I am both a Mormon and a Mason. This post will come from my point of view as living the teachings of both organizations. This is no way will be an expose on either Mormonism or Freemasonry. It will simply be a comparison of the two and my experience joining the Lodge.I first heard the term "Freemason" on my mission. I just got transferred to my second area and there was a lady (let's call her Alisa) there that was a recent convert. She had spent some time in Seattle right after getting baptized and was given some information about Mormonism that raised questions for her. One such question was "If Joseph Smith was told not to join any church, why did he become a Freemason?" Good question. I told her I have no idea what Freemasonry was so I would do some digging and get back to her.
That's where my fascination with Freemasonry began. I got similar results when I googled Freemasonry to when I googled Mormonism. Results like "occult, devil worship, secret society, read this before joining [insert organization name here]."
As I studied into what Joseph Smith got himself into I began to see the correlation. A lot of their symbols were familiar to me. The all seeing eye, the beehive, the clasping hands, the 5 pointed star, the square, the compasses.
In answer to Alisa's question, I found out that Freemasonry IS NOT a religion. Joseph did not disobey God by joining the masons. It is an institution that uses religious teachings to make good men better. But then came the question of why. Why did Joseph join the esoteric group?
Over the next 6 years I studied Freemasonry. I looked into what the church said about it and if it was in a good nature. I came across a couple different answers. Some in the church told me that the church discourages us from joining masonic lodges. Others told me it was fine. I had a few members say that the masonic ritual is the same or similar to the temple endowment and it is a mockery to practice those things outside the temple. That one statement become the biggest hold up when it came to deciding whether to join the lodge or not.
I decided to ask my bishop a question at my next temple recommend interview. For those of you who don't know, in order to get into a Mormon temple we have to have 2 interviews to see if we are living worthy of having access to the temple. The first of these interviews is with your local bishop (basically a pastor). One of the questions asked is
"Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?"
So I decided to ask in the interview "If someone is a mason, do they have to answer yes to that question?" I didn't know. I wasn't sure if the masons had teachings contrary to the church. The bishop pulled out the bishops hand book of instruction (basically the bishops user guide) and said there is nothing in the manual that says anything about freemasonry.
I took that as a no. A mason does not have to say yes to that question. That was good news. Next step was interview number 2. This was with the stake president. He's like the bishops boss, not really but we will go with that. So I get to the interview and the same question is asked.
"Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?"
I asked the same thing. "If someone is a mason, do they have to answer yes to that question?" This time I got a clear answer. The stake president said "No, in fact I know a few bishops that are freemasons as well as a stake president." There was my answer. If a bishop and stake president can be a mason, and still hold their calling, then freemasonry isn't a danger to my membership in the church.
I decided then to attempt to become a mason. This was the next big question. How does one become a mason? I remember seeing somewhere in my research the phrase "2 B 1 ask 1." Pretty sure I saw that on a bumper too. I found a lodge in the city I was living in and called. No answer so I left a message.
Nothing.
No call back. Nothing.
So I left it. I figured I had to meet one in person or something so I left it. I just kept my eyes open to see if I could find a mason among us.
That brings me to college.
I was beginning my general studies. One of the first days of school I see a gentleman sitting in the back of the class with a lapel pin on his coat. Sure enough it was the masonic square and compasses. I approached him after class and said "I see you're a mason."
After meeting for coffee (which really means he had coffee and I had hot chocolate) a couple times he introduces me to a security guard at the college who is also a mason and they agree to sponsor me. Next thing I know I am getting an acceptance letter in the mail with the date of my initiation.
One of the biggest fears of mine was how close the ceremony was to the temple. What if the members of the church were right? What if masonry was the temple endowment outside of the temple. I was told not to talk about what goes on in the temple, so I assume that includes at lodge.
Well, after going through all 3 degrees I discovered there are similarities in the initiation ceremony to the temple endowment but really, they aren't even close.
So what is the churches doctrine on Freemasonry?
There really isn't any. No official statement about it in any handbooks or instruction manuals. There are statements made by members of the church but they are opinion, not official church doctrine. Often when I ask a bishop anything about being or becoming a freemason they ask why? "Why join that? What does that offer that the church doesn't?"
Well, it's a new social network. It is also another way into the community. Most if not all lodges work with charities in the area. It is another angle to scripture. Plus, it is an organization that has been able to boast the names of people like George Washington, Mozart, Robbie Burns, John Wayne, Joseph Smith, Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, J. Edgar Hoover, to name a few.
Plus, there is a level of awesome when you meet other members of the church at lodge.
