180 years ago today - Mar 22, 1831

Painesville, Ohio TELEGRAPH claims there is "a very striking resemblance between masonry and mormonism. Both systems pretend to have a very ancient origin, and to possess some wonderful secrets which the world cannot have without submitting to the prescribed ceremonies." It also mentions, "Smith and his father belonged to a gang of money-diggers, who had followed that business for many years, Jo pretending he could see the gold and silver by the aid of what they called a 'peep stone.'"

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]