Feet Dusting and Washing

Mormon History 1830-1844

Feet Washing

Scripitural basis, conditions, practice, and practioners of shaking the dust off one's feet and/or washing (cleansing) them as a witness against those who reject missionaries' testimonies.
		Jesus
Shake the dust		And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.	Matthew 10:14
Shake the dust		And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.	Luke 9:5
Shake the dust		But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.	Acts 13:50–51

June 30, 1830		Samuel H. Smith	Samuel H. Smith
		On the first night of a mission to Livonia, New York, Samuel fails to sell any Books of Mormon. An innkeeper kicks him out when Samuel tells him the book is "a history of the origin of the Indians" translated from gold plates that his brother found buried in the ground. Samuel travels "a short distance, and washed his feet in a small brook, as a testimony against the man."	Lucy, 478–479.

July 1830		Joseph Smith revelation
Shake the dust as a curse and wash		And in whatsoever place ye shall enter, and they receive you not in my name, ye shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony, and cleansing your feet by the wayside.	D&C 24:14, July 1830.

June 16, 1831		Four missionaries in Detroit
Wipe feet as testimony		Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, John Corrill, and John Murdock, unsuccessful in trying to find some to listen to them that day, wiped their feet "as a testimony against that city."	¶ John Murdock

August 8, 1831		Joseph Smith revelation
Shake the dust, wash the feet in secret		And shake off the dust of thy feet against those who receive thee not, not in their presence, lest thou provoke them, but in secret; and wash thy feet, as a testimony against them in the day of judgment.	¶ D&C 60:15, Aug. 8, 1831.

September 9, 1831		Hyrum Smith
Wash as testimony		This morning we took breakfast with a Christian preacher (as he called himself). He charged us with being false prophets. Reason or Testimony had no influence on his mind … and his heart seemed so hard and wicked that he would have struck us dumb if he had had it in his power, but we left him raging and when we came to a brook Bro. H[yrum]. washed his feet for a testimony against him.	¶ 1831 Journey of Hyrum and William E. McLellin

November 18, 1831		William E. McLellin and Samuel H. Smith
		William and Samuel attend a Campbellite meeting. When the preacher opens the service for others to speak, William announces his mission
		but they spoke out and said that they did not want to hear any more—They called a vote and I was requested to say no more. And I ceased after I had born testimony to the book of Mormon and the the Judgements of God which would fall upon them unless they would repent. By request they granted bro. Sml ten minutes to speak, in which time he bore testimony also. But the[y] rejected all with disdain and desired us to depart out of their coasts. Which we did and wiped the dust of our feet against them.	McLellin journals, 47.

January 25, 1832		Joseph Smith revelation
Shake off the dust against those who reject	20	And in whatsoever house ye enter, and they receive you not, ye shall depart speedily from that house, and shake off the dust of your feet as a testimony against them.	D&C 75
You shall judge them	21	And you shall be filled with joy and gladness; and know this, that in the day of judgment you shall be judges of that house, and condemn them;

February 16, 1832		William E. McLellin
		William E. McLellin and Luke S. Johnson in Hubbard Town near the Pennsylvania line:
Dust as testimony		we had an appointment at a schoolhouse. an assembly of Campbellites, Methodists Presbyterians and deists attended. I spoke 1 hour & 3/4 but was called a liaar while speaking and interupted two or three times more by the wicked wretches. we dismissed and I shook the dust off my feet as a testimony against the rebelious …	McLellin journals, 72.

March 1, 1832		Samuel H. Smith
		Shook dust from our feet as a testimony against them. [Also March 16, 18, June 1, 1832.]	Samuel H. diary

March 1832		Orson Hyde
Wash against, bear testimony		We journeyed early in the spring of 1832, eastward together, without "purse or scrip," going from house to house, teaching and preaching in families, and also in the public congregations of the people. Wherever we were received and entertained, we left our blessing; and wherever we were rejected, we washed our feet in private against those who rejected us, and bore testimony of it unto our Father in Heaven, and went on our way rejoicing, according to the commandment.	¶ Orson Hyde (h) Orson Hyde journal
Shake dust Seal to day of wrath Shake dust Seal to day of wrath		… went on from fairview 6 or 7 miles Shook off the dust of my feet against almost all [March] 2 went on to Mill Creek & found … the people verry hard, seemingly no Salvation for them … [March] 3rd left Mr. Longs & went on 2 miles Blest Some & Shook off the dust of our feet against others … [March] 15th … sealed many over to the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out. … [March] 18th. went on through a Presbyterian neighbourhood on Sunday shook off the dust of our feet against almost every house … [March] 19th. went on 3 or 4 Miles Sealed up many to the day of wrath, bound the tares in bundles, blessed some …	Though Orson details considerable opposition, even threats of violence, he does not mention the ordinance of dusting his feet from March 20 to September 16.

August 29, 1832		Joseph Smith revelation
Reject you, wash feet	4	And whoso rejecteth you shall be rejected of my Father and his house; and you shall cleanse your feet in the secret places by the way for a testimony against them.	D&C 99:4

September 16, 1832		Orson Hyde
Shake dust Against sister and brother-in-law		continued at Mr Norths, stayed at home in the forenoon with my Sister and tried to reason with her about the work, but all to no purpose. Mr. N came home from meeting and we tried farther to reason with him but in vain we saw that they rejected our testimony, and must I tell? we took our things and left them and tears from all eyes freely ran, and we shook the dust of our feet against them but it was like piercing my heart and all I can say is, the will of the Lord be done …	Orson Hyde journal To reach the North home, Orson traveled 35 miles from the Great Falls of the Piscatagua river, 7 miles from Dover, New Hampshire.

