Make sure those feet are squeaky clean!

[HaggisShuu]

D&C 60:15

Quote

15 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.

It's my understanding that this revelation was directed to a group of early missionaries heading off to St. Louis. 
Is this commandment to wash their feet if they're rejected as testimony against them a literal commandment, or is there some imagery at play here? 
 

Follow up question, was this directed to just the Elders heading to St. Louis or all missionaries? If is all, is it still practiced? 
 

Final follow up question, if it is no longer practiced, why? 
 

I ask because, recent study of the D&C seems to have highlighted to me, an ignorance of commandment given which today are not adhered to, I get some of it is "line upon line" logic, but there are some bits, like the word of wisdom that seem to be blissfully ignored. (Such as the sparing consumption of meat, seasonal eating, a diet high in vegetables and grains etc.). 
 

I'm just curious as to whether this is a practice which has been made obsolete by a new line and precept, or something we should still be doing, but has been forgotten to time - if it was a literal command that is. 

[Ironhold]

From what I understand, this is an act that is *consciously avoided* unless absolutely, essentially necessary owing to the dire nature of the punishment that can befall a person or community so denounced even before judgement. 

[Traveler]

I cannot account for every missionary of this generation.  I was counseled by my first missionary president that dusting of feet in D&C 60:15 is a reference to “general” authorities and not for the “missionaries” as we/they are called of our current era.   However, I would admit that there were times on my mission that I would have liked to have attempted that ordinance.

 

The Traveler

[Vort]

I remember hearing that Hugh Nibley, as a full-time missionary, dusted off his feet after encountering a German city where no one would give the missionaries the time of day. During WWII, so the story goes, Sergeant Nibley returned to that city to find it firebombed and completely leveled. Take this as nothing more than faith-neutral gossip.

[estradling75]

We are instructed in the scriptures to perform many ordinances...  But in practice we have Priesthood Keys that need to authorize such ordinances.  (Aka Baptism, Confirmation, Sacrament etc.)  So I have always taken it as an Ordinance that required authorization, like many others.  I given that I can find detailed instructions on performing the Ordinance that I could be reasonably expected to perform, but not this one.  I'd conclude that those with the proper Priesthood Key were not expecting me to perform this ordnance.  I am OK with that.

While I agree that many members (including myself) can be lacking in following the commandments as given.  But I do not see it as the same thing as not be authorized to perform an Ordinance      

[Carborendum]

6 hours ago, HaggisShuu said:

Follow up question, was this directed to just the Elders heading to St. Louis or all missionaries? If is all, is it still practiced? 

Both.  The revelation as written was for those specific missionaries.  But it is also a true general principle/ordinance.

6 hours ago, HaggisShuu said:

Final follow up question, if it is no longer practiced, why? 

Most people don't really understand it.

6 hours ago, HaggisShuu said:

like the word of wisdom that seem to be blissfully ignored. (Such as the sparing consumption of meat, seasonal eating, a diet high in vegetables and grains etc.).

I've known plenty of people who abide by this guidance.  But the reason why it is not treated with the same level of scrutiny is that it will be different for different people.  So, without a firm universal rule, it is difficult for many to determine if we're abiding by it or not.

With alcohol, tobacco, & hot drinks it is clear cut: complete abstinence.  Easy-peasy.

6 hours ago, HaggisShuu said:

I'm just curious as to whether this is a practice which has been made obsolete by a new line and precept, or something we should still be doing, but has been forgotten to time - if it was a literal command that is. 

Nope.  As I said.  Most people don't understand it.

[laronius]

I remember as a fairly green missionary still going to an appointment with a woman we had tracted into a week earlier. We knocked on the door and no one answered. So we knock again and just then we see through the door's window the woman walking past the door down the hallway acting as if we didn't even exist and not even trying to hide the fact. I guess I wasn't quite used to the rejection yet so I was kind of miffed. So as we walked away from the house I half seriously and half jokingly reached down and brushed the dust off my shoes. My companion saw it and chastised me. No more shoe dusting for me after that. I hope I didn't ignorantly bring ruin down on her house. 😂