By Jerald and Sandra Tanner
The following statement is recorded in Joseph Smith’s History under the date of March 15, 1842: “In the evening I received the First Degree in Free Masonry in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office” (History of the Church, vol. 4, page 551). The next day Joseph Smith stated: “I was with the Masonic Lodge and rose to the sublime degree” (History of the Church, vol. 4, page 552). Less than two months later, May 4, 1842, Joseph Smith established the secret Temple ceremony among the Mormon people.
[Bold in quotations is added for emphasis and does not appear in originals.]
In the last issue of the Messenger we showed that the “five points of fellowship” found in the Mormon Temple ceremony are almost identical to those used by the Masons in their ritual. In The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, page 159-164, we have documented 27 parallels between the Masonic ritual and the Mormon Temple ceremony.
Oaths Changed
From testimony given in The Reed Smoot Case and other investigations, we are convinced that the oaths administered in the Temple were originally very crude. August W. Lundstrom testified that the penalty he agreed to for revealing the first token was to have “the throat cut from ear to ear.” The second was to “have my breast cut asunder and my vitals torn out,” and the third was that he would have his body “cut asunder and my entrails gushed out” (The Reed Smoot Case, vol. 2, pages 160-162). Since that time the oaths have been greatly modified. The changes were probably made within the last thirty or forty years. Below is a comparison of the oaths as they were published in Temple Mormonism in 1931 [William Mitchell Paden] with the way they are given today.
Temple Mormonism
. . . we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so; we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by their roots.
(Temple Mormonism, p. 18)
As Given Today (1969)
. . . I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, together with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Rather than do so I would suffer my life to be taken.
(The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1 p. 129)
. . . we will not reveal the secrets of this, the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so, we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.
(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)
. . . I will never reveal the second token of the Aaronic Priesthood, together with its accompanying name, sign and penalty. Rather than do so I would suffer my life to be taken.
(The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, p. 131)
. . . we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our bodies be cut asunder in the midst and all our bowels gush out.
(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)
. . . I will never reveal the first token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or sign of the nail, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Rather than do so I would suffer my life to be taken.
(The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, p. 132)
Temple clothing demonstrates
how the thumb is drawn across
the stomach to show the
penalty (disembowelment) for
revealing the First Token of the
Melchizedek Priesthood.
Although the oaths are no longer as crude as they used to be, Mormons who go through the Temple still draw the thumb across the throat, stomach, etc., and are told that “The representation of the penalties indicates different ways in which life may be taken” (The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, page 129).
A careful examination of the oaths as originally given reveals that they were taken from Masonry. Below is a comparison of Mormon and Masonic oaths.
Mormons
. . . we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by their roots.
(Temple Mormonism, p. 18)
Masons
. . . I will . . . never reveal any part or parts, art or arts, point or points of the secret arts and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . . . binding myself under no less penalty than to have my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the roots, . . .
(Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 21-22)
We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal the secret of this, the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so, we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.
(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)
I . . . most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . that I will not give the degree of a Fellow Craft Mason to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any other being . . . binding myself under no less penalty than to have my left breast torn open and my heart and vitals taken from thence . . . to become a prey to the wild beasts of the field, and vulture of the air, . . .
(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 52)
. . . We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our bodies be cut asunder in the midst and all our bowels gush out.
(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)
I . . . most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition to my former obligations, that I will not give the degree of a Master Mason to any of an inferior degree, nor to any other being . . . binding myself under no less penalty than to have my body severed in two in the midst, and divided to the north and south, my bowels burnt to ashes . . .
(Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 73-75)
From the comparisons above it is obvious that the oaths used in the Mormon Temple ceremony were derived from Masonry. In The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, we present what we feel is conclusive proof that many essential elements of the Temple ritual were taken from Masonry. This volume also includes the most accurate and up to date account of the Temple ceremony. We also discuss:
- Changes in the ceremony
- Changes in the Temple garment
- The “Oath of Vengeance”
- The doctrine of “Blood Atonement”
- Baptism for the dead
- The Danites
- The Council of 50
- The war in Missouri
- Joseph Smith’s secret ordination as King and his candidacy for President of the United States.
Related reading:
- Temples and the Bible
- “Current Mormon Temple Ceremony Now Available”
- Evolution of the Mormon Temple Ceremony: 1842-1990 (PDF)
- Masonic Symbols and the Salt Lake Temple
- Mormon Temples: Are They Biblical? (video)
- Sandra Tanner on Mormon Temples (Parts 1-3) (video)
- LDS—Where Do You Get Your Authority? (PDF)
Originally appeared in:
Jerald and Sandra Tanner, “Secret Temple Ceremony,” Salt Lake City Messenger, no. 23, May 1969, 3.