Conference tecrus::mormonism

>    Are there Masonic rituals incorporated into Mormonism?

Nope, though such accusations have been made.  Joseph Smith was a Mason and
there is resemblance between the rituals.  If there is a link, it is supposed
by some (me included) to be because the rituals have a similar source.  Keep 
in mind that Mormonism claims to be a restoration of the original Church and 
that the rituals are from that original Church.  My understanding is that 
Masons claim their rituals to trace back to the original Church as well.  
Critics claim Joseph Smith altered Masonic rituals because they note 
similarities (the rituals are different).  

I have known Mormons who were also Masons.  (I almost became a Mason myself.) 
They didn't seem to think there was a conflict as far as the rituals and their 
personal beliefs and commitments were concerned.  Knowledge of both sets of 
rituals are guarded, so people tend to feel that there must be something 
sinister going on.  There isn't.  They are guarded because they are very 
sacred and not intended for those who are unprepared to receive them.  We 
think of the temple ceremonies sort of as another form of scripture.  It is in 
harmony with the other Standard Works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and 
Covenants, Pearl of Great Price).

>    Are there references to other planets in Mormon literature?
    
Yes.  There is reference to Kolob in Abraham 3: 3,9,16.  There is also general
mention of planets in D.C 88: 43,44,47 and in Alma 30:44.


Steve

A company called "Tree of Life Productions" sells a cassette tape that
discusses Mormonism and Masonry.  The tape is #T132, "Answers to Anti-Mormon
Critics #3".  The description in the company catalog is as follows.

    The question of Mormonism and Masonry answered.  This tape includes a
    presentation on this subject given before the Washington State Masonic
    College.  This tape is a must for any student of 'Mormonism' or Masonry.

The tape sells for $5.95, and the mailing address is given in note 125.9

"Tree of Life Productions" is a private enterprise and is not connected with
the LDS church or DEC.  I haven't heard the tape.

The references about planets that Steve gave concern the universe as a
creation of God.  LDS scriptures do not teach an astrological view of the
universe, nor does the LDS church teach that our lives are influenced in any
way by planets.

Allen

    Re .42:
    
    Hi Ed:
    
    As I mentioned in Note 242 (I forget what the number of the reply
    is), I have a book entitled, "Mama, Mormonism, and Me" in which
    part (or all) of the Temple ritual is included in an expose-fashion.
    
    Because I had heard of Joseph Smith's Masonic affiliation, I naturally
    was curious about how much "Masonry" had crept into the Temple ritual.
    While I am certainly no Masonic scholar, I feel pretty confident
    in saying that whoever wrote the Temple ritual was perhaps influenced
    by Masonic ritual but nonetheless missed a lot of Masonic symbolism.
    This isn't unusual - many other organizations, usually fraternal, have
    borrowed from us. After all, we are the world's oldest fraternity!
    
    The main reason fundamentalist Christians aren't happy about the
    Masonic fraternity is that we are an organization that brings together
    men of many faiths in harmony. It would not be unusual for me to
    attend Lodge with Jewish or perhaps even Muslim brethren, not to
    mention Christians of numerous denominations. As a result, we are
    accused of not being "true" Christians because we associate with
    the "ungodly" (from Corinthians, I think) and we focus on God rather
    than Jesus for understandable reasons. This doesn't say that there
    aren't plenty of references in the Masonic ritual for a Christian
    brother to pick up on but by the same token there are many, many
    references for Jewish brethren as well.
    
    Some of the real off-the-wall fundamentalist Christians also accuse
    us of Satanism which is a lot of baloney. They are also unhappy
    about the many similarities between a Masonic Lodge and a synagogue
    (both face the East, the Mosaic tile on the floors, and others).
    
    By "Doctrinaire", I mean Orthodox Christian. Straight down-the-line,
    the Bible is the literal, inerrant word of God-type Christianity.
    
    Hope that helps.
    
    Mark

    Howdy, Mark!
    
    I appreciate your comments about Masons.  My understanding of why
    there are similarities is that the temple ceremony came from a source 
    that coincides somewhat with Masonic claims.  I have little doubt that 
    Joseph Smith was influenced by the Masonic ceremonies, sort of like he 
    was 'influenced' by the Old and New Testaments while translating the 
    Book of Mormon (see note 62).  I would actually expect some protest if 
    there was no resemblance to Masonic ceremonies, since the things here 
    are claimed by the Church as having been a part of the original Church.
    
