Mormonism and Freemasonry are
so intimately interwoven and interrelated that the two can never
be dissociated. Mormonism was born in the throes of the holocaust
provoked by the Anti-Masonic Morgan affair of 1826. What I shall
attempt to cover is the period from the beginning of Mormonism
is the 1820's, with its early Masonic ties, through social and
political upheaval in New York State tied into the so-called
Morgan Affair, the establishment and marriage of Freemasonry
and Mormonism in Nauvoo, Illinois; the assassination of Joseph
Smith by members of the Masonic Fraternity, the subsequent exodus
to Utah by Brigham Young, the rejection of Mormonism by Utah
Freemasonry, and finally the coming of universal Freemasonry
to Utah.
The seeker of light on the subject of the interface between
Masonry and Mormonism quickly becomes frustrated. The so-called
literature pertaining to this subject is generally biased, prejudiced,
unscholarly but most alarming is that written by individuals
without the requisite background of each of the two organizations.
The Joseph Smith family was known and acknowledged to have
been a close knitted one, where strong individual affection and
loyalty existed between each of the members. It was a Masonic
family which lived by and practiced the estimable and admirable
tenets of Freemasonry. The father, Joseph Smith, Sr., was a documented
member in upstate New York. He was raised to the degree of Master
Mason on May 7, 1818 in Ontario Lodge No. 23 of Canandaigua,
New York. An older son, Hyrum Smith, was a member of Mount Moriah
Lodge No. 112, Palmyra New York. Numerous attempts have been
made to prove that Joseph Smith and his family where depraved,
degenerate and disreputable persons. These documented facts,
namely, the Masonic membership of Joseph Smith, Sr., in the Lodge
in Canandaigua, and Hyrum's membership in Palmyra Lodge, are
of the most significant importance. Being the elite institution
it was recognized by the public to be at that time, and their
active membership in two of the Masonic lodges of the area is
convincing evidence of the stature and high esteem the members
of the family enjoyed in the eyes and opinions of those who knew
them best. As touched on previously, the founding of Mormonism
or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, took place
under the strikingly peculiar circumstances associated with the
turbulent, tenuous atmosphere then gripping west central and
up-state New York. This community unrest was primarily due to
the vicious anti-Masonic furor which was triggered by the controversial
disappearance of William Morgan. A booklet attributed to the
vanished William Morgan appeared in Batavia, New York, in October
of 1826 titled "Illustrations of Masonry," by one of
the Fraternity who has devoted thirty years to the subject.
The Morgan booklet was extensively printed and distributed
causing a torrential flood of publicity related to the practices
and ceremonies of the craft. This booklet of lies, insinuations
and half-truths was avidly and devouringly read by a people eager
to believe the worst about anything they did not understand especially
a so-called "secret society." During this time Joseph
Smith, Jr., received and recorded a series of visitations by
the Angel Moroni, found and translated the golden plates into
what is now known as the Book of Mormon. During the third week
of March 1830, the Book of Mormon was offered for sale at Palmyra,
New York. Critics of The Book of Mormon quickly attempted to
attribute the mentioning of secret societies in the volume to
the influence of the notorious publicity stemming from thee Morgan
affair. A number of incidents are recounted in the Book of Mormon
concerning secret societies and evil practices indulged in by
this type organization. Understandably, but mistakenly, the general
public semantically considered Freemasonry to be the epitome
of a secret society and consequently related Mormonism and Freemasonry
at the same well spring. The inaccurate writings of numerous
prejudiced and emotional authors helped to further confuse the
issue. Hundreds of pieces of literature began to appear very
quickly with the common theme claiming that the contents of the
recently translated Mormon scripture had been influenced by the
Morgan excitement. The rise of sentiment for the anti-Masonic
party and all the publicity from stage presentations mocking
the craft was further fueled by the public claims that Joseph
Smith, Jr., had used Masonic work to produce the Book of Mormon.
