Abstract The Nauvoo Masonic Lodge minute books (1841-1846) are comprised of copies of minutes. The Nauvoo Lodge would be primarily attended by those of the Mormon religious persuasion. For a time Masonic rites helped shape the direction of Joseph Smith's theology and some scholars note the similarity between the Mormon temple endowment ceremony and Masonic rites. At its height, there were 1,500 Mormons involved in Freemasonry in Illinois.