Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration

By Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick III, and Nicholas S. Literski

• “The full truth about Smith’s restoration movement cannot be understood without the deep, poignant research that makes up this volume. . . . This book is a game changer for sure.” — Devery S. Anderson
• “Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, Method Infinite excavates the shared past of Masonry and the Latter-day Saint Restoration—and skillfully uncovers a lost context of Joseph Smith's prophetic work.” — Don Bradley
• “It will for sure, without question, be the definitive overview of the relationship between Mormonism and Freemasonry.”  — Cristina Rosetti, Dialogue Book Report
  
• “Method Infinite was the most significant Mormon Studies book to come out in 2022 and easily one of the most important and significant Mormon Studies volumes to be released in the last decade. . . . If you do not have a copy, I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy and read it.” — Andrew Hamilton
• “This work is an important contribution to Mormon Studies and fundamentally changes the way one thinks about the intersection between Masonry and early Mormonism.” — Charles R. Harrell
  
• “The culmination of decades of research and scholarship, a massive work of importance to understanding early Mormon history in the context of the time and places of the Restoration.” — Association for Mormon Letters
• "The definitive work on the subject. . . . Both Freemasons and students of Mormon History will find this book well researched and its thesis persuasive." — The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal

  
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Book Description:

While no one thing can entirely explain the rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the historical influence of Freemasonry on this religious tradition cannot be refuted. Those who study Mormonism have been aware of the impact that Freemasonry had on the founding prophet Joseph Smith during the Nauvoo period, but his involvement in Freemasonry was arguably earlier and broader than many modern historians have admitted. The fact that the most obvious vestiges of Freemasonry are evident only in the more esoteric aspects of the Mormon faith has made it difficult to recognize, let alone fully grasp, the relevant issues. Even those with both Mormon and Masonic experience may not be versed in the nineteenth-century versions of Masonry's rituals, legends, and practices. Without this specialized background, it is easy to miss the Masonic significance of numerous early Mormon ordinances, scripture, and doctrines. Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration offers a fresh perspective on the Masonic thread present in Mormonism from its earliest days. Smith's firsthand knowledge of and experience with both Masonry and anti-Masonic currents contributed to the theology, structure, culture, tradition, history, literature, and ritual of the religion he founded.

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Praise for Method Infinite:

“In this book, authors Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick, and Nicholas S. Literski have shown us just how prevalent Freemasonry was in the culture, lives, and minds of Joseph Smith and his contemporaries, and, more importantly, how interwoven it is in the teachings and rituals that became so important in early Mormonism. The full truth about Smith’s restoration movement cannot be understood without the deep, poignant research that makes up this volume. The reader will find it packed with evidence pulled from a variety of solid sources. This book is a game changer for sure. ”— Devery S. Anderson, editor, The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1845–2000: A Documentary History

“Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, Method Infinite excavates the shared past of Masonry and the Latter-day Saint Restoration—and skillfully uncovers a lost context of Joseph Smith's prophetic work. ”— Don Bradley, author, The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories

“If I could pick one book for 2022, it’s Method Infinite. . . . It will for sure, without question, be the definitive overview of the relationship between Mormonism and Freemasonry. It is beautifully written. . . . It is going to be a staple in thinking about the esoteric dimensions of Mormonism.” — Cristina Rosetti, Dialogue Book Report

“Method Infinite was the most significant Mormon Studies book to come out in 2022 and easily one of the most important and significant Mormon Studies volumes to be released in the last decade. . . . The number of parallels and connections are mind boggling. Swick and Literski are Master Masons, and Bruno has studied Masonry and mysticism extensively. All have been or are members of the LDS Church. All three are excellent scholars and have researched this subject for decades. The level of information they have included is astonishing. . . . My Gen Z students would use the word amazeballs to describe Method Infinite and they and they would be accurate. If you do not have a copy, I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy and read it.” — Andrew Hamilton, Association for Mormon Letters

“Method Infinite is the culmination of decades of research and scholarship, a massive work of importance to understanding early Mormon history in the context of the time and places of the Restoration. . . . [The] authors bring the insider perspective of both the LDS Church and Masonry. Swick and Literski are Master Masons with advanced degrees in the Craft, and with Bruno are also scholars steeped in Mormon history. Together, they have completed the most comprehensive treatment of the parallels and direct Masonic influences on the founding of the LDS Church to date.” — Kevin Folkman, Association for Mormon Letters

“Method Infinite is an eye-opening, comprehensive reconstruction of early Mormon connections with Freemasonry, showing how Masonic lore and practice informed early Mormon development much sooner and penetrated more deeply than previously imagined. Mormonism drew not only on the ritualistic forms and language of Masonry, but also on its theological narratives of dispensationalism, continuing revelation, redemption from sin, Christian perfectionism and theosis, just to name a few. This work is an important contribution to Mormon Studies and fundamentally changes the way one thinks about the intersection between Masonry and early Mormonism.” — Charles R. Harrell, author, "This Is My Doctrine": The Development of Mormon Theology

