Hello, I’m a sixteen year old LDS boy, and recently I’ve been doing a-lot of research concerning the freemasons, you may know of them. Well anyway, Joseph Smith was a freemason and died a freemason, and after doing much research on them I have decided that when I come of age I would also like to join the freemasons. So I just needed to know, what is the church’s current stance of freemasonry?
3 Responses to “Hello, I’m a sixteen year old LDS boy, and recently I’ve bee…”
Luciano Santana
2009-08-30 23:20:13
Hi Lowell. In the 19th century a lot of Mormons were freemasons. Now days, though, there aren't very many Mormon masons. The church is not opposed to freemasonry, however. Members are free to join the masons if they like.
Being a mason does take some time. I personally think that time could be better spent studying the gospel and serving our families. Certainly, though, each person should decide what is best for them. Good luck!
Pamela Dean
2009-09-01 03:26:45
You may be interested to know that according to elder John A. Widstoe, Joseph was never a practicing mason although he did become a member. You can read about it and the reasons why he became a mason at this website.
You may also be interested in this article on mormonism and freemasonry. The part I find most interesting is the following: "From 1925 to 1984 the masonic fraternity in Utah prohibited latter-day saints from joining, but freemasons opened membership to mormons worldwide. In 1984 the grand lodge of Utah officially dropped its anti-mormon position and allowed LDS church members to join. Today there is no formal obstacle preventing mormons from becoming freemasons. The presidency of the LDS church has not made an official statement as to whether or not freemasonry is compatible with mormonism. However Don LeFevre, a past spokesman for the church has said the church '... Strongly advises its members not to affiliate with organizations that are secret, oath-bound, or would cause them to lose interest in church activities.' (Salt Lake Tribune section d1, Monday Feb. 17, 1992)."
Webmaster: I found the article by John A. Widstoe to be particularly interesting. I should note, though, that it says Joseph was not very active in freemasonry because he was busy, not that he did not practice masonry. If I'm not mistaken, he was a Master Mason, and so must have participated some. I tend to agree with Brother LeFevre, though it's not clear to be that he was authorized to proclaim the official church position, as the Prophets and Apostles have said nothing on the matter. Very interesting stuff! :)
Pamela Dean
2009-09-02 21:10:17
I find the gray areas of this particular topic fascinating. Elder Widtsoe's article does say "at the time of the lodge organization, Joseph Smith received some of the degrees in masonry. He was never an active mason. His other work consumed his time and energy. His history shows that he was extremely busy at this time with a multitude of church problems." Here's what some other people say:
Tim Malone, long-time member of the church and amateur historian/researcher: in 1840, at the start of the Nauvoo period, Joseph was encouraged to start a masonic lodge by John C. Bennett, a recent convert and prominent physician. Bennett quickly rose to a position of power and influence in the church, becoming a counselor in the First Presidency, mayor of the city of Nauvoo, general of the Nauvoo legion, and the chancellor of the University of Nauvoo.... [f]or the two year period of time of 1840 to 1842, he was influential in introducing the young prophet to masonry and instructing him in the rituals and symbolism of the fraternity. Joseph Smith became grand chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo lodge of free masons. Many of the LDS leaders and brethren of the church were also active masons during this time.... After Joseph had learned the details of the rituals and teachings of the fraternal order, he went to the Lord in prayer and received revelation in regards to the correct order and purpose of the endowment. What he presented to the Lord was what he had learned from John C. Bennett. What he received from the Lord was the restored endowment, evidence of his prophetic calling. latterdaycommentary. blogspot.com
Cordell Vail, a member who sends weekly messages to family members: In the past I have had several people ask me why Joseph Smith said, "Oh Lord my God" when he jumped up into the window at the Carthage Jail.... It has to do with the bigger question of why Joseph Smith and the other Nauvoo era saints were members of the masonic order. I learned quite a lot about this subject while I was a guide in Nauvoo in summer of 1965.... As a part of taking a University of Utah graduate religion course from T. Edgar Lyon.... Reason #1: The first reasons was political.... [t]hey... tried to align themselves with... the masons. Most of the men in Illinois no matter what political party they belonged to were masons. Joseph Smith and the other brethren joined the masonic order so that they could become brothers with the masons and seek protection from them to help stop the persecution.... Reason #2 Joseph Smith allowed the members of the church to join the masonic order to later help save the life of John Taylor. I assume that only because he was a prophet of God could he have known that would be the case. Here is what happened.... [sic] when Joseph Smith jumped up in the window he did not go there to jump out of the jail window to escape (that is what people now days think he was doing.... And that is totally false).... He was not jumping in the window to escape at all. He jumped up into the window so he could be seen in full view by the mob and then when they saw him in the window, he intended on letting the mob down below see him give the masonic distress signal so they would be obligated to help him save his life. He jumped up in the window, and as he started to give the beginning of the distress signal, the shots rang out.... Elder Richards did what he knew would keep the mob from coming up the stairs to kill [him and John Taylor].... Standing at the top of the stairs, Elder Richards gave the masonic distress signal. When the men in the mob saw and heard him do that, they were under oath as masons to not do any bodily harm to Elder Richards so they stopped and went back down the stairs and out of the jail. That is the second reason and the main reason why Joseph Smith had been inspired to become a mason.... To help Elder Richards have the knowledge he needed to save the life of John Taylor who surely would have been killed by that mob had Elder Richards not have known the masonic distress signal to save them. Joseph had intended to use that same knowledge to save his own life there in the window but they did not give him a chance to do the distress sign. After that, the mormons had nothing else to do with the masons. cordellvail.com
Reed Durham, LDS historian: Joseph and Sidney [Rigdon] were inducted into formal masonry... On the same day... Being made "masons on sight" by the Illinois grandmaster. (This freed Joseph from having to complete the ritual and memorization necessary to work one's way through the first three degress.) Making one "a mason on sight" is generally reserved as an honor and is a rarity in occurrence. ("Is There no Help for the Widow's Son?" in "Joseph Smith and Masonry: No Help for the Widow's Son", 1980, 17.)