The public lumped them into the same basket and with the Masonic
background of the Smith's, Mormonism and Freemasonry became so
interwoven in the public mind as to be one and the same.
If the death of William Morgan was the fuel that sparked the
great anti-Masonic movement then the actions of his wife was
the breath that fanned the flames. This celebrated woman who,
like Niobe, was all tears and affliction and whose hand was ever
held forth to receive contributions from the sympathetic Anti-Masons,
who vowed eternal widowhood, pains and penance, remarried. On
November 23, 1830, Lucindia Morgan married George W. Harris,
a Mason and converted to Mormonism and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois.
Much of the historical account dealing with the introduction
of Freemasonry among the Mormons in Illinois and Iowa was and
has been intentionally omitted and/or distorted by both the Masons
and the Mormons. Let us start with the marriage of Mormonism
and Freemasonry. On April 6, 1840, the present Grand Lodge of
Illinois was formed by the Mormon Patriarch, Judge and General
James Adams.
An interesting side note is that the Mormon Church was founded
on April 6, 1830, The Nauvoo Temple was dedicated on April 6
and the Mormon Church teaches that the birth of Christ actually
was April 6 (though they celebrate it on December 25). The early
years of the Grand Lodge were fraught with great difficulty and
not all lodges within the state joined it until the middle of
the 1840s. Under the Grand Mastership of a complex and colorful
individual, named Abraham Jonas and a Deputy Grand Master equally
remarkable man named James Adams, the new Grand Lodge engaged
in some unusual transactions with the Mormons of Nauvoo.
The motives and thinking of the men concerned in these unusual
transactions have been a standing puzzle to Masonic scholars
throughout the years. It is certainly one of the most devious
and controversial performances in which American Freemasonry
has ever engaged. It is my personal, considered opinion that
it took an inordinate amount of persuasion on the part of the
two self-serving opportunistic partisan politicians, Deputy Grand
Master Adams and Grand Master Jonas, to induce Joseph Smith to
sanction the introduction of Freemasonry in Nauvoo.
They planned on treating it as an elitist group open only
to the selected few, but Joseph Smith insisted that it be open
to every holder of the Mormon Priesthood, who had the interest
to petition for admittance into Masonry. The sole exception would
be the petitioner who had exceptionally negative qualities, known
and acknowledged as such. In other words, Joseph Smith insisted
that Nauvoo Lodge be an all-inclusive lodge.
Nauvoo had three lodges and Iowa had two, the five collectively
being identified as the "Mormon Lodges." Nauvoo comprised
a total membership of 1550 Masons. A conservative estimate of
the membership of the other four lodges suggests that the total
of the five lodges may have exceed 2,000 Masons. The minutes
of Nauvoo Lodge for Tuesday, March 15, 1842, shows Grand Master
Abraham Jonas (Illinois Grand Master) opened the lodge in the
3rd degree of Masonry and conducted a public installation of
Nauvoo Lodge "at the grove near the Temple." The minutes
then go on to show that both Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon
"were duly initiated Entered Apprentice Masons during the
day." The record for Wednesday, March 16, ceremonies again
lists the two candidates and shows that they were made fellowcraft
and Master Masons at sight. The first five Presidents of the
Church: Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff,
and Lorenzo Snow were all made Masons in Nauvoo Lodge. Also practically
every member of the hierarchy was or became a Mason shortly after
the Prophet was raised to the degree of Master Mason. With the
marked and well known exception of the justly famous Lodge of
Nine Sisters at Paris, France, with its almost incredible roster
of French immortals, it is extremely doubtful if any lodge in
the history of Freemasonry has met, let alone exceeded, the record
of Nauvoo Lodge in the number of members whose memory is perpetuated
in ageless bronze or masterful portraiture.
After Freemasonry was introduced to Nauvoo, the lodge met
in the upper room of Joseph Smith's general store while the new
Masonic hall was being built. This was dedicated by Hyrum Smith
on April 5, 1844, and used by the church and community for many
community activities. It is worth noting that in the restoration
of Nauvoo, the Mormon Church restored the building and calls
it "The Cultural Hall-Masonic Hall."
