tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500565510272388654.post5359831656950843730..comments2023-10-14T05:36:19.516-04:00Comments on Freemasonry: Reality, Myth, and Legend™: Mark to present at the American Lodge of Research, 4/1/13: Mormon Temple Ritual and Masonic InitiationMark Koltko-Riverahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500565510272388654.post-3516633500228925772013-04-24T23:19:14.265-04:002013-04-24T23:19:14.265-04:00@Anonymous: Yes, this situation has changed radica...@Anonymous: Yes, this situation has changed radically. <br /><br />I had a similar experience in my own first worthiness interview for the LDS temple, in 1978, although the wording of the question was different, and the Freemasons were not specifically mentioned. <br /><br />However, in 1978, the Masonic Grand Lodge of Utah was still pursuing its stated policies of (a) actively barring LDS from being initiated as Freemasons, and (b) actively barring LDS who happened to be Freemasons in another State from visiting any Masonic lodges in Utah. This policy had been in place officially for generations, and had been the de facto policy from back in the 19th century. There was a great deal of anti-Mormon feeling in Utah Masonry in that era, which manifested in a variety of ways. The LDS Church reciprocated by officially discouraging its members from becoming Masons.<br /><br />However, each of these Utah Masonic policies had some other Masonic Grand Lodges up in arms, because each of these violated one or another hallmark of Freemasonry. (For example, Masons, leave a person's choice of religion to be his own business, to the point of actually forbidding discussion of sectarian religion in the lodge. In addition, Freemasons have the right to visit any other Masonic lodge, without regard to religion. Abrogating these principles creates a real problem, from a Masonic point of view.) These other Grand Lodges started talking about withdrawing their recognition of Utah Masonry as legitimate. <br /><br />So, in 1984 the Grand Lodge of Utah changed these policies. As of that change in Utah Masonic policies, the LDS hierarchy quietly changed the temple recommend questions. Since that time thousands of LDS in Utah have become Freemasons. In fact, just a few years ago, an active LDS was elected Grand Master of Masons in Utah; he had joined the Masons after the Utah Masons' policies--and the LDS policies--had changed.<br /><br />Thank you for your interest in this blog! I'll have more to say about this in my forthcoming book, _Of Masons and Mormons_.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500565510272388654.post-16655363212449175112013-04-24T15:55:13.413-04:002013-04-24T15:55:13.413-04:00My understanding, having grown up LDS, is that the...My understanding, having grown up LDS, is that the Mormon church specifically did NOT want people being Masons. I can remember my first worthiness interview for the temple (in the 80s) and being asked if I belonged to any groups that had interests counter to the church "including the freemasons". Has that changed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500565510272388654.post-28327076313283587312013-04-01T09:00:36.149-04:002013-04-01T09:00:36.149-04:00Brother Krogh, of Odessa, brings up an interesting...Brother Krogh, of Odessa, brings up an interesting point. I would reiterate that the presentation at the American Lodge of Research is only open to brethren who are members whose Masonic obediences are in amity with the Grand Lodge of New York, F&AM.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500565510272388654.post-24636543743090219072013-04-01T06:11:35.839-04:002013-04-01T06:11:35.839-04:00Iregulær freemason are everywere , Look on Faceboo...Iregulær freemason are everywere , Look on Facebook, many lodger and so-calles brethren is even made, some lodger is uregulære , Also Grand lodger .- it can not be stopped. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03093565331322531543noreply@blogger.com