September 22, 23, 1832		Joseph Smith revelation
Wash testimony		He that receiveth you not, go away from him alone by yourselves, and cleanse your feet even with water, pure water, whether in heat or in cold, and bear testimony of it unto your Father which is in heaven, and return not again unto that man.	¶ D&C 84

October 23, 1832		Orson Hyde
Shake dust		… on from House to H shook off the dust against some and blest others [in the Kennebunkport, Maine area].	Orson Hyde journal

February 18, 1833		Orson Pratt
Wash hands and feet testimony		Washed my hands and feet as a testimony unto the Lord that I had warned this wicked generation and that my garments were clean from their blood, and on the same day I admitted into the School of the Prophets.	¶ Orson Pratt (h2) Orson Pratt journals, 16.

May 7, 1835		William E. McLellin
		At 4 Oclock we attended in the village in order to fill our app. [in Sinclairville, New York] but the schoolhouse was locked and only One person {which} who was an old lady attended—consequently we left them shaking the dust from our feet as a testimony against them …	McLellin journals, 174.
			McLellin journals, 182–183.
June 6–7, 1835		William E. McLellin and David W. Patten
		On Saturday, June 6, William and David arrive at Wolcott, Jefferson county, New York, a village comprised mostly of Universalists. David preaches at the school house for about an hour and a half on "the vision" (D&C 76) and gives out an invitation for 4 p.m. the next afternoon.
		On Sunday morning, William attends a dull Baptist meeting—"it was as much as I could do to keep from sleep"— then hears a Presbyterian "read a pretty good sermon from his note book but it was a dry mess to me, but notwithstanding I suppose it seemed good to them for when he was through there was a donation made for him of $3.00."	$3 is a good amount, especially compared to that which William receives.
		At 4:00, William begins preaching in the schoolhouse. Twenty minutes later,
		a Methodist priest arose and said that he had an app. here at five o clock and he wished to fill it and he wanted to know if I would get through so as to give place. I told him that I did not know how long I should speak but I desired to speak until I should get through— However I told him that we would leave it to the people. A vote was called. Three or four voted for me to close and for him to speak but a majority Voted for me to continue—consequently I continued until I had spoken about two hours on the plain simplicity of the Gospel and its spiritual gifts and powers.
		After which Elder Patten called for a donation but not a man moved his tongue or his finger to help us consequently we left them believing that we had done our duty as to delivering our message and we wiped the dust off our feet and we also clensed our feet in pure water as a testimony against them and we passed on toward old Oswego about 4 miles …

July 11, 1835		William E. McLellin, Brigham Young, and Thomas B. Marsh
		… we call at a Mr M. Hawley who kept tavern and told him that we were preachers of the Gospel and we wanted some bread and milk for breakfast and we asked for it without moneybut he abused us and after we had born testimony to him we came to a little brook and clensed our feet as a testimony against him—	McLellin journals, 189–190.

May 22, 1836		Wilford Woodruff
Dare to raise the dead		Elder [David W.] Patten Preached three discourses … After the close of the last discours Mr Rose rejected the testimony given & called on Br Patten to rase the dead that he might believe. Br Patten rebuked him sharply for his infidelity & unbelief. We then communed with the Saints.	WWJ 1:70. Raising the Dead
Deliver to the destroyer	¶	I then retired from the scene with Elders Patten & Boydstun to a stream of pure water & cleansed our hands & feet & testified against that people who had threatened us & rejected our testimony. We delivered them unto the hands of God <and the destroyer. O God, thy will be done.>	In WWJ, < and > characters enclose shorthand text.

May 24, 1836		Wilford Woodruff
Wash hands and feet to clear blood		We then returned to Mr Jacksons. Had an interview with him. He denied all his former faith & pretentions. He raged much. Was filled with the spirit of anger wrath /and the destroyer/. He rejected our testimony /and denied the revelations of Christ/.	WWJ 1:71. In WWJ, / characters enclose interlinear text.
		We left his house at 10 oclock at night & went to a stream of Pure water & clensed our hands & feet & testified against him that our garments might be clear of his blood.

July 11, 1837		Wilford Woodruff
Wash hands and feet		Brother [Jonathan] Hale & myself repaired to a stream of pure water & we there cleansed our hands and feet and bore testimony before God against Mr Vanarsdalen a Prysbeterian priest who rejected our testimony & against the whole villedge who rejected our testimony.	WWJ 1:163. Collinsville is midway between Hartford and Torrington, Connecticut.

September 30, 1837		Wilford Woodruff
Wash testimony		I retired aside from the abodes of men in company with Elder Hale and we clensed our feet in the pure water of the Sea as a testimony against Gideon J. Newton for rejecting our testimony of the Lord & of the Book of Mormon. We also bore testimony unto God against Mr Douglass the Methodist Priest for rejecting the Book of Mormon & our testimony & declaring that he feared none of the Judgments of God for rejecting these thing. The Lord rebuke him.	WWJ 1:180. Newton and Douglas were ministers on the Fox Islands, off the coast of Maine.

March 11, 1899		President B. E. Rich (Southern States Mission president)
End wholesale practice		I am directed by the First Presidency to say in reply to your favor that the business of the wholesale washing of feet, &c should not be indulged in by the elders. If an elder feels that he has just cause and is moved upon by the spirit of God to wash his feet against a person or persons who have violently or wickedly rejected the truth, let him do so quietly and beyond noting it in his journal let him not make it public.	FP letters, vol. 34.
		Nothing should be published in the "Southern Star" or elsewhere on this subject. Elders should be privately instructed and should let the matter rest between them, the Lord and the persons concerned.
		George Reynolds
		Punishments Observed Doctrine & Practice