That joseph smith, brigham young, and other early church leaders were. Discover the reason behind joseph smiths involvement with masonry, the purpose of inverted pentagrams on lds temples, the use of sacred symbols by. For a living, smith used a divining rod and seer stones to find buried treasure. Book of mormonanachronismsgadianton masons and anti. Early mormon apostle orson pratt made a statement concerning the book of mormon. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The prophet joseph smith suggested that the endowment and. Matthew brown is the author of a new book, exploring the connection between mormons and masons, that explains smiths involvement in freemasonry, a. This institutionalized masonic principle was a trait that would be necessary for the saints to incorporate into their lives once they were endowed, because certain elements of the temple ritual were considered to be. Masons told a story about how their ancient forebears had learned stonemasonry, used it to build solomons temple, protected the temple site, and held knowledge about their craft as a closely guarded secret. Freemasonry is a centuriesold, worldwide group of fraternal organizations.
Joseph smith, founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, was a freemason. In answer they were granted permission, in october, 1841, to hold lodge meetings. Joseph smith, in reply, said that the endowment was older than masonry and had been revealed anew through him and that masonry was merely a corruption of the original endowment. The following statement is recorded in joseph smiths history of the church, volume 4, page 551, under the date of march 15, 1842. Joseph plagiarizes from the masonic legend of enoch to use in the book of mormon masonry also played a significant role in the book of mormon story. The susquehanna journal pa reprints the moneydigging agreement of nov. Masonry the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Occultic and masonic influence in early mormonism mormons in. Whatever one concludes about the varied hints of scattered early associations with hermeticism, joseph smith had welldocumented connections with one of the traditions major legacies, masonry. Joseph smiths preoccupation with animal sacrifice relates to his belief in sacrificing sheep to appease evil spirits who guarded buried treasure. This is a medallion which contains material relating to astrology and magic.
Joseph smith received the first three degrees of masonry on march 15th and 16th of 1842. It is a fact that joseph smith had in his possession the manuscript of the book of abraham for seven years before any of it appeared in print, yet the section that. Masonrys influence on mormonism and joseph smith has been noted by a number of. Captain morgan and the masonic influence in mormonism. In the evening i received the first degree in freemasonry in the nauvoo lodge. First vision, joseph smiths first encounter with the plates in 1823, joseph smiths translation of the lost pages in 1828, joseph smiths translation of the extant book of mormon textbook of ether, 1829. The number of masons grew dramatically, with the nauvoo lodge eventually growing to some 1,500 members, compared to 157 in the rest of illinois and only 2,072 in the rest of the united states. Scharffs should be commended for his effort, but his book fall short of setting the record straight. Freemasonry and the temple the encyclopedia of mormonism. Everything that ive talked about, where these masonic or nauvoo temple elements are popping up. Make offer vintage masonic book mormonism and masonry 1924. Joseph smith, magic, masonry and the occult life after.
One theme common to manyfound in the egyptian book of the dead, the. Joseph smith used magic to translate book of mormon life. I can imagine joseph smith having access to that knowledge. Joseph smith died giving the masonic signal of distress in his book exposing freemasonry, william morgan revealed how masons signal for the aid of fellow masons in case of distress.
At the time of the lodge organization, joseph smith received some of the degrees in masonry. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Although disputed by some scholars today, the encyclopedia. Willard richards, writing joseph smiths history, taught that the introduction of the endowment in nauvoo was governed by the principle of revelation. The books language betrays an unfamiliarity with masonry, and several passages sound odd to the freemasons ear. And if so, what connections does it have to lds temple worship. In this same speech reed durham told of the close relationship of mormonism to masonry. The book of enoch and the masonic legend of enoch are two different things. Joseph smiths claim of receiving gold plates from a holy angel, has attracted over ten million converts to the mormon church, a church which doubles its population every 10 to 12 years at the rate of 840 new members a day. Well, the question is a bit ambiguous, but the answer is the same regardless of the clarification question. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. From jerry smith s research he is convinced that in the early years of the restoration joseph smith s early vision of the temple worship wasnot influenced by free masonry, but was initially inspired by what hefound in the book of mormon and in the schooling experiences centered in the book of mormon translation period, from 1823 to 1830. According to goodwin, phelps was a renouncing mason of the antimasonic period and for a time, at least, a bitter foe of the fraternity.
The temple ceremony or the endowment is nothing less or more than joseph smiths copying of masonic rituals. A look at smiths translations of the kinderhook plates, the greek psalter, book of mormon and the book of. Lets look at the joseph smith and masonry video, which is the most recent video posted on youtube and doesnt yet appear at the site the other 26 do. There are few topics in mormon history more fraught than the relationship between mormonism and masonry. He didnt get the book of mormon, the pearl of great price, doctrine and covenants, or his numerous other revelations from freemasonry. Book of mormon anachronismsgadianton masons and antimasonry. Masonrys influence on mormonism and joseph smith has been noted by a number of historians. Some claim that the gadianton robbers are thinly disguised references to the antimasonic panic of joseph smiths era. Yes, joseph smith borrowed from freemasonry when writing the temple endowment for his new religion. What is the true story behind joseph smith and masons.
