Mormon Matters is launching a new series that focuses on Latter-day Saints who, in addition to their Mormonism, are intimately familiar with another religion or philosophical tradition and whose spirituality has grown through that encounter. In this first episode of the series, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon engages four LDS Freemasons: Patrick McLeary, Lorenzo (Lon) Tibbetts, Joe Swick, and George Miller. Why did they become Masons? Given the history of sometimes difficult relationship between Mormons and Masons, and also certain LDS cultural pressures that tell us that Mormonism should be able to serve all our spiritual and social needs, did they have any spiritual qualms about joining? What has their Mormonism alerted them to as they bring their LDS backgrounds into their Masonic experiences? And, even more pertinent to this series about the mutual enhancement that can occur when we bring two traditions into close encounter, what is it about the rituals, teachings, and social life of Freemasonry that enhances their LDS spiritual life, their understandings about Mormon rituals and Joseph Smith’s "project"? This is a marvelous discussion. It’s fascinating to learn a bit about Freemasonry, but even more wonderful to spend time with these brilliant, well-spoken, and deeply spiritual men. A great series kick-off!