Occultic and Masonic Influence in Early Mormonism
Occultic Parallels in the LDS Temple Ceremony
Historian D. Michael Quinn has done extensive research on rites and ancient mysteries related to occultism. He states,
By drawing only on authorized descriptions of the endowment by LDS leaders, I believe it is possible to see within historical context how the Mormon endowment reflected the ancient and occult mysteries far closer than Freemasonry (Early Mormonism and the Magic World View, p. 186).
Quinn then outlines the following ten essential characteristics common to both occult rituals and the Mormon Temple ceremonies:
- They are revealed by God from the beginning, but distorted through apostasy.
- They place an emphasis on the worthiness of initiates.
- They include washings and anointings, a new name and garments
- They emphasize vows of non-disclosure.
- There are both "lesser" and "greater" rituals.
- They feature presentation of the ritual through drama.
- They contain an oath of chastity requiring strict purity and virtue of the participants.
- They feature prominent use of the sun, moon and stars as key symbols.
- The purpose of the ritual is to assist mortals to attain to godhood.
- They employ titles and offices of prophets, priests and kings to those in leadership.
After presenting this material Quinn comments,
To be sure Masonic rituals also shared some similarities with the ancient mysteries, but these were not linked to any concept of heavenly ascent, which was fundamental to both the occult mysteries and to the Mormon endowment. Therefore, what similarities may exist between Freemasonry and Mormonism seem more appropriately to be regarded as superficial, whereas the ancient occult mysteries and the Mormon endowment manifest both philosophical and structural kinship. (Ibid., p. 190).