Volund

As much as I like Gramps here is my concern. One does not have to be invited per se to join Masonry like he states, it is misleading. Anyone can go into a Lodge and seek membership. However, someone does need to vouche for their character. There are rules to join anything of worth, just like the multiple rules to become a convert with LDS. One could also say that you cannot become LDS without being invited, and that is also true to a certain extent. I am sure he means well but I will divert the subject to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. (Liahona article) Also, his statement about if living by a Temple why not spend the time their instead... Well thats admirable, but substitute what he is saying about time not spent in Masonry with "or on the internet" or "flying a plane, or a boat" -or just flat out say we do not need hobbies (that are distracting) -this is what President Uchtdorf is saying more clearly and I am sure gramps means to say, otherwise I would be very concerned. I can debunk anything by saying the time is better spent at a Temple. An hour a month for 8 or nine months a year is more than most masons obligate themselves to (and not even a requirement as there is no such thing as active or inactive status in Masonry), and as it is in a form of service. Gramps is entitled to his opinion, but it appears based on third party opinion and not his experience (maybe it is based on a bad experience, who knows). I admit, it can be a timesink if allowed to be. Then again so is facebook, gardening, shopping or sleeping. Bottomline is hobbies, like all things, should not interfere with Priesthood Service (I believe this is what Gramps was trying to say which agrees with President Uchtdorf). Masonry teaches that the day is divided into 24 hours. 8 for work, 8 for rest, and 8 for service to Heavenly Father (service). I am not trying to be divisive, I hope that was helpful. Gramps is not "wrong", but just needs a little more clarification on Time Management. :)

Lodges meeting times/days vary per lodge. Most regular members meet once a month. Some lodges "go dark" (think of it as keeping the lights off) for a few months out of the year and do not meet at all during that time. Some lodges just meet for an hour to discuss how to appropriate their charity. We met up around 6pm for dinner in our banquet hall where we discussed work, gardening, charity, volunteering, recent events, or food (a favorite subject). The Eastern Star members would prepare the dinner, and the men would help too if they like. Donations would be taken as you arrive. On the walls hung pictures of the lodge members that held office (called chairs) for as long as the lodge has existed. Pride is taken in the antiquity and longevity of each lodge. This dinner is open to members and guests. After dinner the guests depart and the men met in the meeting hall for business. Sometimes we would have pancake breakfasts to raise money for different things. The children also have "clubs" they can join. The boys may join chapters of DeMolay, so named after the famous Knight Templar betrayed by the Catholic Church. This is similar to scouting and they learn morality and charity. The girls join groups called Bethels (Jobs' Daughters) and I cannot say what they do because I am not familiar with it. (sorry, I have a son and have not yet been blessed with daughters so I have no experience in that). For more info click here I used to be active in DeMolay with my son. They would have fund raisers in the form of Spaghetti dinners to pay for things like trips to the museum or dances held on a river boat (like paddle boats on the Mississippi) with the Bethels. What is nice is the boys themselves are responsible for their own expenses and run the organization themselves. They even did all the cooking for their fundraising -with supervision of course. They elect and appoint their own officers and have meetings. The "Dads" intervene when and if needed but that is rare (for example the boys decide to spend all their moneys on something not in line with common sense). I am grateful for the time I spent in DeMolay and at the Lodge. :)

As with all "secret societies" (LDS included!) there is a lot of rumor and innuendo by those who are not part of the group. (Is this not true of any group?) Masons do not worship one another or worship the grand lodge. Truth be known, anyone is welcome to join if they are 1. adult male, 2. not atheist. Females cannot become Masons but are welcome to join as members of the "Eastern Star". This is not different than men holding the Melchizedek priesthood and females being in the relief society, or boys being in boy scouts and girls in girl scouts. Eastern Star is part of Masonry as much as the men and all belong to the same Lodge. Lodges are referred to as Blue Lodges and constitute the first 3 degrees. Lodges are based on the Temple of Solomon and there are many similarities to LDS teachings and it is in no way incompatible. Also Masonry lodges are not like meeting halls in that there is no sacrament, speakers etc. More like who we will be donating our charity to this month, this year.. new scholarships, etc. No one is told who/how/what to worship. If anything masonry is like mormonism. Masons discuss things related to becoming better men through service. Whats so bad about that? I would encourage you to support your fiance and discuss your concerns openly with him, and if it continues to bother you to go to the Temple with him and seek guidance from your Heavenly Father and discuss it with him. No one will be loosing a recommend over his joining -if so you need to seek out the stake presidency. I found out it was not a conflict before I joined as a precaution. I also did research myself. I am a 32° Master Mason, and it isn't the big deal people make it out to be. I have not violated any rules posting this information and the information is freely available. The only secrets around nowadays are those of our own as LDS, and even most of them are online somewhere. Just beware of misinformation. I hope that was helpful. :)