Pergunta: O que as críticas estão associados com o ritual do templo e sua relação com a Maçonaria?

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Pergunta: O que as críticas estão associados com o ritual do templo e sua relação com a Maçonaria?

Critics of the LDS Church often point to similarities between the rituals of Freemasonry and the LDS temple endowment

Critics of the LDS Church often point to similarities between the rituals of Freemasonry and the LDS temple endowment and claim that since Joseph Smith was initiated as a Freemason in Nauvoo, Illinois shortly before he introduced the full endowment to the Saints (as opposed to the partial endowment given in the Kirtland Temple), he must have incorporated elements of the Masonic rites into his own ceremony. Implicit in this charge is the idea that Joseph Smith's ritual was not revealed to him by God and thus not a legitimate restoration of ancient Israelite and early Christian ordinances.

It is worthwhile to note that these critics are also often critical of Freemasonry, and thus attempt guilt by association.

Some of the endowment was developed and introduced in the weeks following Joseph Smith's initiation as a Master Mason, but other elements were developed prior to his association with Freemasonry

Embora seja verdade que parte da investidura tenha sido dedicada e introduzida nas semanas que seguiram a iniciação de Joseph Smith como um Mestre Maçom, esse fato simplifica consideravelmente a questão. A investidura e outras partes da adoração no templo SUD foram desenvolvidas lentamente ao longo de um período de anos. Não aconteceu de repente. Os críticos de Joseph Smith querem rotulá-lo como um ladrão intelectual, alegando que ele tenha roubado alguns elementos dos rituais maçons, a fim de criar a cerimônia de investidura na era do Templo de Nauvoo. Os maiores obstáculos a essa teoria são:

1. Joseph Smith afirmou receber revelação direta de Deus sobre a investidura, na era de Nauvoo,
2. Joseph Smith conhecia muito sobre a cerimônia de investidura na era de Nauvoo, bem antes do período de Nauvoo — e, portanto, muito antes de sua entrada na fraternidade maçônica, e
3. A cerimônia de investidura na era do Templo de Nauvoo possui vários paralelos idênticos às cerimônias de iniciação dos israelitas antigos e dos primeiros reis e sacerdotes cristãos — paralelos que não podem ser encontrados entre os maçons.

Além disso, contemporâneos de Joseph viram claramente os paralelos à Maçonaria, e ainda assim ninguém o acusou de apropriação indevida.

In order to understand this issue, a few facts need to be understood:

1. Joseph Smith, Jr. was initiated as a Freemason in Nauvoo, Illinois on the 15th and 16th of March 1842; his brother Hyrum and (possibly) his father Joseph Sr. were Masons before the Church's organization in April 1830.
2. A few of the early leaders of the Church were Masons before the Church's organization while many others were initiated into the Masonic institution after the Prophet was in 1842.
3. Masonry was a well-known social institution in mid-19th century America.
4. There are similarities between the rituals of Freemasonry and those of the LDS Temple endowment. These similarities center around

• the use of a ritual drama—the story of Hiram Abiff is used by the Masons, while the LDS endowment uses the story of Adam and Eve and the creation (the LDS versions have parallels to ancient Israelite temple worship).
• some similar hand actions in the course of the rituals (the LDS versions having distinct parallels to ancient Israelite temple worship and early Christian usage).

Symbolist F. L. Brink suggested that Joseph Smith successfully provided an "innovative and intricate symbology" that suited well the psychic needs of his followers.