Freemasonry

Freemasons were a fraternal society that had become very influential in the United States. Many prominent businessmen and politicians, including 1828 Presidential nominee Andrew Jackson, were Masons. An Anti-Masonic movement/party emerged as a political force in the late 1820’s (1828-1840) and served as a form of anti-elitism.

A man named William Morgan of Batavia, NY, was a former Mason who had become a prominent critic of the Masonic organization. In 1826, Morgan mysteriously disappeared. People had reason to believe that he was murdered by the Masons in western NY for speaking out against Masonry. He also had announced his intention to publish a book exposing Freemasonry’s secrets. (Interestingly, William Morgan’s wife, Lucinda, would later become the 5th plural wife to Joseph Smith Jr. on January 17th, 1842)

William Morgan’s presumed murder ignited a powerful movement against the Freemasons. Churches and other groups condemned freemasonry and purported that Masons posed a threat in America by trying to secretly take control of the government. There was also a strong fear that Masonry was hostile to Christianity.

The Anti-Masons emerged as the first third party in America and were an important alternative in the 1828 election between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

The relationship between Masonry and Mormonism began early in the Smith Family. Joseph Smith Sr. became a Master Mason in upstate NY in 1818, and Hyrum was a member of the Masonic lodge while living in Palmyra, NY. At Dartmouth, Hyrum attended school with many children of Freemasons (1811-1816). At that time he still spelled his name Hiram, (a name strongly tied to Masonry) but he later changed the spelling of his name to Hyrum- likely as a result of the strong Anti-Masonic sentiment rampant in Western NY in the late 1820s.

By 1840, the anti-Masonic fervor had died down. Many prominent Latter Day Saints had become Freemasons and established a Lodge in Nauvoo, IL in 1842. Well over 1,000 Masons lived there. Against usual Masonic practice, Joseph Smith was expedited quickly to the rank of Master Mason. Due to unorthodox practices and inductions, the Nauvoo Lodge was shut down for a time, but then permitted to resume practice.

Shortly after Joseph Smith received the rank of Master Mason he Introduced a temple endowment ceremony in Nauvoo which included several elements similarly used in Freemasonry such as robes, aprons, handshakes, raising of the arms, etc. Historian Richard Bushman notes “The Nauvoo endowment was first bestowed just six weeks after Joseph's induction. The similarities were marked enough for Heber Kimball to quote Joseph saying that Freemasonry "was taken from the priesthood but has become degen[e]rated. but many things are perfect." Today, visitors can walk through the Masonic Lodge in Nauvoo- which is presently renamed “Cultural Hall.”

Brigham Young was often seen proudly wearing the Masonic symbol of compass and square clearly visible on his shirt pin. Many Masonic symbols are visible on the outer facade of the Salt Lake City Temple such as the sun, moon, stars, handgrip, beehive, and all-seeing eye. We find that several historic Masonic temples are similar in grandeur to Latter-day Saint temples.