Cheryl L. Bruno - Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration

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Method Infinite

Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration

Cheryl L. Bruno , Joe Steve Swick III , Nicholas S. Literski

Greg Kofford Books

Salt Lake City, 2022

Copyright 2022 Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick III, and Nicholas S. Literski

Cover design copyright 2022 Greg Kofford Books, Inc.

Cover design by Joseph Johnstun

Published in the USA.

All images are public domain unless otherwise noted.

All rights reserved. No part of this volume may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, Greg Kofford Books. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of Greg Kofford Books.

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-58958-753-3

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-58958-689-5

Greg Kofford Books

P.O. Box 1362

Draper, UT 84020

www.gregkofford.com
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There is method in Mormonismmethod infinite. Mormonism is Masonic.

Edward Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom

Contents

Preface

Tis this and 'tis that, They cannot tell what,
Why so many great Men of the Nation,
Should Aprons put on, To make themselves one
With a Free or an Accepted Mason.

Entered Apprentice Song, 1723

S cholars

The appeal of Masonry in Joseph Smiths Restoration movement deserves the same careful consideration. Smith was a teenager in a family with strong Masonic ties during the time and the place of the fraternitys greatest upheaval and transformation. His involvement in Freemasonry was arguably earlier and broader than many modern historians have admitted. While no one thing can entirely explain the rise of Mormonism, the historical influence of Freemasonry on this religious tradition cannot be refuted.

This work approaches the subject of Mormonism and Masonry with Bullocks view in mind. It offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between Freemasonry and the Mormon restoration. It asserts that the Mormon prophets firsthand knowledge of and experience with both Masonry and anti-Masonic currents contributed to the theology, structure, culture, tradition, history, literature, and ritual of the church he founded. There is a Masonic thread in Mormonism from its earliest days.

The topic of Mormonism and Freemasonry has been rife with misunderstanding and misrepresentation, often because scholars have invariably been lacking in one or both relevant perspectives. Few Latter-day Saints who were also Masons have authored book-length treatments of the relationship between the two traditions. The fact that the most obvious vestiges of Freemasonry are evident only in the more esoteric aspects of the Mormon faith has made it difficult for Masonic authors to recognize, let alone fully grasp, the relevant issues. Even those with both Mormon and Masonic experience may not be versed in the nineteenth-century versions of the rituals, legends, and practices. Without this specialized background, many researchers and writers have missed the Masonic significance of numerous early Mormon statements, doctrines, and practices.

The authors have spent many years researching and wrestling with the subject of Freemasonrys influence upon Mormonism. Nick Literski was the first Mormon Freemason in Hancock County since the Mormon exodus. Nick began the preliminary research and writing of this book in 2002, spending years traveling around the country to examine original records. The resulting expertise became noteworthy in many conferences and online venues. A change in life circumstances led Nick to pass years of research, analysis, and drafts of early chapters on to Joe Swick, a Mormon Freemason and Past Master of Verity Lodge No. 59 in Kent, Washington. Both Joe and Nick approached this project with the benefit of their experiences as Master Masons, Royal Arch Masons, Cryptic Masons, Knights Templar, and Scottish Rite Masons. A student of early Masonic history, Joe amassed a large library of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Masonic works. His collection, as well as his ideas and insights, have been invaluable to the production of this book. Cheryl Bruno came into the project in 2012. Her interest in esoterica in early Mormonism made Freemasonry a primary research topic, and her writing skills pushed the work to completion. As we researched, we found not just facts, but a fascinating story. The three of us, along with Clinton Bartholemew, Patrick McCleary, Roy Schmidt, Arturo de Hoyos, and Joseph Johnstun (who designed our fabulous book cover) spent hours discussing the evidence and implications of what we had discovered. We thank them, Holly Welker, who provided valuable editing assistance, and many others who have listened to our ideas and offered encouragement. Loyd Isao Ericson, instrumental in the production of Method Infinite during the long haul before and through the Covid crisis, has never ceased to believe in us and this project. Throughout our investigation, we have been inspired by the statement Edward Tullidge attributes to Eliza R. Snow: There is method in Mormonismmethod infinite. Mormonism is Masonic. We hope this book will provide the reader a measure of the adventure and insight we found during the many years of its creation.

Notes

Introduction

Jachin and Boaz on the Woodpile

In strength I will establish this mine house to stand firm forever.

Richard Carlile, Manual of Freemasonry in Three Parts

E arly spring in Salt Lake City is often chilly, though budding vegetation and early flowers saluted the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they made their way to the Salt Lake Temple on the morning of April 4, 1899. In this inspiring setting, they held their quarterly meetings in preparation for the Churchs upcoming semi-annual general conference. Seated at the front of the room was the quorums aged president, Elder Franklin Dewey Richards. Throughout the day, each of the apostles spoke to the quorum on various topics pertaining to their ministry, but Richardss words were extraordinary. Elder Rudger Clawson, then the junior member of the quorum, recorded his impressions in his personal diary:

Pres. Richards... said he desired to say a few words about Freemasonry. A Masonic Lodge, he said, was established in Nauvoo and Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, John Taylor, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Hyde, F. D. Richards, and about 1000 others in all became Masons. Joseph, the Prophet, was aware that there were some things about Masonry which had come down from the beginning and he desired to know what they were, hence the lodge. The Masons admitted some keys of knowledge appertaining to Masonry were lost. Joseph enquired of the Lord concerning the matter and He revealed to the Prophet true Masonry, as we have it in our temples. Owing to the superior knowledge Joseph had received, the Masons became jealous and cut off the Mormon Lodge.