    If it does not conflict with anyone's vows or covenants, would you
    mind clarifying what the claims of the source of the Masonic rituals
    are?  If that's inappropriate or you'd rather not, that's okay.  
    Thanks!
    
    Steve

    Re .2:
    
    Hi Steve:
    
    As you can probably guess, I would not be at liberty to make any
    direct comparisons but what I can do is review the so-called Mormon expose
    this weekend (and even bring it to the office Tuesday if I remember)
    and perhaps enter something then. If the answers seem a little vague
    or circumspect, that's probably intentional.
    
    A couple of additional points....there is a MASONIC notesfile
    (ARGUS::MASONIC) and we get questions there fairly often about Masonry.
    Someone noted in there that Joseph Smith was a member of a Masonic
    lodge in Illinois.
    
    A safe holiday weekend to all,
    
    Mark

    I've been given a copy of the thesis by Dr. Reed C. Durham.  It is
    apparently available from the following source, though the true
    source (and copyright information) is not indicated in my copy:
    
    	Research Lodge of Utah, F. & A. M.
    	Masonic Temple
    	650 East South Temple
    	Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
    
    The copy I have been given includes a forward entitled 'An Underground
    Presidential Address' by Mervin B. Hogan which indicates that the
    paper was created from an audio recording of Dr. Durham's (listed as
    the Director of the L. D. S. Institute of Religion at the University
    of Utah, 1800 Hempstead Road, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112) presentation
    at the Mormon History Association at Nauvoo, Illinois on April 20, 1974.

    In the forward, Mr. Hogan indicates that underground copies of the
    thesis have been made and freely distributed, probably to the dismay
    of Dr. Durham.  
    
    Included was a letter from Dr. Durham regarding the thesis.  As it is 
    addressed 'To Whom It May Concern,' it would apparently be appropriate
    to include it in its entirety.  Therefore, I will include it as
    the next note.
    
    I have read the thesis.  It would probably not be appropriate to
    post it as this may further exacerbate the situation for Dr. Durham.
    Mr. Hogan indicates that it has 'several - somewhat inconspicuous
    - booby traps which can ensnare the unsuspecting inquirer.'  He
    did not go into detail.  I suspect that elaboration would require
    intimate knowledge of both Masonic and LDS ceremonies.
    
    As I have knowledge of the LDS ceremonies and little of Masonic,
    my understanding is limited.  I believe that if one seeks to find
    evidence that Joseph Smith plagiarized Masonic ceremony and tradition
    one can find it.  On the other hand, if one seeks to find evidence
    that LDS and Masonic ceremonies and traditions are from similar
    sources and bear similar testimony, one can find this with the same
    evidence used to defend the theory of plagiarism.  
    
    There are apparently significant differences.  These differences can
    be interpreted as Joseph Smith customizing to suit his purposes.  They 
    can also be interpreted as God correcting them through His servant
    as a part of the restoration.  
    
    I think that, as with many such questions, it boils down to whether 
    Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, or whether he was a very clever
    false prophet who copied from the ideas of the time and was extremely 
    lucky or clever in determining which ideas to reject, which to keep
    and which to expound upon in detail.  The detail is such that even
    more than 100 years parallel evidence continues to reaffirm the
    choices made and ideas expounded upon.
    
    I think that this boils down to non-zero probabilities with the 
    probability of Joseph Smith being a prophet of God being higher than
    that of him being a false prophet.  But, both probabilities are
    non-zero.  The only sure answer I have received has been while
    on my knees in prayer before my Maker.
        

    Steve

This is the copy of Dr. Durham's letter.  I was apparently given a photocopy
of the letter as it bears his signature.  No copyright notice was attached,
and the date and source were not listed.


			TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
			----------------------

	On Saturday, April 20, 1974, at the Mormon History Association Annual
Meeing held at Nauvoo, Illinois, I delivered the Presidential Address
entitled, "Is There No Help for the Widow's Son?"  At that time I was gravely
concerned that the presentation of my findings and conclusions, as a result
of long months of research, would not be properly interpreted; and that regard-
less of what I attempted to say, misunderstandings would occur.  My concerns
were justified.  I have been informed of instances where even my own colleagues
in the Mormon History Association, and also some close friends within the Church
misinterpreted what I said, and more important to me, in some cases even ques-
tioned my faith in Joseph Smith and in the Church.

