During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the venue for naming and blessing children was debated by the highest councils of the Church. One practice that was consistently recognized was the blessing of children when eight days old. Wilford Woodruff recorded an interesting example of this practice in his journal while he and his wife Phebe were on a mission together in England. The blessing incorporates several practices and theological principles that are foreign to modern conceptions:

JULY 25 1845 Friday Joseph Woodruffs [1] Blessing received under the Hands of his Father Wilford Woodruff of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles while in the Arms of his Mother Phebe W. Woodruff on the eight day of his age July 25th 1845 he being born Friday morning 30 minutes past 7 oclok on the eighteenth day of July AD 1845 in Liverpool England while his Parents were on a mission from their native Country to England:

In the name of Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood & the keys of the Kingdom of God I lay my hands upon thy head & anoint thee with Holy Consecrated oil which has been Consecrated under the hands of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles [2]. With this Anointing I seal thy name upon thy head which is JOSEPH. For thou art out of the Loins of Ancient Joseph sold into Egypt through the linage of Ephraim.

Thou hast a legal right to the Melchezedec Priesthood by linage. Thou art the first fruits of the Priesthood unto thy parents since there endowment [3]. Thou art a gift from God unto thy Parents in answer to their Prayers. I bless you with the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Joseph, Ephraim & Manassah and the blessings of the new & Everlasting Covenant the blessings of heaven & the blessings of the Earth. I seal thee against the power of Death sickness & the destroyer untill thy work is finished /for thou shalt have power over them/.

I here by dedicate and Consecrate thee unto God and the Priesthood from this time forth and forever. Thou shalt live to honor thy Parents & the Priesthood. Thou shalt lay thy hands upon the heads of thy Father and Mother in their old age and bless them & thou shalt be a Comfort unto them. Thou shalt be Baptized the day thou art eight years of age so that thy Covenant with God & his kingdom shall not be broaken during thy life.

I ordain the to be a High Priest after the order of Melchisedic in the Church and kingdom of God and I seal upon thy head all the powers and blessings of this Priesthood that when thou shalt arive to years of accountability & discretion thou shalt have power to administer in the ordinances thereof.

Thou shalt follow the footsteps of thy Father in thy day and generation in the linage of the priesthood. Thou shalt have posterity who shall honor their fathers.

I seal thee in the covenant of thy father that in the morning of the first resurrection thou shalt take thy station in the celestial kingdom in the linage of thy Fathers in the family organization of the celestial world. I seal thee up unto Eternal life and no man shall take thy Crown. I seal all these blessings upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ & by virtue of the holy Priesthood And Apos-tleship and Keys of the kingdom of God. Even so Amen. Thou shalt have thine inheritance with the tribe of Ephriam in the land of Joseph which is the land of Zion both for time and Eternity. (Wilford Woodruff’s Journal (ed. Kenny) vol. 2, pg. 584-586)

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1. Joseph died on the 12th of November 1846 in Winter Quarters (ibid. vol. 3, pg. 95):
   

   NOV 12th 1846 {JOSEPH} We found our little boy was failing and Could not possibly hold out longer. Evry exhertion had been made to make him comfortable And if possible to restore him to health but it seemed that He must go. He continued to fail through the day and night. Sister Abbot took the main Charge of him during the night as Mrs Woodruff Strength was mostly exhausted. He had suffered much from convulsions during his sickness but He breathed his last and fell asleep this morning 15 minuts before 6 oclok. And we took his remains to the grave at 4 oclok in the afternoon. We truly felt that we were called to make a great sacrifice in the loss of our son Joseph. [ ] I met in the council of {50} part of the day.

2. The 19th century Saints were known to hold in particular value oil which had been consecrated by Church authorities. Wilford himself kept oil from his Kirtland endowment for latter use (ibid. vol. 1, pg. 306). This is the only instance that I am aware of that a child was anointed during his baby blessing from this period. Wilford also anointed his wife for burial the day she died (ibid. vol. 8, pg. 342).
3. There is significant evidence that birth order after temple blessings had great significance for the early saints. See here.