Today we take a look at the connections between Masonry and Mormon rituals. We explore what the prophet Joseph Smith claimed about the Temple Endowment, and how the Modern Church and its apologists frame the endowment today. We look at the changes that have happened overtime with an emphasis on the penalty oaths and signs with a focus on recognizing those penalties are in some ways still present within the temple endowment.
RESOURCES:
http://www.ldsendowment.org/index.html
http://www.ldsendowment.org/masonry.html
http://www.ldsendowment.org/timeline.html
https://mit.irr.org/mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony
https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/pre-1990-temple-endowment/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/45228107?seq=1
https://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/dun/dun03.htm
http://www.ldsendowment.org/1931.html
http://www.rickgrunder.com/Newspapers%20for%20Sale/lucindaharris.htm
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Who in their right mind would enter intro a contract without knowing what the contract was beforehand?
Bill has is mistaken, the sign is the starting point for the former penalty not the ending point of the penalty motion. The penalties end wit hands to the sides.
The five points of fellowship and the symbols are another common feature with masonry. It you learn the Masonic ceremonies some of the LDS temple ceremonies make more sense understanding why things are as they are harkening back to Masonic origins some elements which provide more context many things.
And yes penalties were part of prayer circles back in the day.
The church would say the gospel principles and basic meanings and principle covenants of temple work have not changed but that requires a definition of the core components of the endowment which is seeming more fluid over time.
We don’t do washings and anointings naked standing in a bath tub and using whiskey and cinnamon anymore but temple work retains a the idea of washing.
There is said to be a Masonic connection during Joseph Smith’s death at Carthage and in the creation of the relief society and the use of the endowment as loyalty test to see if leaders would be loyal and learn to keep a secret. There is also
An interesting correlation with one of Joseph’s wives married to a former mason who was murdered and she held a Masonic presence at the Joseph’s funeral.
The real lack of consent is not telling people prior to going to the temple that they will make covenants that commit them to give everything they have or will have and even their own lives if necessary to the church.