Mormons, Masons and myths

Some Latter-day Saints accept that Freemasonry descends from the

builders of King Solomon's Temple, but that's just a myth, says LDS

author Matthew B. Brown. The evidence actually points to early

Christianity.

Some critics claim that Joseph Smith concocted the Mormon temple

ceremonies after becoming a Freemason, but that's also a myth, Brown

says. The history and richness of LDS temple ordinances cannot be

explained away by comparisons to Freemasonry.

"Exploring the Connection Between Mormons and Masons" (Covenant

Communications, 2009) takes on such myths that keep "critic,

bystander

and Saints alike" from seeing the bigger picture. The book and

companion

DVD documentary appeal to history to demonstrate how Masonry can't

account for LDS temple ordinances.

"We can see better parallels in the ancient world in many ways than

we

see in Masonry," LDS scholar Daniel Peterson says on the documentary.

"Masonry does not account for all the parallels to the ancient world.

...

Does it have something to do with the temple? I think undeniably so.

Does it account for it? Absolutely not."

Brown's book details how modern Masonic scholars say the fraternal

order

did not descend from the builders of King Solomon's Temple, as once

stated in Masonic constitutions. They say the claim is "romantic and

wholly fictitious."