Are the church's temple rituals stolen from Freemasons?

I sometimes get asked if the temple ceremonies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were stolen from the Freemasons. It's an intriguing question, and the answer goes deeper than a simple yes or no. This is a topic I have read and thought a lot about, and I would like to share my insights.

The historical link

It is historically established that Joseph Smith became a Freemason in March 1842. Shortly thereafter, in May of the same year, he introduced the temple endowment to a small group of Saints, many of whom were also Freemasons. This proximity in time explains why similarities have been observed between the two rituals.

Early Saints, including Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Fielding, saw the similarities and viewed the temple endowment as a 'restoration' of the original, lost priesthood rituals, of which Freemasonry was a degenerated, or 'apostate', form. Joseph Smith himself believed that Freemasonry contained elements that had been handed down 'from the beginning' and which he wanted to understand. Freemasonry also has a mythology that dates back to the building of Solomon's Temple, which was probably interesting to Josephwas.

Similarities and Differences

If you put the two side by side, you see clear similarities in the ritual gestures, handshakes, and the pattern of repetition, lectures, and question-and-answer dialogues. Elements such as the 'penalties,' which were part of temple rituals before 1990, were also part of Masonic rituals.

But the differences are at least as important and, as some argue, more fundamental. The  temple endowment tells the story of creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the path back to God's presence. It revolves around making sacred covenants with God. The  freemasonry focuses on personal development, brotherhood, charity, and truth, but is not a religion. Freemasons do not make covenants with God, but take on obligations before the lodge and God. There are also many symbols unique to Freemasonry.

Additionally, the temple endowment is rooted in older sources than 18th-century Freemasonry. Many of its elements can be found in the  bible, such as priestly attire, sacred rituals, and making covenants. The translation of the Book of Abraham by Joseph Smith also contained temple-related themes before he became a Freemason.

The role of divine revelation

The question 'why' Joseph Smith would have used elements of Freemasonry can be answered by the concept of  God's revelation. The church teaches that God speaks to people 'according to their language, and according to their understanding.' It is therefore plausible that God used familiar symbols and teachings, such as those in Freemasonry, as a recognizable framework to reveal eternal truths. Freemasonry possibly functioned as a 'stepping stone' to prepare the early Saints for the more extensive and profound temple rituals.

It seems that Joseph, in his endeavor to restore ancient truths, adopted and adapted parts of Freemasonry, rejecting anything that did not align with the divine purpose of the temple. The temple rituals are not merely a copy, but a unique Latter-day Saint tradition, rich in symbolism and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the eyes of early Saints, the temple endowment was a divinely restored ceremony and Freemasonry merely a remnant of that truth.

The church's vision today

Today, the church's attitude towards Freemasonry is more favorable than in the past. A 2019 church video specifically states that members are not forbidden from becoming Freemasons. The church generally encourages members to avoid ‘secret, oath-bound organizations,’ but this is not an absolute rule. It reflects the position that good can be found in many places and that God's plan of salvation is taught and realized in the temple.

Ultimately, the temple endowment is a ceremony that describes humanity's path from creation to exaltation in the afterlife. Freemasonry, however honorable, has a different focus. While there are undeniable similarities, and Freemasonry may have served as a pedagogical tool, the endowment, with its emphasis on making covenants with God and returning to His presence, remains a unique and divinely revealed ceremony for church members.