Mormonism And Freemasonry
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| Masonic bodies |
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| Masonic |
| Masonic bodies · York Rite · Order of Mark Master Masons · Holy Royal Arch · Royal Arch Masonry · Cryptic Masonry · Knights Templar · Red Cross of Constantine · Scottish Rite · Knight Kadosh · The Shrine · Royal Order of Jesters · Tall Cedars of Lebanon · The Grotto · Societas Rosicruciana · Grand College of Rites · Swedish Rite · Order of St. Thomas of Acon · Royal Order of Scotland · Order of Knight Masons · Research Lodge · Corks |
| Masonic groups for women |
| Women and Freemasonry · Order of the Amaranth · Order of the Eastern Star · Co-Freemasonry |
| Masonic youth organizations |
| DeMolay · A.J.E.F. · Job's Daughters · International Order of the Rainbow for Girls |
| Views of Masonry |
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| Anti-Masonry · Anti-Masonic Party · Anti-Freemason Exhibition · Opposition to Freemasonry within Christianity · Suppression of Freemasonry · Masonic conspiracy theories· Papal ban of Freemasonry · Taxil hoax |
| People and places |
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| Masonic Temple · James Anderson · Albert Mackey · Albert Pike · Prince Hall · John the Evangelist · John the Baptist · William Schaw · Elizabeth Aldworth · List of Freemasons · Lodge Mother Kilwinning · Freemasons' Hall, London · House of the Temple · Solomon's Temple · Detroit Masonic Temple · List of Masonic buildings |
| Other related articles |
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| Great Architect of the Universe · Square and Compasses · Pigpen cipher · Eye of Providence · Hiram Abiff · Sprig of Acacia · Masonic Landmarks · Pike's Morals and Dogma· Propaganda Due · Dermott's Ahiman Rezon |
The relationship between Mormonism and Freemasonry began early in the life of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, Jr., as his older brother and possibly his father were Freemasons while the family lived near Palmyra, New York. Nevertheless, in the late 1820s, the western New York region was swept with anti-Masonic fervor, and the Book of Mormon, a foundational religious book published by Smith in 1830, is generally considered to reflect that anti-Masonic sentiment by condemning what it portrays as oath-bound conspiratorial organizations.
By the 1840s, however, Smith and several prominent Mormons had become Freemasons and founded a lodge in Nauvoo, Illinois, in March 1842. Soon after joining Freemasonry, Smith introduced a new temple "Endowment" ceremony including a number of symbolic elements that were essentially identical with their analogues within Freemasonry. Smith remained a Freemason until his death; however, later Mormon leaders distanced themselves from Freemasonry. In modern times, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the predominant Mormon organization, holds no position for or against the compatibility of Masonry with LDS Church doctrine.
Read more about Mormonism And Freemasonry: Historical Connections, Similarities in Symbology and Ritual, Modern Official LDS Church Policy, Recent Explorations of The Issue