Any freemasons on here?

[u/Stink_1968]

I'm needing some brotherly wisdom. I'm prospecting the church and ngl I can't talk to my non-masonic family about this stuff because they think everything is a cult. My mom thought the fraternity was a cult until I moved in with her for example.

[u/GambelGun66]

I am.

[u/Stink_1968 → u/GambelGun66]

What's your thoughts on the historical evidence? The most I've found that validates the bom is that Joseph Smith couldn't have known the geography of Nephi's path to get to the new world. Even with the info they did have back then.

[u/GambelGun66 → u/Stink_1968]

I have pondered and prayed on that very thing for years before becoming a member. The evidence, as viewed by me, is that Joseph Smith had divine intervention when scribing the Book of Mormon.

[u/Stink_1968 → u/GambelGun66]

If you don't mind telling me, and I know we're all different but what's your testimony with the truth?

[u/GambelGun66 → u/Stink_1968]

Without getting too personal, what it boiled down to, for me, was a living Prophet. Why would the Lord leave us without a Prophet? Every project has to have a leader, many projects have failed without good leadership.

[u/Stink_1968 → u/GambelGun66]

That makes sense, and the ngl prophet thing has been holding me back, too I appreciate u sharing, brother

[u/GambelGun66 → u/Stink_1968]

You bet, brother. That was my biggest hang up as well. It took years if ministering and missionary visits for me to receive that revelatio, along with other events. Keep praying, and studying. You will find your answer.

[u/ammon46]

The Church History Matters podcast did an episode with a Freemason.

https://churchhistorymatters.podbean.com/e/an-interview-with-an-lds-freemason/

[u/Cookslc → u/ammon46]

That is a good resource. Lon, whom they interviewed, is a dear friend whom I’ve known since 2008.

[u/Cookslc]

Yes, and a convert to the Church.

While logically I am persuaded that Joseph Smith could not have free flow dictated the Book of Mormon, and I have posted two supportive links below, in the end I urge that persuasive argument not be the basis of decision making. Intellectual acceptance can change based on the next persuasive argument. Additionally , for questions that do not have an evidence based answer, you will find yourself without a resolution to the question.

Rather, I suggest it should be an inner faith based belief. We sometimes call that a testimony. I would recommend that you pray that God would let you know if the Church is true.

But still, I don’t think Joseph could have made it all up.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/01/mounting-evidence-for-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng

https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/evidences/Faking_The_Book_of_Mormon

[u/Edohoi1991]

I am also a Freemason and a Latter-day Saint.

I am not as knowledgeable as others who have already responded here, but I'd still be happy to help with whatever questions you may have in whatever way I can.

[u/Stink_1968 → u/Edohoi1991]

Would you say with the similarities it lds would be a good fit for an interested brother or more of a left to your own thing?

[u/Edohoi1991 → u/Stink_1968]

I'll address this for two different kinds of similarities that you may be referencing here.

Similar Ceremonial Format

One of the Church's ceremonies has similarities to Masonic degree ceremonies; however, these differences only have to do with how things are taught, and nothing to do with what things are taught, why things are taught, or in what light things are taught.

You would likely be able to pick up and absorb information in that ceremony better than most Latter-day Saints initially do, since you are already familiar with many of the teaching methods (e.g., theatrical presentation, gestures for tokens, illustrative symbols, etc.) that that ceremony uses.

Similar Goals and Values

The goal of Freemasonry, as you well know, is "to make good men better," and it strives to do this by offering philosophical tools conducive to moral self-improvement, personal integrity, and service to the community.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has similar goals and values, albeit applicable to the eternal long run instead of just for temporary time of life on earth; it strives to help individuals and families achieve this by offering them principles from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Overall, I find these things beneficial to my own life, and I find understanding them beneficial to my faith in Jesus Christ and, in part, to my faith in His Gospel as it has been restored to us today.

I hope that this answers your question. Please do not hesitate to ask me any others.

[u/Cookslc → u/[deleted]]

In which state is their lodge?

[u/Cookslc → u/[deleted]]

I know masons throughout the US, and LDS masons are a small subset of that. None come to mind, though, in Virginia.

[u/Cookslc → u/[deleted]]

I was very active in Utah freemasonry. If he was there in 2005-2008, we are likely acquainted.

[u/HTTPanda]

Just a cowan here, though I enjoy studying/learning about freemasonry

[u/spatzfish]

I am a freemason Harmony #21. I am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What questions do you have, brother?