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Church Members and Secret Societies

Ok now this is a question I have been hit with a couple of times...

Is it acceptable for a Member of the Church to also be a Mason?

Some people have argued that since Joseph Smith was a Mason that it is alright.

Others Argue that since they have an incomplete version of the temple ceremony that it is improper.

Anyone here have further insight, doctrines, quotes etc supporting either argument?

Societies Secret Members Church

I know that in Navoo the members of the Church had several Mason Lodges and all of them were closed down because of the practise of polygamy.  I do have some quotes about members of the Church and their view of the Masonic Organization in the early days of the Church:

"Brother Joseph feels as well as I Ever see him.  one reason is he has got a Small company that he feels safe in thare hands.  and that it is not all he can open his bosom to and feel him Self safe I wish you was here so as to feel and hear fore your Self.  we have recieved some pressious things through the Prophet on the preasthood that could caus your Soul to rejoice I can not give them to you on paper fore they are not to be riten.  So you must come and get them fore your Self.  -We have organised a Lodge here of Masons since we obtained a Charter. that was in March since that thare has near two hundred been made masons  Br Joseph and Sidny was the first that was Recieved in to the Lodg. all of the twelve have become members Except Orson P. he hangs back.  he will wake up soon, thare is a similarity of preast Hood in masonry.  Bro Joseph Ses Masonry was taken from the preasthood but has become degen[e]rated. but menny things are perfect. we have a prosession on the 24th of June. which is cold [called] St Johns day in country.  I think I think it will result in good. the Lord is with us and we are prosperd...
(HEBER C. KIMBALL TO PARLEY P. PRATT, 17 JUNE 1842, LDS ARCHIVES.)

Another one of Herber C. Kimball:

"We have the true Masonry.  The Masonry of today is received from apostasy which took place in the days of Solomon and David.  They have now and then a thing that is correct, but we have the real thing."
(HEBER C. KIMBALL, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, unpublished, November 13, 1858, LDS Church Archives.  Quoted in Stanley B. Kimball's Heber C. Kimball: Mormon Patriarch & Pioneer.)

Brigham Young:

"There is another class of individuals to whom I will briefly refer. Shall we call them Christians? They were Christians originally. We cannot be admitted into their social societies, into their places of gathering at certain times and on certain occasions, because they are afraid of polygamy. I will give you their title that you may all know whom I am talking about it-I refer to the Freemasons. They have refused our brethren membership in their lodge, because they were polygamists. Who was the founder of Freemasonry? They can go back as far as Solomon, and there they stop. There is the king who established this high and holy order. Now was he a polygamist, or was he not? If he did believe in monogamy he did not practice it a great deal, for he had seven hundred wives, and that is more than I have; and he had three hundred concubines, of which I have none that I know of."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. XI, February 10, 1867.)

Elder Malvin Ballard:

What is masonry? Why, a fragment of the old truth coming down perhaps from Solomon's temple of ancient days, and but a fragment, as Christianity is but a fragment of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was only to be had and enjoyed by those who hold the holy priesthood. The prophet Elijah revealed these truths; he possessed them anciently and he gave them in their perfectness, and simplicity and purity to the Prophet Joseph Smith."
(Elder Marvin J. Ballard (President Northwestern States Mission.), General Conference Reports, October 1913/124)

Church Members and Secret Societies Studies Doctrine Mormon

That's a very interesting topic, and one that I haven't heard before.  Where can I find more references to this?

Roz

Societies Secret Members Church

My opinion on this is that members should stay within the church.  Organizations can have the appearance of having the truth but to be safe the only true place for it is the church.

Societies Secret Members Church

Farseer, make a search in google.com about LDS masonry or Joseph Smith mason, try to look for the historical web sites because yeah, there are many anti-mormons sites about it :

Church Members and Secret Societies

Although not the same as the subject there is a thread in the Religious Beliefs and Traditions board that asks the question, 'Is Masonry a Religion?'. As for this question I do not know what would be the purpose of being both a mason and LDS. I think there is so much within the Church to do that one can hardly have time for 'extra' activities, add to this having to work, be with your family and still have personal recreation and wow, wait... I am out of time

Church Members Secret Societies

I don't remember who said it, might have been Brigham Young, but the comment was something along the lines of, "why join a fraternal organization, when you are already a member of the best" (referring to the Priesthood).

We aren't encouraged to join them, but there is no penalty for joining them either.

NightHawk

Church Members Secret Societies Mormon Doctrine Studies

I just came across this old thread and read it with interest. Out of all the useful information posted here and the quotes of the prophets from the beginning of the restoration there was one piece of vital information over looked or possibly just unaware of.

If it's good enough for President Hinckley and many of the current Apostles then it is good enough for me.

Not only is President Hinckley a Mason but even with his hugely busy schedule he makes it a point to make his monthly meeting at his home lodge.

I often wish that more of my brethren in the Melchezidek Priesthood were masons. I have found that the Masons I know, in overall, have a greater focus on the activity of the Priesthood in their daily lives than most Melchezidek Priesthood holders I know.

The statements that I read here about "why be involved in another fraternal organization when you are already a member of the best". Are not the brethren instructing us to become more involved in our communities and local organizations than we currently are?

Lastly, being a mason has given me insights and perspectives upon the Priesthood and Temple service that I had not developed otherwise.

RC3