“An insightful and information-packed volume about a plethora of possible points of contact between Freemasonry and the Restoration. . . . While many studies of Masonry and the Latter Day Saint movement focus primarily on temple rituals, Method Infinite covers the entirety of Joseph Smith’s life and follows the influence of Masonic ideas and rituals into some of the major branches of Mormonism that emerged in the aftermath of the Prophet’s death. . . . I found it to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to scholars and others interested in gaining a deeper understanding of both 19th century American Freemasonry and the early Latter Day Saint movement” — Chad Nielsen, Times and Seasons

“Method Infinite has been in the making for twenty years, and the final product is well worth the wait. Both Greg Kofford Books and the three authors deserve respect and admiration for seeing this volume to completion. After reading this book I feel like a new world of knowledge has been revealed to my mind. It is a difficult task for historians to write and explain two traditions, but to write so that the lay person can understand these intertwining histories of both Mormonism and Freemasonry is a herculean task, one that authors Bruno, Swick, and Literski have accomplished in this volume.” — Joe Geisner, editor, Writing Mormon History: Historians and Their Books

“The definitive work on the subject. . . . Both Freemasons and students of Mormon History will find this book well researched and its thesis persuasive. The authors go to great lengths to make sure that both the Masonic and Mormon aspects of their arguments are accessible to all readers. Moreover, for those of us who approach the book with both sets of eyes, we will find that the narratives are woven together to produce a highly satisfying read.” — Jason R. Smith, The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal

“Carefully toeing the line between reducing Mormonism to its cultural contexts and highlighting the secular realities in which it developed, the authors have produced the most comprehensive work to date on the interconnections between Joseph Smith’s Mormonism and the prolific culture of Masonry that existed in nineteenth century America. . . . Method Infinite makes a valuable contribution not only to Mormon studies, but also to United States' social and religious history.” — William Perez, Arc: The Journal of the School of Religious Studies

“Method Infinite is a tour de force. In no less than 450 pages—index and comprehensive bibliography excluded—it offers a virtual encyclopedia of all possible parallels between Freemasonry and Mormonism. . . . The Masonic angle is an important one to the study of early Mormonism. The book is a valuable and welcome resource for this study.” — Massimo Introvigne, Mormon Studies Review

“Method Infinite is an invaluable resource for better understanding the dynamic religious environment from which the early Latter-day Saint church sprang that will appeal to scholarly and lay audiences alike. . . . The authors’ treatment of both Freemasonry and Mormonism is considerate and insightful.” — Courtney Jensen Peacock, Journal of Mormon History

“A welcome entrant to the arena with its superabundance of details, down to the minutiae.” — Garrett Maxwell, The Utah Monthly

About the Authors:

Cheryl L. Bruno has a BS in Recreation Management from Greensboro College and did graduate work in Educational Psychology at Brigham Young University. Cheryl is an independent researcher on Mormon history, with publications in the Journal of Religion and Society, the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal, and the Journal of Mormon History. She has also presented at cthe Mormon History Association Annual Conference, the Claremont Mormon Studies Conference, the Pacific Northwest Region Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature, the John Whitmer Historical Association Annual Conference, Sunstone Symposium, and the Mormonism and Western Esotericism Conference. In addition, Cheryl is Director of Resident Life at Madonna Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care, has published personal essays and poetry in several anthologies, and has created a deck of Mormon-themed tarot cards. 

Joe Steve Swick III is a long time student of the history and dogmas of Mormonism and Freemasonry. He received his endowment in 1982 and was raised a Master Mason in 1995. He is twice Past Master of his local lodge, and twice Past High Priest of his Royal Arch Chapter, receiving the Masonic Order of High Priesthood in 2004. Joe was a career Program Manager for Word Perfect in Provo, Utah, and for Microsoft in Redmond, Washington.

Nicholas S. Literski, JD, PhD, is an adjunct senior lecturer at the California Institute of Integral Studies and a professional spiritual guide. In 2001, Nick became the first Master Mason raised in Hancock County after the 1840s Mormon exodus, going on to receive the Royal Arch, Cryptic, and Knight Templar degrees within the York, as well as the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite. Nick’s work has been published in FARMS Review of Books on The Book of Mormon, Psychological Perspectives: A Quarterly Journal of Jungian Thought, and the recent compilation, The Reality of Fragmentation and the Yearning for Healing: Jungian Perspectives on Democracy, Power, and Illusion in Contemporary Politics.

More Information:

531 pages
978-1-58958-689-5 (paperback); 978-1-58958-753-3 (hardcover)