THE COMPASS

The compass is a symbol located on the left breast area of the Mormon underwear, officially called the "garment of the Holy Priesthood." The garment is worn by all temple Mormons as "a shield and a protection to you from the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work on the earth." ¹

A close look at the garment reveals a pair of button holes sewn in the shape of a "V." The compass reminds the Mormon "...that all Truth may be circumscribed into one great whole, and that all appetites and passions must be kept within certain bounds which the Lord has prescribed." ²

Evidence shows that the compass was originally taken from the Masonic ritual where the Entered Apprentice candidate (1st degree--Blue Lodge) is challenged on his naked left breast by the point of the compass. According to Masonic tradition, the candidate is originally taught that the compass is "...the most prominent emblem of virtue, the true and only measure of a Freemason's life and conduct." ³

As with many things related to the Masonic Lodge, however, the real truth behind its symbols is reserved for the "elect." Masonic author Ralph Anderson writes, "A symbol is an outer and visible form which hides or veils an inner spiritual reality....hidden behind the entire system of symbols is some spiritual value and some definite and intended teaching which can be discovered by those whose vision can be awakened." ⁴

The beginning Mason, therefore, does not realize the significance of the compass until his indoctrination into the 32nd degree (Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.) The symbol of that degree is an old hermetic (Gnostic or occultic) figure of a two-headed being. The female arm is holding the compass. According to Masonic Grand Commander Albert Pike, "The compass...is an equally natural and appropriate Symbol of the Heavens,...The Heavens and the Earth were personified as Deities, even among the Aryan Ancestors of the European nations of the Hindus, Zends, Bactrians, and Persians;...They were deified also among the Phoenicians; and among the Greek Ouranos and Gea, Heaven and Earth, were sung as the most ancient of the Deities, by Hesiod. The Compass, therefore, is the Hermetic symbol of the Creative Deity,..." ⁵

The connection between the use of the square in both Masonry and Mormonism and it's use in witchcraft is apparent. William Schnoebelen, author of Mormonism's Temple of Doom, gives us his account (when he went to the Mormon Temple):

"The Masonic compass is stitched over the left breast of the Mormon temple garment. In esoteric Masonry I was taught that the compass represents the sacred Goddess. This is because the compass is used to describe a circle in geometry, and the circle is the consummate symbol of the Goddess in Wicca. Hence all coven ritual is conducted in a circle. As a matter of fact, the 'point' of the sacred coven circle actually is the womb of the high priestess who represents the Goddess. The circle then is a symbol of the Queen of Heaven; and the compass is her chief tool....in all occultism, the left-hand is considered sacred to the feminine, goddess-principle." ⁶

References:
(1) Chuck Sackett, What's Going On in There?, 1982, p. 6
(2) Ibid., p. 12
(3) Albert G. Mackey, Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Vol. 1, p. 236
(4) Anderson, A Spiritual Quest Or-- (printed in the Masonic The New Age magazine, April 1985, p. 49)
(5) Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 1919, pp. 850-851
(6) William J. Schnoebelen/James R. Spencer, Mormonism's Temple of Doom, 1991, p. 13

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