Masonry?? yep.
Ok. i found this article/booklet while searching for links on Mormonism, i found it most enlightening. it was written by an ex-mormon who "snuck" into the temple and recorded the ceremony. please read this...it is MOST interesting.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?
This booklet has been prepared to inform the general public, including most Mormons, and especially the Body of Christians, and to reveal to them of exactly what transpires during the secret Mormon Temple Ceremonies. Our purpose is not to ridicule, but to shed light on these hidden things of darkness. We sincerely believe that Mormons and non-Mormons alike cannot comprehend or accurately evaluate the complex Mormon gospel without knowing what actually transpires inside of the Temple, the place where the Keys of Knowledge necessary for exaltation are imparted to LDS Gods in embryo. We pray earnestly that this information will be especially helpful in encouraging Christians in their witness of the true Lord Jesus Christ to those lost in the deception and bondage Mormonism.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
This booklet contains the entire series of Mormon Temple ceremonies, called "Ordinances" and is 100% accurate in the essence of what is done, and very nearly 100% accurate in the exact wording of what is said. This is because this edition was transcribed from a tape recording made inside the Temple at the actual Endowment ceremony*. Other ceremonies have been verified by comparing them with copies of Temple Worker Instruction Books
*This booklet is purposely not copyrighted and may be copied or used in any way deemed appropriate.
The tape recording of the Mormon Temple Endowment from which this booklet was transcribed was recorded in the Los Angeles Mormon Temple. The recording was made using a personal pocket size tape recorder carried by one of the patrons during Endowment presentation.
The patron who made this recording entered the Temple using his own personal Temple Recommend and carried his own Temple Veil Worker's name tag and identification card during the ceremony. He was greeted by several Temple Worker acquaintances who obviously did not know of his excommunication from the Mormon Church, which had been at his own request several months earlier.
One of the objectives of this foray was to test the well known Mormon claim of Divinely aided Temple security. Another objective was to provide and up-to-date and accurate text of the Endowment. (There have been many revisions to the Endowment text in the past ten years, some of them significant). Contrary to popular belief of Mormons, not one person in the Temple appeared the slightest bit spiritually or supernaturally alerted to the presence among them of one whom they classify as an "apostate" and a "son of perdition". As he departed, the patron was encouraged by a member of the Temple Presidency to return again soon.
or similar authentic sources, making this the most accurate and up to date rendition of these "secret" ceremonies ever published in the 120 year history of Mormon Temple exposes. The ceremonies have been annotated and explanatory information included to help the reader understand the activities as they progress. Part one contains background information and commentary, including a brief overview of all of the ceremonies in sequence to prepare the reader to understand the dialogue of the ceremonies.
Even though we know that the Authorities of the Mormon church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, will be highly offended at the publication of this work, we do not apologize for doing it. As former Mormons and Temple Workers who are now born again Christians, we acknowledge a great responsibility to the unsuspecting world to expose and reprove with exactness and the light of truth, precisely what activities transpire inside the Mormon temples today.
We heed the admonition of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesian Saints, who had previously participated in similar pagan and occultic rituals, "For ye were sometimes (once) darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord, walk as children of light ... and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them ... for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved (exposed) are made manifest by the light." (Ephesians 5:8, 11-13) We recognize that this is not the first such "expose", but it is the most accurate and current account of the activities of the Mormon temple "Endowment"ever published. We wish to bring it to the attention of concerned people everywhere so that they may be knowledgable concerning this, the most sacred of all activities and teachings to the modern Mormon (see John 18:20). Mormonism cannot be fully understood by Mormons or non-Mormons alike without an understanding these Temple rituals - the "Keystone" of modern Mormon doctrine and theology.
Statistics released in January 1982, by qualified Mormon church authorities indicated that at least three out of every four Mormons (teenage and older) have never participated in these rituals. These non-participating Mormons have been subjected to a variety of powerful propaganda from their leaders, impressing upon them the sacred, holy, and enlightning nature of their Temple "Ordinances", and the great blessings to be obtained through them. This booklet is intended especially for those nonparticipating Mormons, to enable them to recognized the occultic, non-Christian nature of these rituals, and to see them for themselves in the clear light of reality. We are confident that those who will prayerfully evaluate these rites for themselves will be able to see them as they truly are, rather than continuing in the naive belief that they are the sacred vehicle essential to becoming a polygamous god, destined to rule over a new planet for eternity.
Mormons who regularly attend the Temple should also be very interested in this booklet. They will be "dying to find out" if it really contains a "word perfect" rendition of all the Temple rituals, and anxious to find a misplaced word so they can criticize its accuracy. We are pleased to give them the opportunity, with a challenge to call to our attention any errors they believe they detect. We also challenge them to listen more attentatively while attending the Temple, and to compare what they hear with the Bible or the Book of Mormon, which teach an entirely different Gospel and plan of salvation from that presented in the Temple Endowment.
Anyone who is familiar with the rite of Freemasonry will recognize them as the primary source for the tokens, signs, and penalties used in the Temple Endowment. Much of the mystical symbolism of Mormonism is also borrowed from Masonry. The symbolism and practices of the ancient pagan mystery religions associated with nimrod and Babylon are also richly displayed in the Mormon temple and reflected in the doctrines presented therein. Part one of this booklet contains commentary comparing these Mormon rituals with those of other religions and theologies, including Christianity.
PART ONE - EXPLANATION AND COMMENTARY
INTRODUCTON
Mormon Temples are the most secret/sacred facet of Mormonism and are completely different from neighborhood Mormon chapels. Once a new Temple is dedicated, no non-Mormons are ever allowed inside. Most Mormons are not permitted to enter the Temple either. Only Mormons who have passed stringent requirements of worthiness determined by a penetrating private interview with their Bishop, and then a second similar interview with their Stake President, are issued a "Temple Recommend" which permits them to enter the Temple (See figure 1). Temple Recommends are valid for one year after which the entire interview process must be repeated to receive a new Recommend. According to LDS church leaders, less than 20% of adult Mormons have valid Temple Recom mends and thus are qualified to attend the temple. Less than 10% of adult Mormons regularly attend the Temple.**
Before a Mormon is issued his first Temple Recommend, he is normally required to attend a course of study intended to qualify him to "live worthy" or to become qualified to live LDS standards of loyalty, dedication, financial contributions and personal traits of worthiness. Very little of the ceremonial aspects, and none of the promises or penalties of the Temple rituals are included in the ciriculum nor are these ever discus sed at any time outside or inside of the Temple. These are still a mystery to the participants, who are acting on faith in Joseph Smith and the Mormon church's divine authority.
During a member's first participation in the Temple ceremony, he "receives his own endowments" which means he attends to his own personal salvation requirements. In a special instruction ses sion with all the initiates he is asked by the Temple President to make a personal commitment to return to the temple often, at least once per month, to renew his own commitment and to remind him of his covenants while he is serving as a proxy for a
**See the Church News supplement to the Salt Lake City Deseret News, week of January 16, 1982, page 10 for very interesting information on Mormon dedication to this "Keystone of their religion."
deceased person to provide that person with Mormon salvation. He thus becomes a "Savior on Mount Zion" by acting in behalf of someone who did not have this opportunity himself.
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