	Of course, I assume the full responsibility for creating those 
questions, concerns and misunderstandings.  It was because I was not skillful
enough, erudite enough, nor perhaps prayerful enough to make my personal
position and feelings clearly known.

	Therefore, regardless of what I said, or what interpretations were
placed upon what I said, let it be known at this time, that:

	1) I know that Joseph Smith was/is indeed a true prophet of 
	   God--the one called under direction of Jesus Christ to
	   usher in this dispensation of the fulness of time.

	2) I know further that Temple Work, with all its ramifica-
	   tions, including Eternal Marriage and the Endowment cere-
	   mony is divinely inspired.

	3) Because of the personal witness I have received by the
	   Spirit (which has been complemented and supported by
	   continual study and experience), the prime criterion or
	   standard of judgement I am committed to employ as an
	   explanation of any aspect of the Church--either of
	   Joseph Smith and/or the Temple ceremonies--is that of
	   divine revelation.

	Had I delivered my address in Nauvoo, making sure that my knowledge
and conviction of the above three statements was clearly reflected in the
subject matter of my address, I am confident that fewer misunderstandings
would have been occasioned; and my address would have more clearly approximated
my honest feelings.  I am deeply sorry that such was not the case.

						Sincerly


						Reed C. Durham, Jr.

RCD/jh

    Re .2:
    
    First, let me mention again that Masonry is *non-sectarian*. All
    Masonry asks of those who come knocking at its door is that they
    be men who believe in God, are free-born, of lawful age, and well
    recommended. That's all. Once you are made a Mason, you are instructed
    to the best of your ability to look after the widow and orphan,
    the afflicted, the less fortunate, and to love your neighbor as
    yourself. You are also instructed to be a good citizen and uphold
    the ordinances of your faith. Masonry in no way conflicts with your
    duty to God, your family, or your country.
    
    That said, I again reviewed what is supposedly the Temple ritual
    from 1870 (from the book "Mormonism, Mama, and Me) and I feel I can
    safely say that it *is not* a direct lift from or even close to Masonic
    ritual as I know it (I am by no means an expert by the way).
    
    Was/were the person/persons who wrote it influenced by Masonic ritual?
    No more so than other organizations who've drawn inspiration from
    Masonry. In short, you can read more into it than is there if you're
    not careful.
    
    Re .6:
    
    Although I haven't read the paper mentioned here (and even if I
    had I would have to mention up front that I might or might not feel
    inclined to comment on it), I get the impression that this is something
    of a recantation.
    
    You can draw your own conclusions about parallels in history.
    
    I realize the answers above may be a little on the vague side but,
    as I mentioned earlier, that's intentional.
    
    Mark

    Hi, Mark!
    
    The reason I posted the other stuff is because I thought it might
    help with the discussion, being that it's about all I have on the
    subject other than what I've discussed with other Mormons who were
    also Masons.  I don't think .6 was a recantation, but I agree that
    it had that flavor.  The letter didn't contradict what was presented,
    though there was admission that it might not have been presented
    well.  The paper itself could be interpreted as being 'anti' because
    it could be used as a source for someone trying to prove that Joseph Smith 
    plagiarized Masonic ceremonies and traditions, even though from the
    follow-up letter this was evidently neither the intent nor belief of 
    the author.
    
    By the way, thanks for clearing up more about the Masons.  I have
    little doubt about the integrity and honorable endeavors that the
    fraternity is known for.
    
    Steve

    Re .8:
    
    Not a problem, Steve. You might be interested to know that Masonry
    does not exactly sit well generally with totalitarian regimes. For
    example, when Hitler began to persecute the Jews in Germany, guess
    who was next on the list?
    
    Mark

    Has anyone read, "Mormonism, Masonry and the Magic World View,"
    by D. Michael Quinn?

    
    re: -1
    
    In note 182 we've discussed "Mormonism and the Magic World View" by
    Quinn. Is this the book you're referring to?
    
    Kevin

    Thank you.  The correct title is, "Early Mormonism and the Magic
    World View," by Quinn.  I'll check Note 182.