Quote by Elder John A. Widtsoe
The statement that the Prophet borrowed the temple idea from some of the several secret societies is the purest rubbish and nonsense. All that one needs to do is to read the Church history and to note the time when the Prophet first mentions the endowment and hints of the coming revelations concerning temple work, to make it quite impossible to believe that any secret order suggested the temple endowment as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith.