Relationship Between Mormonism and Freemasonry, p. 179; “From the time of his first heavenly manifestation, Joseph Smith was persecuted, reviled, ridiculed and hated. His only friends were the few devoted men and women who recognized him in a chosen instrument, raised up by God our Father for the accomplishment of a divine purpose.
Charged with offenses against the civil law he was never found guilty of an unlawful act. Accused of perverting the word of the Lord as it is contained in the Bible, it cannot be shown that he ever taught a doctrine which is not on harmony with the teachings of that sacred volume. He was imprisoned and condemned to death when he had committed no offense against God or man.
If ever a man was in need of sympathy and the friendship of good men, that man was Joseph Smith. It was under these circumstances that Joseph Smith became a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He hoped to find there the friendship and protection which he so much craved, but which had been denied him outside of his few devoted adherents. The sequel proved that he was mistaken.” – A.W. Ivins
