The Freemasonry Mormon Question

Question posed by Catholic online acquaintance:

                “I also think you should know that Joseph Smith was affiliated with Freemasonry. Many of your “temple ceremonies” are actually derived from Freemasonry. If you don’t believe Freemasonry has any connection to Mormonism, than perhaps you could just take a closer look at the pajamas many Mormons wear because the symbols of Freemasonry are right on them. Freemasons are a secret society of men who worship Lucifer(satan).” 

My response:

              I am already educated on the nearly identical symbols and rites performed by Freemasons and Mormons. It's an understandable assumption that Mormons must be ignorant of the facts.  However, none of these similarities bother me because I believe that LDS temple ordinances have been performed since the beginning of the earth. These symbolic ordinances were revealed many times anew by prophets of old after periods of spiritual apostasy. It's natural that one group or another might retain the rituals and symbols throughout the cycles of apostasy which have occurred throughout Biblical times. I would think it odd if the rituals didn't pop up somewhere. I would especiallybe surprised to find that no one had ever been tempted to duplicate or use them inappropriately. Members promise not to flaunt them publicly, but everyone has always had their freedom to choose.