masonic rituals

Joseph Smith became a Freemason in March 1842 and introduced the temple endowment ceremony just weeks later. The endowment contains numerous elements borrowed from Masonic rituals, including handshakes, signs, tokens, penalties, and symbolic clothing. Critics argue this shows the endowment was invented by Smith using Masonic sources rather than revealed by God. The church has distanced itself from these connections while acknowledging the similarities.

Profiles with masonic rituals on their "shelf":