Image: Salt Lake City LDS Temple
To anyone who has knowledge of both the LDS Temple Ceremony (especially the pre-1990 temple ceremony) and Mason Rites it is very apparent that they have many similarities. Many things are exactly the same. Even knowledgeable Mormons admit that the endowment ceremony (especially in its earlier versions) contains many details that are similar to the Masonic initiation rites of Joseph Smith’s day. The symbols, oaths, handclasps, and terminology resemble the Masonic ritual in hundreds of ways.
Masonic pass grip of a fellow craft:[footnote]Secret Masonic Handshakes, Passwords, Grips And Signs Of Blue Lodge Masonry [/footnote]
The hand is taken as in an ordinary hand shake, and the Mason presses the top of his thumb against the space between the first and second knuckle joints of the first two fingers of his fellow Mason; the fellow Mason also presses his thumb on the corresponding part of the first Mason’s hand.
The name of this grip is “Shibboleth”. When a candidate is imparted with this grip and its usage it is done in this manner:First, the Worshipful Master says to the candidate:
“I now present my right hand in token of the continuance of friendship and brotherly love, and will invest you with the pass-grip, pass-word, real grip and word of a Fellow Craft. As you are uninstructed, he who has hitherto answered for you, will do so at this time. Give me the grip of an Entered Apprentice.”
As previously explained from the Entered Apprentice degree, he then has this exchange with the Senior Deacon, who is standing next to the candidate, who is still kneeling at the altar, after having assume the obligation of this degree):
WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: Worshipful Master.
WM: Will you be off or from?
SD: From.
WM: From what and to what?
SD: From the grip of an Entered Apprentice to the pass-grip of a Fellow Craft.
(At this time, the candidate is shown the Pass Grip)
WM: Pass. What is that?
SD: The pass-grip of a Fellow Craft.
WM: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
WM: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive it; neither will I so impart it.
WM: How will you dispose of it?
SD: Letter or syllable it.
WM: Syllable it and begin.
SD: You begin.
WM: Begin you.
SD: Shib
WM: bo
SD: leth
WM: Shibboleth, my Brother, is the name of this grip. You should always remember it, for should you be present at the opening or a Fellow Crafts Lodge, this pass-word will be demanded of you by one of the Deacons, and should you be unable to give it, it would cause confusion in the Craft.
From the LDS endowment ceremony, Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood:[footnote]LDS Endowment Ceremony – Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood[/footnote]
PETER: The Lord then gives the second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the patriarchal grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the patriarchal grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I cannot. I have not yet received it. For this purpose I have come to converse with the Lord through the veil.
LORD: You shall receive it, upon the five points of fellowship, through the veil.
PETER: The five points of fellowship are: inside of right foot by the side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to ear. The Lord then gives the name of this token and asks:
LORD: What is that?
PETER: The second token of the Melchizedek priesthood, the patriarchal grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail.
LORD: Has it a name?
PETER: It has.
LORD: Will you give it to me?
PETER: I will, upon the five points of fellowship, through the veil.The person then repeats back to the Lord the name of this token as he received it, whereupon the Lord says:
LORD: That is correct.
Crash Course:
Temple Oaths – Mormon Think
Secret Masonic Handshakes, Passwords, Grips And Signs Of Blue Lodge Masonry
Mormonism and Masonry (Podcast) – Mormon Expressions
The LDS Endowment – For Latter-day Saints, the endowment serves as a rite of adult initiation.
Masonic Symbols and the LDS Temple – Sandra Tanner
Masonry and Mormonism, an Interview with Greg Kearney (Podcast) – Mormon Stories
Occultic and Masonic Influence in Early Mormonism – Joel B. Groat