Book excerpt: For the first time in a single volume, Jennifer Mackley chronicles the development of temple doctrine and ceremonies over the course of the nineteenth century: from washings and anointings to proxy baptisms, the endowment to plural marriage sealings, the first rebaptism to the last priesthood adoption. After Wilford Woodruff's conversion in 1833, he enthusiastically participated in the ordinances the Prophet Joseph Smith introduced in Kirtland and Nauvoo. However, Joseph was murdered before the implications of the "higher ordinances" could be fully understood, and before their administration in the temple could begin. Learn why Wilford believed that if revelation had ceased with Joseph Smith's death, the mission of Elijah would have failed. Through Wilford's own words--as preserved in his letters, discourses, and journals--find out what led him to seek additional revelation, make changes to some ordinances, and suspend or discontinue others. What did Wilford announce in 1894 that rewrote the nature of temple work? The temple ordinances were central to Wilford Woodruff's faith in the restored Church. Are they still important today?