Anti-Masonry In The Book Of Mormon Revisited Does the Book of Mormon description of ancient Gadianton bands and its warning about latter- day “secret combinations” reflect 19th-century concerns about Freemasonry? Many in Joseph Smith’s day, including Martin Harris, thought so. So, on what grounds do Mormon apologists resist this early interpretive consensus? In particular, this paper will examine and respond to the various arguments put forth primarily by Richard L. Bushman, Blake T. Ostler, D. Michael Quinn, and Daniel C. Peterson against the anti- Masonic interpretation of the Book of Mormon.
Dan Vogel, Blake T. Ostler