Temples & Freemasonry temples & Freemasonry Concerns & Questions “Because of their Masonic characters the ceremonies of the temple are sacred and not for the public.” – October 15, 1911, Message from the First Presidency, 4:2501 107 1. Just seven weeks after Joseph’s March 1842 Masonic initiation2, Joseph introduced the LDS endowment ceremony in May 18423. 2. President Heber C. Kimball, a Mason himself and a member of the First Presidency for 21 years, made the following statement: “We have the true Masonry. The Masonry of today is received from the apostasy which took place in the days of Solomon, and David. They have now and then a thing that is correct, but we have the real thing.” – Heber C. Kimball and Family: The Nauvoo Years, Stanley B. Kimball, p.4584 3. If Masonry had the original Temple ceremony but became distorted over time, why doesn’t the LDS ceremony more closely resemble an earlier form of Masonry, which would be more correct rather than the exact version that Joseph Smith was exposed to in his March 1842 Nauvoo, Illinois initiation? 4. Freemasonry has zero links to Solomon’s Temple. Although more a Church folklore, with origins from comments made by early Mormon Masons such as Heber C. Kimball, than being Church doctrine, it’s a myth that the endowment ceremony has its origins from Solomon’s Temple or that Freemasonry passed down parts of the endowment over the centuries from Solomon’s Temple. Solomon’s Temple was all about animal sacrifice. Freemasonry has its origins to stone tradesmen in medieval Europe5 – not in 950 BC Jerusalem. FairMormon admits these facts: “Unfortunately, there is no historical evidence to support a continuous functioning line from Solomon’s Temple to the present. We know what went on in Solomon’s Temple; it’s the ritualistic slaughter of animals.” – The Message and the Messenger: Latter-day Saints and Freemasonry6 “Masonry, while claiming a root in antiquity, can only be reliably traced to medieval stone tradesmen.” – Similarities Between Masonic and Mormon Temple Ritual7 108 “It is clear that Freemasonry and its traditions played a role in the development of the endowment ritual…” – Similarities Between Masonic and Mormon Temple Ritual8 If there’s no connection to Solomon’s Temple, what’s so divine about a man-made medieval European secret fraternity and its rituals? 5. Why did the Church remove the blood oath penalties and the 5 Points of Fellowship at the veil from the endowment ceremony in 1990? Both of these were 100% Masonic rituals. What does this say about the Temple and the endowment ceremony if 100% pagan Masonic rituals were in it from its inception? What does it say about the Church if it removed something that Joseph Smith said he restored and which would never again be taken away from the earth? 6. Is God really going to require individuals to know secret tokens, handshakes, and signs to get into heaven? What is the purpose of them? Doesn’t Heavenly Father know our names and know us personally? Indeed, aren’t the very hairs on our heads numbered?9 And couldn’t those who have left the Church and still know of the secret tokens, handshakes, and signs (or those who have watched the endowment ceremony on YouTube) benefit from that knowledge? 7. Does the eternal salvation, eternal happiness, and eternal families really depend on Masonic rituals in multi-million dollar castles? Is God really going to separate good couples and their children who love one another and who want to be together in the next life because they object to uncomfortable and strange Masonic Temple rituals and a polygamous heaven? 109 “PETER: ‘The five points of fellowship are: inside of right foot by the side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to ear.’” – LDS Temple Endowment - Five Points of Fellowship, Removed 1990 “WORSHIPFUL MASTER: ‘The five points of fellowship are: foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and cheek to cheek, or mouth to ear.’” – Masonic Five Points of Fellowship from the 3rd Degree Master Mason Ritual