Page 1314 of volume 3 of the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry inidicates that less than six months after the "Mormon" masonic lodges were institutes they were suspended by the grand lodge. They were later reinstated, then ordered disbanded. The saints ignored the disbanding orders from the grand lodge and continued to intitiate members. After the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, the saints turned their backs on masonry. A more detailed account of this time can be found online.
Greg Kearney, an LDS and third degree master mason (highest degree in the blue lodge rite): Being raised at sight is an extremely rare event in freemasonry. Generally when one becomes a mason one works through the three degrees of the blue lodge of masonry a degree at a time memorizing some pretty complicated ritualistic elements. In the case of Joseph Smith however, he was raised what is called at sight or upon sight by grand master Jonas and it is an exclusive right of the grand master to do this.... [t]he landmark eight, the ancient landmarks of freemasonry which every mason receives in a book called the monitor specified that the grand master has an exclusive right to make masons at sight or upon sight and it's reserved for really special occasions.... So, Joseph is made a mason at sight or upon sight meaning he does not have to work his way through the previous two degrees, he is made a mason immediately; and he served as lodge chaplain... And the position of chaplain as we will see permitted Joseph Smith to observe closely the remarkable power of ritual form as a means of teaching complex ideas.... (The Message and the Messenger)
For me personally, these insights - and others - leads me to believe that Heavenly Father had huge influence in Joseph's joining freemasonry. He was able to skip many things in freemasonry which were not of the Lord, quickly learn the things that are true in masonry, discover how he could save the life of the future prophet John Taylor, and then get on with the work he was assigned to do by the Lord. Once those things were accomplished, there was no reason for Joseph to remain an active lodge member.
Being a mason does take some time. I personally think that time could be better spent studying the gospel and serving our families. Certainly, though, each person should decide what is best for them. Good luck!
You may also be interested in this article on mormonism and freemasonry. The part I find most interesting is the following: "From 1925 to 1984 the masonic fraternity in Utah prohibited latter-day saints from joining, but freemasons opened membership to mormons worldwide. In 1984 the grand lodge of Utah officially dropped its anti-mormon position and allowed LDS church members to join. Today there is no formal obstacle preventing mormons from becoming freemasons. The presidency of the LDS church has not made an official statement as to whether or not freemasonry is compatible with mormonism. However Don LeFevre, a past spokesman for the church has said the church '... Strongly advises its members not to affiliate with organizations that are secret, oath-bound, or would cause them to lose interest in church activities.' (Salt Lake Tribune section d1, Monday Feb. 17, 1992)."
