LDS critics often claim that the LDS temple ceremony was simply copied from Freemasonry, but this narrative oversimplifies both history and theology. It is true that Joseph Smith became a Freemason in Nauvoo in 1842 and that certain ceremonial forms—such as ritual structure, symbolic gestures, and instructional dialogue—bear superficial resemblance to Masonic practices. However, similarity in form does not equal identity in meaning or origin. Freemasonry itself openly teaches that its rituals are symbolic vehicles for moral instruction, not revealed theology, and Joseph Smith never concealed the fact that he was familiar with Masonic ritual forms. The LDS temple endowment, by contrast, presents a distinctly theological narrative centered on creation, covenant-making, divine authority, and humanity’s relationship with God—content wholly absent from Masonry. Historically, religious movements have often adopted existing cultural forms to convey new spiritual meanings, and the temple fits this broader pattern. Rather than evidence of plagiarism, the relationship between Freemasonry and the LDS temple ceremony reflects shared symbolic language paired with fundamentally different purposes, teachings, and theological claims.