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1 comment of this product found across Reddit:
Edohoi1991 /r/lds
3 points
1970-01-20 01:10:26.346 +0000 UTC

Hi there. Latter-day Saint and Freemason here.

I just want to add to the resources that can be used to study more about this topic (there may be a few repeats from what the OP shared). Feel free to reach out to me (whether here or via DM) if you have any questions; I can also put you into contact with other Latter-day Saint Masons if you want their opinions as well.

Books

  • Mormons & Masons: Setting the Record Straight by Gilbert W. Scharffs, Ph. D.
    • This book approaches the subject from a point-of-view faithful to the Church. It pains me to write this, but this is not a good source (even though it is one of the two sources [the other being National Treasure] that sparked my interest in Masonry in the first place). Too many details concerning Freemasonry are just wrong. The author's intent seems to have been good, but he was just too uninformed and shouldn't have written on the subject.
  • Mormonism and Masonry by S. H. Goodwin
    • This book approaches the subject from a Masonic point-of-view and extremely critical of the Church. Goodwin (who had previously served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Utah) authored this book to defend the Grand Lodge of Utah's formal ban against all Latter-day Saints from joining Utah lodges. He does show an incomplete understanding of the doctrine and nature of the Church; however, having served as Grand Master, he was very knowledgeable insofar as the nature of Freemasonry.
  • Relationship of Mormonism and Freemasonry by Anthony W. Ivins
    • This book is a defensive response to S. H. Goodwin's Mormonism and Masonry. It resolves various points made by Goodwin and makes several good points regarding the history of the Masonic lodges in/about Nauvoo (relying on the historical record), but unfortunately shows an incomplete understanding of the nature of Freemasonry.
  • Mormonism and Masonry by E. Cecil McGavin
    • This book is likewise a defensive response to S. H. Goodwin's Mormonism and Masonry. It has essentially the same pros and cons as Ivins's Relationship of Mormonism and Freemasonry.
  • Freemasonry and Nauvoo: 1839-1846 by Robin L. Carr
    • This book was written from a Masonic point-of-view, being published by the Masonic Book Club and the Illinois Lodge of Research. It relies on Masonic sources, sources critical of the Church, and sources faithful to the Church.
  • Joseph's Temples: The Dynamic Relationship between Freemasonry and Mormonism by Michael W. Homer
    • This book approaches the subject from a point-of-view faithful to the Church. Insofar as I am aware, the author is not a Freemason; he lives in SLC and I have never heard his name among my fellow Utah Masons. From what I remember, it's an accurate depiction of Freemasonry (I personally had a hard time getting through the book, but that's likely because I was working longer shifts at the time that I read it).

Videos

  • "Masonic Initiation Rituals and Mormon Temple Ceremonies" by Mark Koltko-Rivera
    • This video rationally explains the history between the two groups. The narrator (Koltko-Rivera) is both a faithful Latter-day Saint and Freemason. He has also written a variety of books, some of which on each of these subjects separately, which can be seen here.
  • "Joseph Smith and Masonry | Now You Know" by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    • This is the Church's attempt to address this part of its history. Although I disagree with a small portion of it, I personally thought that it was well done (but that's just my own subjective opinion).
  • "Freemasonry and Relief Society in Nauvoo" by Latter-day Saint History
    • This is a pro-Church point-of-view on how Freemasonry influenced the creation of the Church's Relief Society.
  • "Why would Joseph Smith have been interested in Masonry?" by FAIR
    • An interview with Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, who authored one of the articles below. I have no idea whether he is also a Freemason or not. He brings up things with which I personally disagree (but that is, again, my own subjectivity at work).
  • "FREEMASON and MORMON?! | with Brandon Cole" by Saints Unscripted
    • At the risk of looking conceited, this is a video where I was interviewed concerning the Church and Freemasonry. The video's goals are:
      • to resolve any basic issues that Latter-day Saints may have concerning the Church and Masonry
      • to teach what Masonry is about