An interesting side note on the influence that Masonry had
in the life of the Mormons is the fact that the weather vane
placed on the Nauvoo temple depicted an angel in priestly robes
with the Book of Mormon in one hand and a trumpet in the other.
The angel is wearing a cap on his head and above him are a square
and compass. Religious antagonism and physical conflict increased
and finally came to a head with the bloody murders of Joseph
and his brother Hyrum when they were shot to death on June 27,
1844. Joseph Smith was a Mason in good standing of Nauvoo Lodge
while Hyrum was the incumbent Master of the lodge.
On the morning of June 27, 1844, the citizens of Warsaw held
a meeting and adopted a resolution to proceed to Nauvoo and exterminate
the city and its people. In pursuance to the resolution, Colonel
Levi Williams called together his regiment of militia and marched
for Carthage where the Smiths had surrendered themselves upon
the pledge of the governor for their safety. They were met on
the road with an order from the Governor disbanding the regiment.
Colonel Williams read the order and called for volunteers. Captain
Mark Aldrich spoke in favor and Captain Thomas C. Sharp advised
the troops to march to Carthage.
Captain Jacob C. Davis, who was then State Senator, refrained
from speaking, but went with the mob and was present at the assassination.
About 150 of the rank and file blacked their faces with mud and
gunpowder. Arrangements were made for the guards at the jail
to charge their guns with blanks which they would fire at the
disguised men when they assailed the jail. This plan was carried
out and the Smiths and their visitors, John Taylor and Willard
Richards, threw themselves against the door to prevent the mob
from entering. Shots were fired through the door, killing Hyrum
instantly and wounding Taylor. Joseph Smith fired his pistol,
which had been smuggled to him, wounding four of his assassins.
Having exhausted his weapon, and the mob still trying to break
down the door, he attempted to escape by jumping from the window
but was stunned by the two-story fall when he hit the ground.
Someone picked him up and placed him against a well curb. Joseph
recognizing Masons in the mob cried out ``Oh Lord, My God . .
'' with his words being cut of by a volley of musket balls.
In order to show their approval of the murders, Warsaw Lodge,
at their next meeting, elected Mark Aldrich as master and received
the petitions of Levi Williams, Thomas C. Sharp and Jacob Davis.
All who were under indictment of the murder. Warsaw Lodge eventually
lost its charter, but not because of its support for the murders.
When the first Mormon pioneer company entered the Salt Lake
Valley on July 24, 1847, under Brigham Young's leadership, a
significant body of Masons entered with him. As of that date,
the full Mormon Hierarchy was comprised of Masons.
A review of the 143 men entering the valley at this time shows
how wide-spread Masonry had become among the Mormons. Three of
the group were black slaves, 16 were young men not yet of age,
which leaves 124 who might possibly have been of the Craft. Of
these there were 10 whose age was not known, who with 38 others
are not known to have been Masons. This means that 76 of the
possible 124 left, or 61%, were documented members of the Craft.
Brigham Young, knowing both Mormonism and Freemasonry in depth,
fully realized that nothing constructive or positive could result
from a series of continuing exchanges over the years, judiciously
instituted the inflexible policy that the Mormon Church had nothing
to say publicly regarding Freemasonry. This position has been
steadfastly and discretely adhered to for almost a century and
a half, with very few exceptions. There is ample evidence that
Brigham Young took his Masonry seriously and gave studious attention
to its meaning and significance. This is evidenced in the many
photos and paintings showing Brigham Young wearing his Masonic
pins. It should be acknowledged that the vast majority of the
Mormon Masons took their Masonic obligations most seriously and
deeply to heart. Great numbers were devoted and dedicated Masons
who truly loved the Order. Freemasonry among Mormons was not
merely a fraternity nor a shallow and trivial fraternal experience.
