How many Mormons here know that Mormon temple rituals are knock-offs of Masonic temple rites?

Question

"An unknown visitor is usually required to produce a dues card or other documentation of membership in addition to demonstrating knowledge of the Masonic signs, grips and passwords......Freemasons use signs (gestures), grips or tokens (handshakes) and words to gain admission to meetings and identify legitimate visitors." -Freemason literature

Hmmmmm. Does this sound familiar to any of you Mormons? I myself have gone through the Salt Lake City temple, and it certainly rings some bells for me. My father went through the temple for the first time in the 1960's, and it was the last LDS function/institution he ever visited again. He told me they made him take an oath of self-mutilation if the secrets of the temple were ever to leave his lips. When I went though the temple, I asked about this, and I was told that this has not been practiced for 20+ years in the temples anymore because some people thought it was too "graphic". It is odd that the Masons had this ritual as well huh?

It is somewhat of a coincidence that Joseph Smith was a Master Mason, as well as his brother Hyrum. His father and grandfather were also Masonic members. How does a 14-year-old come up with a religion? Better question: How does a 14-year-old with a familial history in a secret organization create the most lucritive religion in history? Hmmmm.

Answer 1

It wasn't a self-mutilation oath... it was an oath that God would perform the mutilation if they divulged the secrets.

20+ years is an overestimate. They officially stopped practicing it on April 5, 1990 (exactly 17 years, 4 months, and 4 days ago) when they closed all of the temples for "maintenance," and when they reopened 2 weeks later, the gory parts were gone.

Oh, and Mormons generally tend to assume that the Freemasons got the stuff when they excavated Solomon's temple after it was destroyed. They assume that the signs and handshakes were all on the walls or something... the difficult part about this theory is that the Freemasons postdate the excavation by about 900 years. Joseph Smith, when he was first accused of plagiarism, said that it had been maintained from true signs of God, and that "many things are perfect."

The problem is, though, that masonic signs and tokens (handshakes) from the 1200s and 1300s are far different than Nauvoo Masonic signs and tokens in the 1840s. Joseph Smith's endowment more closely resembled the latter, and the current endowment does too. That means that the LDS Temple ceremony, if anything, would be leaning on a more "corrupt" version of the signs and tokens, and not a true "restoration" as Smith claimed.

Answer 2

Yes, there are a few aspects of Masons in the temple. But, i's not a "knock off" by any stretch.

No one was ever made to take an "oath" of "self mutilation" and if one listened VERY CAREFULLY, they would know this. It's not to be taken literally, it's a, what, metaphor or allegory or something, something that's supposed to remind you of HOW IMPORTANT it is to NOT reveal what is taught in the temple. The word "rather" was there, and it was like saying something like "I'd rather have root canal than go to that concert" or something along those lines.

>>It is somewhat of a coincidence that Joseph Smith was a Master Mason, as well as his brother Hyrum. His father and grandfather were also Masonic members. How does a 14-year-old come up with a religion? Better question: How does a 14-year-old with a familial history in a secret organization create the most lucritive religion in history?<<

JOseph Smith was a mason for maybe two or three years, and teh ONLY reason was because he wanted the power and influence of the Masonic brotherhood protecting the Saints. Nothing more. In fact, there are some who believe that he was given the temple ceremony in Kirtland, long before he became a Mason.

And as for your last question? First, he didn't start the church when he was 14. The church started in 1830, when he was abou 24. Second, as far as the church being lucritive, I don't see JOseph Smith rolling in dough. In fact, I don't see anyone in our church benefitting from all the church's money.

Answer 3

Have you ever noticed the difference between the Kirtland temple and the Nauvoo temple? Kirtland is not much more that a large meeting house. Looks a lot like the Salt Lake Tabernacle in the way space is used. No one moves from room to room, No play depicting the creation/garden, the terrestrial kingdoms or celestial kingdoms are built in it. There is no vail. In Nauvoo after Joseph Smith had been introduced to Masonic temple rites the service of the temple changed. How could God except the Kirtland temple enough to send Elisha "before that great and dreadful day of the Lord" then change the need and add that terrible ceremony? Jim

Answer 4

I haven't studied this in-depth, but I believe that the Mason organization is a remnant of the builders of Solomon's temple. They participated in the ordinances there, and have kept them through the ages. Joseph was able to learn them through his Masonic membership and restore the correct forms to the temple ceremonies.

I've been told that everything in the temple is symbolic, so it doesn't seem to matter that they may have changed over time. As long as we learn what we need to through them, we should be all right.

And for Jim B: Kirtland was a temple of restoration, not for ordinances. It had a different purpose.

Answer 5

The founder of the Mormons, Joseph Smith, and the founder of the JWs, Charles Taze Russell, were both Masons of high degree and both took many of the concepts with them into their new religions. In fact, Smith married the widow of Captian William Morgan who was murdered by the Masons because he was about to publish a book exposing their secret rituals.

A star for you for doing your research.

Answer 6

Did you know that Joseph Smith had all of the revalations and temple ceremonys down on paper (or other means) before he became a mason.

Answer 7

Yes, the rituals practised in the mormon temple is very much based on the freemasons, but the most astonishing thing to me, is that Jesus died on the cross, to tear down the curtain, that Joe Smith has put back up! Shame on him!

Answer 8

What is even more interesting is the fact that the Book of Mormon strongly forbids associating with secret societies. Apostates do not follow their own books.

Answer 9

I have known for years now. Thank you for posting.

P.S. Whatever isn't a masonic derivative (i.e. polygamy) was most certainly manufactured by J.S. Inc.

Answer 10

Why don't they tell you this stuff when they come to the door?

Because it wouldn't get people to the church- Okay I'm answering my own question.

***Thanks for putting that out Feral.*** Your brave with the secret thing and all.