“[Brother] Joseph and Sidney was the first that was received into the Lodge.” — Heber C. Kimball¹

Freemasonry is the oldest fraternal organization in the world, uniting men who "share a belief in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind".² Famous masons throughout history include Buffalo Bill Cody, Mark Twain, and Rudyard Kipling.^3,4,5

Joseph Smith was initiated into Freemasonry on March 15, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois, after the Masonic lodge of Nauvoo was organized by Abraham Jonas, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.⁶ He and Sidney Rigdon were the first to join the Lodge, followed by most of the apostles.¹ Joseph was raised to the degree of Master Mason the following day. Masons traditionally wore aprons to symbolically protect their clothing, in likeness of stone masons in former times. Joseph Smith's personal Masonic apron was made of silk backed with muslin. This apron served as part of his participation in the Freemasonry rituals.⁶ The group of nine men who were the first to receive their endowments in Nauvoo were all Masons.⁷

1. Letter from Heber C. Kimball to Parley P. Pratt

2. What is Freemasonry?, The Grand Lodge of Ohio

3. Bro. "Buffalo Bill" Cody: Freemason and Frontiersman, The Grand Lodge of Ohio

4. Mark Twain: Author and Freemason, The Grand Lodge of Ohio

5. Rudyard Kipling, Universal Co-Masonry

6. Joseph Smith's Masonic Apron Photographs at josephsmithpapers.org

7. Church History Topics, Masonry