It was what it really is - a genuine brotherhood. Their lodge
meetings were serious convocations entirely devoid of jovial
lightheartedness and the strenuous, physical horseplay which
characterized most frontier lodges. Their time and attention
were fully occupied with the heavy demands of degree work.
The Mormons knew who the principals were in the killing of
Hyrum and Joseph. They were also well-informed as to who the
individual Masons were who participated in the murders. Significantly,
the Mormons also knew and realized the vital distinction between
individual Masons acting solely on their own initiative and the
fact that the Masonic Order has in no sense participated as an
organization. Brigham Young was especially cognizant of the fact
that every organization has regrettable examples of members who
are unable to measure up to the tenets and admonitions of the
association.
The above factors are but some of the numerous reasons which
prompted Brigham Young to declare a ban of silence on the Mormon
experience with Freemasonry. In this day when men seek the roots
of Masonry and frown on the old theory of it having its start
in King Solomon's Temple they might find it strange that one
of the worlds major religions that was once scorned by some Masons
is a major supporter of this idea. The rituals and symbolism
of the Mormon church are claimed, by revelation, to come from
the rituals of King Solomon's temple and indeed a study of the
Holy Scriptures brings many of these symbols to light and give
support for the beginnings of our Craft.
The Beehive is an emblem of industry and recommends the practice
of that virtue. Joseph Smith adopted the Beehive as the church
and community symbol and Brigham Young added it to his personal
seal. In Utah, Brigham Young erected a large home surmounted
by a gilded beehive. This came to be known as the Beehive house,
it being the home of, at one, 13 of his wives. It might even
have resembled one. Several of the Temples display the beehive
prominently on both their interiors and exteriors. It is the
sole heraldic device on the shield of the State Seal and Flag
as well as the Seals of the University of Utah and Brigham Young
University. Three beehives are the sole adornments of the tabernacle
podium and the immense beehive atop the old Hotel Utah overlooks
the valley. The word beehive and deseret are used in the area
business so extensively that the native-born scarcely notes them.
Even the sidewalks are adorned with a tile pattern of the honeycomb.
On the Temple itself you will see inscribed several symbolic
items, along with the beehive you will find the Sun, Moon, Stars
(Shaped like the O.E.S. star), The all-seeing-eye and the clasped
hands. Across the street on the Relief building is prominently
display a sheaf of wheat. This close resemblance to our craft
was used by Utah Freemasonry for years as one of the reasons
to bar Mormons for becoming Masons.
Freemasonry supposedly came to Utah on January 16, 1872, when
the Grand Lodge of Utah was organized. This was an openly proclaimed
and vigorously active anti-Mormon organization. It is not necessary
to go into detail but simply state that shortly thereafter this
uncivil, un-Masonic organization issued the untrue and dishonest
assertion that the Mormon Temple Ceremony had been "borrowed"
or "stolen" from Freemasonry. Such alleged claims were
published by the Grand Lodge and kept alive in every manner possible
until January 31, 1984, on which date the Grand Lodge of Utah
repealed its long standing anti-Mormon resolution. As originally
formulated, the false claim was made that the Mormon Temple Ceremony
was so Masonic in structure that the Mormon Church was actually
practicing clandestine Masonry. It is essentially on this alleged
charge of being clandestine that the Grand Lodge of Utah publicly
assumed and announced its anti-Mormon stance. This repealing
action tacitly invalidated and repudiated the claim that the
Grand Lodge had fostered for decades and at long last Utah Masonry
came into line with the true spirit and meaning of Universal
Masonry and joined truly the international order of Freemasonry
as a related jurisdiction wherein true Masonry was finally acknowledged
and practiced the former and ancient proponent of Brotherhood;
the latter offering the potential of Christian Brotherhood.
To an idealist like me you would believe that each organization
would reach to the other in a joint endeavor to be the guidepost
of mankind. By its action of January 31, 1984, the Grand Lodge
of Utah, with the support of universal Freemasonry, stretched
forth the hand of fellowship to end the long standing contention
it had imposed and started a new era of light in Utah.