Darth J wrote:I know you're positive; that's why I had the scripture cites. Sorry; sometimes the tone of things like what I mean by "are you sure?" (i.e., it is obvious) doesn't translate very well over the internet.
Actually I thought your humor came across just fine :-)
You may be interested that several Masonic allusions in these passages have actually not been discussed by previous commentators. For example you noted this above.
"And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me
by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren
by their heads."
While it has been assumed that these are the same penalties, there are other options. Personally, I think this text implies that Satan was not only creating Satanic versions of the Blue Lodge degrees (the first three), but that he was also teaching a spurious form of the higher Royal Arch degree. The penalty for the highest degree in the Royal Arch was reported by Bernard as follows:
"Binding myself under no less penalty, than of having my skull smote off, and my brains exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, should I ever knowingly, or willfully, violate or transgress any part of this my solemn oath, or obligation, or a Royal Arch Mason." (Bernard, 130-131)
The presence of Royal Arch material in this context is another reason I suspect this Mormon scripture was conceived no earlier than the mid-1820s by someone well informed on the intricacies of the Royal Arch ritual.
Another point you might find of interest is a minor change in punctuation.
GEN 4:08 "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."
MOS 5:32 "And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel
, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel
, his brother, and slew him.
Notice how this minor punctuation change emphasizes that Abel is a
brother. In other words he is not only a genetic brother, but that he is also a Masonic brother. Importantly, Master Masons promise to run to the aid of a brother Master Mason when he is in danger. Cain has apostatized from his Masonic obligation and has turned it on its head. This idea is a reflection of Joseph Smith's cultural milieu as one anti-Masonic commentator of the 1820-30s noted that Abel was "morganized" by Cain.