As smith learned more about masonic beliefs, he began to weave them into his buried treasure tale. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from godif false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deeplaid impositions ever palmed. Latterday saint authors have traditionally wanted to distance joseph smith from the fraternity, which has resulted in such unsupportable claims as that joseph. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. John dehlin august 1, 2006 joseph smith, mormon stories oklet me state up front that i am an active and believing though nontraditional in some aspects member of the church. Well, its interesting to note, joseph smith authored the book of mormon in 1830, before he had become a freemason and was introduced to masonic temple rituals, so would makes sense that he didnt include them in prior writings. Check out the wording of the lds tokens versus the masonic degrees and then take into account the fact that joseph smith was very involved in freemasonry. Josephs contemporaries did not embrace the obvious link between the book of mormon and masonry.
In the evening i received the first degree in free masonry in the nauvoo lodge, assembled in my general business office. The brothers had been in jail awaiting trial when an armed mob of about 200 men stormed the facility, their faces painted black with wet gunpowder. Joseph smith became a member evidences and reconciliations, 1 volume, pp. Joseph smith admitted to being a mason in his history of the church, volume 4, page 551. Smith was raised to the third degree of master mason on sight. Joseph smiths involvement with magic, masonry, and the occult how joseph smith put it all together. Joseph smith, freemasonry, and ancient occult teachings. His brother hyrum was a mason in palmyra, and palmyra was in the midst of the antimasonry movement in the 1820s, so it is pretty much guaranteed that he had at least a basic understanding of it.
By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. No man knows my history is the definitive tale of smiths life. I love and deeply respect the church, joseph smith. Both mormonism and freemasonry ask people to make secretsacred oaths. Joseph smith, the founder and leader of the latter day saint movement, and his brother, hyrum smith, were killed by a mob in carthage, illinois on june 27, 1844. Phelps was another man who could have taught joseph smith a great deal about masonry. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith salt lake city, deseret book, 1977, 17273. Book of mormonanachronismsgadianton masons and antimasonry. The sign is given by raising both hands and arms to the elbows, perpendicularly, one on each side of the head, the elbows forming a square. So the juvenile instructor, one of the webs top independent sites for mormon history, will start a book club on may 10 focusing on joseph smith. The relationship between mormonism and freemasonry began early in the life joseph smith. Available at a discount from the fairmormon bookstore. From the mormon apologetic folklore that joseph smith only. The masonic legend of enoch can be found in albert mackeys 18071881 encyclopedia of freemasonry.
And in some very real and quite mysterious sense, this particular table of jupiter was the most appropriate talisman for joseph smith to possess. Fawn mckay brodie is no mormon herself, she does not believe in what joseph smith preached, and she does not dwell deeply on the spiritual development of latterday joseph smith was born to. Mormonism and masonry masonrys influence on mormonism and joseph smith has been noted by a number of historians. By joseph smiths day, the boundaries between masonrys early european history and its founding myths and traditions had long since been blurred. Some of the areas impacted by masonic lore and ritual include the book of mormon, josephs personal life, and the lds temple ceremony. Joseph smith definitely had some knowledge of masonry in the 1820s. Less than two months later may 4, 1842 he gave the endowment ceremonies. This is a minor point, but its as annoying as hearing a foreigner say. Joseph smith could have learned about masonry from either his brother or heber c. This is a short 151 pages paperback book that contains 1,001 numbered paragraphs that chronologically narrate the life of joseph smith, essentially constituting a simple biography. History of the church, by joseph smith, deseret book, 1978, vol. From the producers of for our day, comes a fascinating documentary exploring temple symbolism. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers.
What did joseph smith learn from the book of mormon about. In the late 1820s, the western new york region was swept with antimasonic fervor nevertheless, by the 1840s, smith and several prominent latter day. Thus each group accused the other of misrepresenting the true origin and meaning of the ritual. This is just a small sampling of interesting quotes on the relationship between masonry and mormonism. Where he got them from is a topic for another subreddit.
Josephs plagiarism in book of mormon and other revelations. The dynamic relationship between freemasonry and mormonism salt lake city. While some of its teachings are kept confidential, it promotes loyalty and morality and invites its members to seek knowledge and opportunities to serve others. The dynamic relationship between freemasonry and mormonism. Joseph smith became a member evidences and reconciliations, 1 vol. Hyrum was killed first, having been shot in the face. Given joseph smiths long family involvement with the institution of freemasonry and the fact that he would, in 1842, become a mason himself, it seems unlikely that antimasonry was the environmental source of the gadianton robbers found in the book of mormon. The relationship between mormonism and freemasonry began early in the life joseph smith, founder of the latter day saint movement, as his older brother hyrum and possibly his father were freemasons while the family lived near palmyra, new york.
931 51 393 1206 476 115 1274 224 278 627 1258 1278 1487 904 801 778 93 560 358 872 435 1112 921 1160 398 1412 1194 686 1264 558 1279 623 1493 1515 921 968 1298 1114 1062 36 1282 240 1142 1228 649 618