Why are Mormon Temple filled with Masonic symbols and why do they use so many Masonic rituals?
The symbols you refer to existed and were widely known, used, and understood long before Freemasonry or the LDS faith existed or made use of them. In many cases, they were at one time universal in their use. In the early Christian faith, when persecution of Christians forced the faith to exist “underground”, various ceremonies, some of which were new and others adapted from existing Jewish and pagan traditions, were used to ensure the continued safety and security of the churches and their members, and also to ensure the sincerity of prospective converts. In minor ways, these rituals can still bee seen in many faiths as part of their acceptance of converts. Joseph Smith studied those ancient rituals and adopted them into the LDS faith many years before he became a Mason. Those same ancient rituals, although they slowly fell out of use within the Christian churches, were also adopted and adapted for non-religious purposes by various military orders and trade guilds, for much the same re
