“And the communications I made to this Council were of things Spiritual, and to be received only by the Spiritual minded” — Joseph Smith¹

On May 4, 1842, Joseph Smith introduced the temple endowment to a group of nine men in the upper room of his Nauvoo store. Over the next two years, he administered the ordinance to more than fifty additional men and women. The members of this group, who met regularly for prayer meetings, were known as the "Anointed Quorum" or "Holy Order." Although an 1841 revelation stated that the endowment should be given in the completed Nauvoo Temple, the Lord commanded Joseph to administer it to a select group before the temple’s completion. Joseph chose trusted individuals who would treat the sacred ordinances with confidentiality. Joseph’s goal was to make these blessings available to all worthy Latter-day Saints.²

1. History, 1838–1856, volume C-1, p. 1328, josephsmithpapers.org

2. "Anointed Quorum ('Holy Order')," churchofjesuschrist.org