Latter-day Templar

I was recently provided with a link to a page by Cutting Edge Ministries; that page is a compendium of arguments against Freemasonry. For now, I will respond to  Freemasonry -- Two Organizations, One Visible, the Other Invisible  and save the rest for another time. In this article, Cutting Edge Ministries Director David Bay claims that within Freemasonry is a hidden, Satanic entity that strives to produce the anti-Christ. His claim depends largely on various secondary and tertiary opinion-pieces (many out-of-context). The first work cited is Lectures on Ancient Philosophy: An Introduction to the Study and Application of Rational Procedure  by Manly P Hall, which was first published in 1929 . However, Manly P Hall did not become a Freemason until 1954. That makes this work not only just an opinion-piece on Freemasonry, but rather nothing more than gossip/rumor since he did not have any firsthand experience in the Fraternity. That renders this work entirely irrelevant c...

I decided that my first project should be a response to the article Masonic Symbols and the LDS Temple by Sandra Tanner over at Utah Lighthouse Ministry, as she has made incorrect claims and has taken some things out-of-context. I'll get right to it. Sandra begins the article by referring to the symbolism found on the Nauvoo Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She states that, to understand these symbols, one must understand Joseph Smith's involvement with Freemasonry; she then makes the irrelevant mention of the fact that his brother Hyrum had been a Freemason since the 1820s. She then incorrectly claims that Brigham Young had been a Mason prior to joining the Church. The facts are as follows: Brigham Young was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 15 April, 1832 . Almost a decade later, he was initiated an Entered Apprentice on 7 April, 1842 ; passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on 8 April, 1842 ; and raised to the sublime ...

Ordinations Priesthood Order of Melchizedek 2010/02/13: Elder (Cedar Hills Utah Stake) Priesthood Order of Aaron 2007/05/13: Priest (Columbia Ward, Franklin Tennessee Stake) 2005/05/22: Teacher (Lebanon Branch, Lafayette Indiana Stake) 2003/05/11: Deacon (Lebanon Branch, Lafayette Indiana Stake) Ordinances 2012/12/21: Sealed to Spouse (Idaho Falls Idaho Temple) 2010/02/--:[*] Temple Endowment (Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple) 2010/02/--: Temple Anointing (Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple) 2010/02/--: Temple Washing (Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple) 1999/05/16: Confirmation (Lebanon Branch, Lafayette Indiana Stake) 1999/05/15: Baptism (Lebanon Branch, Lafayette Indiana Stake) Callings Held Stake 2012: Travelling Stake Speaker (Bloomington Hills 5th Ward, Bloomington Hills Utah Stake) 2012: Missionary Preparation Teacher (Bloomington Hills 5th Ward, Bloomington Hills Utah Stake) Melchizedek Priesthood 2010-2012: Full-time Missionary (Mexico, Mexico City North Mission) Aaronic Priesthood 2008...

Freemasonry (also known as Craft Masonry or Blue Lodge Masonry) The dates on which I received the three degrees of Masonry are as follows: 2016/09/07: 1° Entered Apprentice 2016/10/22: 2° Fellowcraft 2016/12/17: 3° Master Mason I received these degrees in Saint George Lodge No. 33 , which is subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah . I was appointed/elected and did serve in the following offices in the following organizations for the following calendar years: Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah District 5 Saint George Lodge No. 33 2019: Junior Deacon 2020: Senior Deacon 2021: Senior Warden 2022: Worshipful Master [*] The highest degree in Freemasonry itself is 3° (that of Master Mason), no matter what degree, grade, or order one obtains later on in appendant, concordant, or affiliate groups.[†] My current rank in this body is Past Master.                             ...

I was ordained an Elder by Darren Todd Cole on 13 February 2010. Darren Todd Cole was ordained a High Priest by Loyal David Cole on 24 March 2002. Loyal David Cole was ordained a High Priest by Gordon Thomas Wilson on 14 February 1987. Gordon Thomas Wilson was ordained a High Priest by John Hal Marsden on 20 July 1975. John Hal Marsden was ordained a High Priest by LeGrand Richards on 16 September 1956. LeGrand Richards was ordained an Apostle by David O McKay on 10 April 1952. David O McKay was ordained an Apostle by Joseph F Smith on 9 April 1906. Joseph F Smith was ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young on 1 July 1866. Brigham Young was ordained an Apostle under the hands of the Three Witnesses—Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris—on 14 February 1835. The Three Witnesses—Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris—were  called by revelation  in June 1829 and set apart by the First Presidency —Joseph Smith, Jr, Sidney Ri...