A final influence upon Smith was the Masonic order. Originally, while Smith was dictating the Book of Mormon he reflected the strong anti-Mason sentiment of the times.15 In fact, his brother Hyrum joined the Masonic Order in Palmyra at the time Joseph claimed to find the golden plates. It is likely that the idea for discovering the golden plates came from Jewish Cabalistic lore and carried into Masonic legend where Enoch is said to have found buried treasure of gold and brass plates. Characters on the plates were said to be in Egyptian hieroglyphics, all of which sounds remarkably similar to Smith's supposed discovery of the golden and brass plates in the hill Cumorah near his home. Despite this likely early plagiarism of Mormon lore, Smith later became a Mason through the influence of Dr. John D. Bennett at Nauvoo. He subsequently brought virtually every male member of his religion into the order. From the Masonic ritual Smith carried the secret names, tokens (handclasps), penalties, signs and phrases into the Mormon Temple ceremonies. Prominent Masonic symbols such as the beehive and sun face were transported into the fabric of Mormonism. The sun face with extending rays was placed on the Nauvoo temple and the beehive remains an important symbol of Mormonism today.
. . . . . and successfully gave the masonic fraternity a false reputation as a religion.
Colofornian,
I your religion “Anti-Mormon”? Just asking because I’ve never seen you promote a pro-christian article before!
As a praticing LDS member 52 years of age, I would like to express my love for my saviour, Jesus Christ, and thanfullness for his atonement which makes me capable of being cleansed from all sin.
I would also like to express my thankfullness for Joseph Smith who for the first time in over 1,000 years clarified that Jesus Christ was/is the literal son of Almighty God! Just as declared in the Bible!
Joseph Smith taught me that Jesus Christ is not the third leg of a 4th century extra-biblical political/religious construction that relies on a definition of a God with a three-way personality disorder (three-in-one, one-in-three, but never really three, but never really one, please find that in the Bible!).
As I delight in my knowledge of God the Eternal Father and in his literal Son, Jesus Christ, my saviour, I will forever be grateful for Joseph Smith’s insight which re-declared the Biblical truths of God the Father’s relationship with Jesus Christ!