Webmaster: I found the article by John A. Widstoe to be particularly interesting. I should note, though, that it says Joseph was not very active in freemasonry because he was busy, not that he did not practice masonry. If I'm not mistaken, he was a Master Mason, and so must have participated some. I tend to agree with Brother LeFevre, though it's not clear to be that he was authorized to proclaim the official church position, as the Prophets and Apostles have said nothing on the matter. Very interesting stuff! :)
Tim Malone, long-time member of the church and amateur historian/researcher: in 1840, at the start of the Nauvoo period, Joseph was encouraged to start a masonic lodge by John C. Bennett, a recent convert and prominent physician. Bennett quickly rose to a position of power and influence in the church, becoming a counselor in the First Presidency, mayor of the city of Nauvoo, general of the Nauvoo legion, and the chancellor of the University of Nauvoo.... [f]or the two year period of time of 1840 to 1842, he was influential in introducing the young prophet to masonry and instructing him in the rituals and symbolism of the fraternity. Joseph Smith became grand chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo lodge of free masons. Many of the LDS leaders and brethren of the church were also active masons during this time.... After Joseph had learned the details of the rituals and teachings of the fraternal order, he went to the Lord in prayer and received revelation in regards to the correct order and purpose of the endowment. What he presented to the Lord was what he had learned from John C. Bennett. What he received from the Lord was the restored endowment, evidence of his prophetic calling. latterdaycommentary. blogspot.com
Cordell Vail, a member who sends weekly messages to family members: In the past I have had several people ask me why Joseph Smith said, "Oh Lord my God" when he jumped up into the window at the Carthage Jail.... It has to do with the bigger question of why Joseph Smith and the other Nauvoo era saints were members of the masonic order. I learned quite a lot about this subject while I was a guide in Nauvoo in summer of 1965.... As a part of taking a University of Utah graduate religion course from T. Edgar Lyon.... Reason #1: The first reasons was political.... [t]hey... tried to align themselves with... the masons. Most of the men in Illinois no matter what political party they belonged to were masons. Joseph Smith and the other brethren joined the masonic order so that they could become brothers with the masons and seek protection from them to help stop the persecution.... Reason #2 Joseph Smith allowed the members of the church to join the masonic order to later help save the life of John Taylor. I assume that only because he was a prophet of God could he have known that would be the case. Here is what happened.... [sic] when Joseph Smith jumped up in the window he did not go there to jump out of the jail window to escape (that is what people now days think he was doing.... And that is totally false).... He was not jumping in the window to escape at all. He jumped up into the window so he could be seen in full view by the mob and then when they saw him in the window, he intended on letting the mob down below see him give the masonic distress signal so they would be obligated to help him save his life. He jumped up in the window, and as he started to give the beginning of the distress signal, the shots rang out.... Elder Richards did what he knew would keep the mob from coming up the stairs to kill [him and John Taylor].... Standing at the top of the stairs, Elder Richards gave the masonic distress signal. When the men in the mob saw and heard him do that, they were under oath as masons to not do any bodily harm to Elder Richards so they stopped and went back down the stairs and out of the jail. That is the second reason and the main reason why Joseph Smith had been inspired to become a mason.... To help Elder Richards have the knowledge he needed to save the life of John Taylor who surely would have been killed by that mob had Elder Richards not have known the masonic distress signal to save them. Joseph had intended to use that same knowledge to save his own life there in the window but they did not give him a chance to do the distress sign. After that, the mormons had nothing else to do with the masons. cordellvail.com
Reed Durham, LDS historian: Joseph and Sidney [Rigdon] were inducted into formal masonry... On the same day... Being made "masons on sight" by the Illinois grandmaster. (This freed Joseph from having to complete the ritual and memorization necessary to work one's way through the first three degress.) Making one "a mason on sight" is generally reserved as an honor and is a rarity in occurrence. ("Is There no Help for the Widow's Son?" in "Joseph Smith and Masonry: No Help for the Widow's Son", 1980, 17.)
Page 1314 of volume 3 of the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry inidicates that less than six months after the "Mormon" masonic lodges were institutes they were suspended by the grand lodge. They were later reinstated, then ordered disbanded. The saints ignored the disbanding orders from the grand lodge and continued to intitiate members. After the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, the saints turned their backs on masonry. A more detailed account of this time can be found online.
Greg Kearney, an LDS and third degree master mason (highest degree in the blue lodge rite): Being raised at sight is an extremely rare event in freemasonry. Generally when one becomes a mason one works through the three degrees of the blue lodge of masonry a degree at a time memorizing some pretty complicated ritualistic elements. In the case of Joseph Smith however, he was raised what is called at sight or upon sight by grand master Jonas and it is an exclusive right of the grand master to do this.... [t]he landmark eight, the ancient landmarks of freemasonry which every mason receives in a book called the monitor specified that the grand master has an exclusive right to make masons at sight or upon sight and it's reserved for really special occasions.... So, Joseph is made a mason at sight or upon sight meaning he does not have to work his way through the previous two degrees, he is made a mason immediately; and he served as lodge chaplain... And the position of chaplain as we will see permitted Joseph Smith to observe closely the remarkable power of ritual form as a means of teaching complex ideas.... (The Message and the Messenger)
For me personally, these insights - and others - leads me to believe that Heavenly Father had huge influence in Joseph's joining freemasonry. He was able to skip many things in freemasonry which were not of the Lord, quickly learn the things that are true in masonry, discover how he could save the life of the future prophet John Taylor, and then get on with the work he was assigned to do by the Lord. Once those things were accomplished, there was no reason for Joseph to remain an active lodge member.
Webmaster: Very interesting!