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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