WAS FREEMASONRY DERIVED FROM MORMONISM?

  The relationship of Freemasonry to the LDS Temple Endowment has long been a matter of speculation among students of Mormon history.  Joseph Smith was of the opinion that Masonic ritual was a corrupt form of the original Priesthood.  Thus, in a letter to Parley P. Pratt, written three months after Joseph became a Master Mason, 1   Heber C. Kimball observed that: There is a similarity of Priesthood in Masonry.  Brother Joseph says Masonry was taken from the Priesthood, but has degenerated.  But many things are perfect. 2 Later, he explained that: The Masonry of today is received from the 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 . 3 Benjamin F. Johnson, another of Joseph's intimate friends, recalled the similar opinion of the Prophet that: Freemasonry was the apostate endowment, as sectarian religion was the apostate religion. 4 But since Masonic histori...