Fwd: Masonry/Mormonism
MRS CAROL J VAN DRIE (UTMB76A@prodigy.com)
Tue, 26 Sep 1995 12:10:06 EDT
-- [ From: Carol J. Van Drie * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
My Pleasure! I pray the information I typed can be of use for you as
you serve our Lord Jesus Christ!
"In Christ alone I place my trust..."
Carol J. Van Drie
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> Date: Saturday, 02-Sep-95 07:27 AM
>
> From: Carol J. Van Drie \ PRODIGY: (UTMB76A)
> To: Christia/all \ Internet:
> (christia@asuvm.inre.asu.edu)
>
> Subject: Masonry/Mormonism
>
> The following is taken from an article I wrote for the Prodigy
Bulletin
> Boards. I pray that the truth of Jesus Christ our Lord lives and
reigns.
>
> There is no question that the Mormon temple ceremony and
> the Freemasonry temple ceremony are very similar.
> Joseph Smith, the founding "prophet" of Mormonism, was
> himself, initiated as a Free Mason before his death. In
> fact, upon his death, Smith gave a Mason sign and a call
> that a Mason is to use in case of distress. The sign,
> according to the book, "Evolution of the Mormon Temple
> Ceremony 1842-1990 by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, appendix C,
> pg. 144, is given by raising both hands and arms to the
> elbows, perpendicularly, one on each side of the head, the
> elbows forming a square. The words accompanying the sign,
> in case of distress, which Smith uttered are "O LORD, MY
> GOD! Is there no help for the widow's son?" (Freemasonry
> Exposed, p. 70). John D. Lee claimed that Joseph Smith
> used the exact words that a Mason is supposed to use in
> case of distress; "Joseph left the door, sprang through the
> windows, and cried out `OH MY LORD, MY GOD, IS THERE NO
> HELP FOR THE WIDOW'S SON!'" (Confessions of John D. Lee,
> photo-mechanical reprint of 1880 ed., p. 153). This account
> is also verified by Mormon historical records, Times and
> Seasons, vol.5, p.585.
> Following is a comparison to the Mason temple ceremony,
> and the Mormon temple ceremony, taken from the same
> reference as mentioned above by the Tanners starting on pg.
> 145. : "The following are some of the parallels between
> the ritual of the Masons and the Mormon temple ceremony.
> Because some of the details of the temple ceremony have
> been changed [and will be cited and discussed later] in
> recent years, we are using the pamphlet, Temple
> Mormonism--Its Evolution, Ritual and Meaning, New York,
> 1931, to make our comparison.
> 1. Both the Masons and the Mormons have what is called
> `the five points of fellowship.'
> MORMONS - `THE FIVE POINTS OF FELLOWSHIP are given by putting
the
> inside of the right foot to the inside of the Lord's, the inside
of
> your knee to his, laying your breast close to his, your left hands
on
> each other's backs, and each one putting his mouth to the other's
ear,
> in which
> position the Lord whispers:
> `Lord--' This is the sign of the token:
> `Health to the navel, marrow in the bones...' [Temple
> Mormonism, pg. 22, the reference by Tanners]
> MASONS - `He (the candadate) us raised on what is
> called the five points of THE FIVE POINTS OF
> FELLOWSHIP...This is done by putting the inside of your
> right foot to the inside of the right foot of the person to
> whom you are going to give the word, the inside of your
> knee to his, laying your eight breast against his, your
> left hands on the back of each other, and your mouths to
> each other's right ear (in which positions alone you are
> permitted to give the word), and whisper the word
> Mahhah-bone...He is also told that Mahhah-bone signifies
> marrow in the bone." (Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 84-85).
> 2. When the candidate receives `The First Token of the
> Aronic Priesthood' he makes a promise similar to the oath
> taken in the `First Degree' of the Masonic ritual.
> MORMONS - `...we will not reveal any of the secrets of
> this, the first token of the Aronic priesthood, with its
> accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we
> agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our
> tongues torn out by their roots'...
> MASONS - `...I will...never reveal any part or parts,
> art or arts, point or points of the secret arts and
> mysteries of ancient Freemasonry...binding myself across my
> tongue torn our by the roots...'
> In both ceremonies the thumb is drawn across the throat
> to show the penalty.
> MORMONS - `Sign-in executing the sign of the penalty,
> the right hand, palm down, is drawn sharply scross the
> throat...'
> MASONS - `This is given by drawing your right hand
> across your throat, the thumb next to your throat...'"
> ***********************************************
> MORMONSIM/MASONRY PART 2 --
> 4. Those who receive the `First Token of the Aronic
> Priesthood' give a grip that is similar to that used by the
> Masons in the `First Degree' of their ritual.
> MORMONS - `The Grip-Hands clasped, pressing the knuckle
> of the index finger with the thumb.'
> MASONS - `The right hands are joined together as in shaking
of
> the index finger with the thumb nail into the third joint or
upper end
> of the forefinger...' (Freemasonry
> Exposed, page 23).
> 5. Some of the wording concerning the `grip' is
> similar.
> MORMONS - `...Peter now takes Adam by the right hand
> and asks:)
> `Peter-'What is that?'
> `Adam-'The first token of the Aronic Priesthood.'
> `Peter-'Has it a name?'
> `Adam-'It has.'
> `Peter-Will you give it to me?'
> `Adam-'I can not, for it is connected with my new name,
> but this is the sign.'
> MASONS - `The Master and candidate holding each other by the
grip,
> as before described, the Master says, `What
> is this?'
> `Ans. 'A grip.'
> `A grip of what?'
> `Ans. The grip of an Enterend Apprentice Mason.'
> `Has it a name?'
> `Ans. It has.'
> `Will you give it to me?"
> `Asn. I did not receive it, neither can I so impart it.'
> (Freemansonry Exposed pp. 23-24).
> 6. The oath of the `Second Token of the Aronic
Priesthood'
> si similar to that taken in the second degree
> of Masonry.
> MORMONS - `We each of us [can not read] covenant and
> promise that we will not reveal the secrets of this, the
> Second Token of the Aronic Priesthood, with its
> accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so,
> we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and
> vitals torn from our bodies and given to the birds of the
> air and the beasts of the field.'
> MASONS - I...most solemnly and sincerely promise and
> swear...that I will not give the degree of a Fellow Craft
> Mason to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any other
> being in the known world...binding myself under no less
> penalty than to have my left breast torn open and my heart
> and vitals taken from thence...to become a prey to the wild
> beasts of the field, and vulture of the air...'
> [Freemasonry...pg. 53]
> 8. Both have similar grips.
> MORMONS - The Grip is given by clasping the hand and
> pressing the thumb in the hollow between the first and
> second knuckles of the hand.'
> MASONS - `...the pass-grip, is given by taking each
> other by the right hand, as though going to shake hands,
> and each putting his thumb between the fore and second
> fingers where they join the hand, and pressing the thumb
> between the joints.' pg. 54 from book above mentioned.
> 9. In both cases a `name' is used.
> MORMONS - `The name is the given name of the candidate.'
> MASONS - `...the name of it is Shibboleth.'
> 10. The promise made when receiving the "First Token
> of the Melchezedek Priesthood' resembles the oath given by
> the Masons in the third or `Master Mason's Degree.'
> MORMONS - `Peter-' We and each of us do covenant and promise
that
> we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of
the
> Melchizedek Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or
penalty.
> Should we do so, we agree that our bodies be cut asunder in the
midst
> and all
> our bowels gushed out.'
> Cont. - >>>>
>
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