Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarwizard
I am currently engaged in an ongoing online defense of the church. The attack was based on an RM who left the church due to the endowment ceremony and the masonic remains that are found within the ceremony.
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Oh, joy. He's got ammo, then, and you need to know a lot to be able to address the issues. I HIGHLY recommend to take your inquiries to the MA&DB board (
Mormon Apologetics & Discussion Board ), where there are several exceptionally knowledgable LDS and Masonic members. I myself am a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, though I am not a Blue lodge Freemason myself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarwizard
Edit: Original start of "debate"
WHY IS THE MORMON TEMPLE CEREMONY LITTERED WITH SIGNS AND SYMBOLS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE FREEMASON DEGREES?
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"taken directly" is a bit of a stretch, IMO. They are similar, yes, but as a whole there are many, many differences, INCLUDING WHAT THEY REPRESENT. I will conclude these remarks with a synapsis of my views on Mormonism and Masonry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarwizard
DO YOU THINK ITS ONLY A COINCIDENCE THAT JOSEPH SMITH INITIATED INTO FREEMASONRY AND THEN WITHIN THE MONTH "REVEALED" THE MORMON TEMPLE CEREMONY, WITH ALL ITS MASONIC ELEMENTS?
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Absolutely NOT a coincidence. However, it is helpful to understand that Joseph and HIS FAMILY were well acquainted with Freemasonry for many generations. It was NOT NEW to him, what with his paternal grandfather and his own beloved brother Alvin being members of Freemasonry. And there are more connections, but that'll do for now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarwizard
AND LASTLY, DO YOU FIND IT ODD THAT OVER THE YEARS THE MOST OBVIOUS MASONIC ELEMENTS (THE PENALTIES, THE FIVE POINTS OF FELLOWSHIP, ETC.) HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE MORMON TEMPLE CEREMONY?
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It is not "odd". It is deliberate, yes. And these things are not the only changes -- yet the changes were all to one point, so they are of interest in this case. That is, the endowment changes, as always, have been made to update the delivery mechanism so as to not seem too strange (or, outdated) for the membership of the Church.
Thus, we can expect many more changes in the future, over time.
IOW, the format (or, superficial appearance) of the presentation must not distract too much from the content and meaning, or the meaning is lost. At the same time, the symbolism and types therein must exist, or the Heavens cannot be pierced, which is the entire point of the endowment.
Here's my synopsis:
It was revealed to Joseph, and thus he taught (read in the D&C), that the keys to the mysteries of heaven would be found in the temple, specifically in the temple endowment. This was before Nauvoo, where he and most other brethren joined the Freemasons. THINK ABOUT THAT.
Doctrine and Covenants 84
Joseph knew by revelation that the Saints needed the endowment, for a very long time. He knew that this instruction must fit within the social structure and expectations of society, at least to a degree, or the membership would not be able to put forth sufficient faith to draw down the powers of heaven in an actual esoteric fullfillment to the rite or ceremony (exoteric) of the endowment. THINK ABOUT THAT.
None of that makes sense to the natural man, guaranteed. But God works through the mind and spirit of man, and Joseph understood this.
So when he saw the framework of the Freemason's rite, he saw an opportunity to couch the message of God's endowment in the same sociological framework, while including the divine, revealed elements that Heavenly Father had required him to teach and provide to the Saints. Serendipity, if you will.
Links of interest:
http://www.sunstoneonline.com/magazi.../141-32-41.pdf
Why Did Joseph Smith Become a Mason?
HiJolly