Masons

Post by **_personage** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:28 pm

Why don't Mormon men join the Masonic brotherhood? If you are a follower of Joseph Smith it would make sense to try to be more like him. What"s the deal here? Is there something wrong with Masonry?

Post by **_Dr. Shades** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:32 pm

What makes you think they don't?

http://www.masonicmoroni.com/

Post by **_personage** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:34 pm

Dr. Shades wrote:What makes you think they don't?

http://www.masonicmoroni.com/

Thanks Doc.

Post by **_the road to hana** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:36 pm

There used to be a big rift between the Utah Masons and the LDS Church, and Mormons were for a time forbidden from affiliating with Masonic organizations.

We were raised that Masons were "bad," and a "secret society." The biggest rift in our community was between Mormons and Masons.

That's no longer so much the case, and many Mormons are now Masons.

Post by **_Mercury** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:37 pm

I was raised as a master mason in December, albeit I am an exmo.

Post by **_Dr. Shades** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:50 pm

So, Mercury--are there any similarities between the two ceremonies, as we all suspect?

Post by **_Mercury** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:58 pm

Dr. Shades wrote:So, Mercury--are there any similarities between the two ceremonies, as we all suspect?

Given that the temple ceremony is nothing like it was when joe introduced it, I would say there are many. Signs, grips, tokens and general procedure are eerily similar.

That being said, "Mormon masonry" is a better description of the temple ceremony. There is no mistaking it. Now I get agitated when people say that the temple ceremonies are the TRUE form of masonry because of the massive changes that have transpired in the past 150 years.

Masonry is much more enlightening, has more "mystery" and a general sense of goodwill than Mormonism. I invite all males who have interest in joining to inquire with a mason that they know for membership if interested.

Post by **_personage** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:07 pm

Mercury wrote:
Dr. Shades wrote:So, Mercury--are there any similarities between the two ceremonies, as we all suspect?

Given that the temple ceremony is nothing like it was when joe introduced it, I would say there are many. Signs, grips, tokens and general procedure are eerily similar.

That being said, "Mormon masonry" is a better description of the temple ceremony. There is no mistaking it. Now I get agitated when people say that the temple ceremonies are the TRUE form of masonry because of the massive changes that have transpired in the past 150 years.

Masonry is much more enlightening, has more "mystery" and a general sense of goodwill than Mormonism. I invite all males who have interest in joining to inquire with a mason that they know for membership if interested.

I am not a Mason but I do see a great amount of goodwill in my community from the Masons. I don't see them patting themselves on the back in front of microphones and cameras like the LDS church though.

Post by **_Mercury** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:19 pm

personage wrote:
Mercury wrote:
Dr. Shades wrote:So, Mercury--are there any similarities between the two ceremonies, as we all suspect?

Given that the temple ceremony is nothing like it was when joe introduced it, I would say there are many. Signs, grips, tokens and general procedure are eerily similar.

That being said, "Mormon masonry" is a better description of the temple ceremony. There is no mistaking it. Now I get agitated when people say that the temple ceremonies are the TRUE form of masonry because of the massive changes that have transpired in the past 150 years.

Masonry is much more enlightening, has more "mystery" and a general sense of goodwill than Mormonism. I invite all males who have interest in joining to inquire with a mason that they know for membership if interested.

I am not a Mason but I do see a great amount of goodwill in my community from the Masons. I don't see them patting themselves on the back in front of microphones and cameras like the LDS church though.

Every single dime that I give to my odge is meticulously accounted for. I know what it is spent on, who has it and I directly see the impact it has on the lodge and the community.

Beat that LDS inc.

Post by **_karl61** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:08 pm

I posted this thought over a MAD a long time ago: most responses were about the time - Each group requires a great deal of time and so it could be too much of a strain on someone. I am interested in the history of not allowing lodges in Utah. Maybe that had to do with what Joseph Smith did with the Mason ceremony once he learned it. Dan Vogel has also written very good work about how Joseph Smith described the Mason's as the great whore - the great and abomniable Church with it's secret combinations. Martin Harris called the Book of Mormon the Anti-Masonic Bible. Mason's were also the reason Hyrum left New York as they were after him for debts. Joseph wrote to Hyrum to beware of the Masons. (see Dan Vogel's work on Mason's in American Apocrypha)