt and sealing ceremonies.

There was another source I found, but didn’t include, from a late 1800s letter from the second wife of Brigham Y. Hampton, who was seeking a divorce. A copy of the letter was sent to John Taylor, though it was originally intended for legal council.

Quote:

“When the woman dies she is buried in her endowment robes, with this cape on her head, and when she is laid in her coffin the cape is thrown over her face.The teachings of the mormon leaders are that she cannot be resurrected until the husband raises this cape from her face… One of the most common threats Mrs. Hampton said, by which Brig. Hampton used to compel her to obedience, was that if she didn’t obey him ‘she would never be resurrected.”

Can you imagine?! I am also glad things have changed

[Author]

Posts