Posted on 11/30/2011 5:18:31 AM PST by Saundra Duffy
Known to some is the fact that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormon Church) wear a special kind of underwear in connection with their religion. This is true of most faithful adult members of the Church. (Mormon children are generally dressed the same as any other children.) The special underwear is called a "garment" by Mormons, and it is directly related to Mormon temples.
Garments are a symbolic gesture of the promises that Mormons have made to God. The garment is always worn under other clothing, next to the skin. In fact, for most people who wear it, the garment takes the place of regular underwear. Mormons begin wearing it during their first visit to the temple, wherein they receive individual instruction on how the garment should be worn and cared for, and furthermore, they undergo a sacred ceremony called the temple endowment. Solely during this ritual, additional special clothing is put on; by contrast, the garment or special underwear is worn at all times, both day and night, from then on. It serves as a constant reminder of the covenants made during the temple endowment.
Mormons believe in being "in the world, but not of it," and the garment helps in privately yet consistently setting temple-going Mormons apart from the world. A particularly sharp contrast is felt in today's society, where morals and modesty have deteriorated to a most horrific degree. Many moviemakers and clothing manufacturers, for example, design their respective products to reveal so much of the human body that virtually nothing is left to the imagination. Mormons, on the other hand, are encouraged through the modest length and cut of their temple-got garments to always dress appropriately. Devout Mormons further understand that in only a very few instances might the garment be removed, such as for swimming, using the bathroom, or being intimate in marriage. The reasons for keeping the garment on far outweigh the reasons for taking it off.
The special Mormon underwear consists of a top and bottom piece, and it is made from a variety of lightweight fabrics. There are some special colored temple garments that can be worn by members of the armed services, but for the vast majority of Mormons, garments are always white. This symbolizes physical and spiritual purity. It fosters a mindset of continual obedience to the Lord, which is crucial in keeping the covenants entered into in the temple. Through such obedience, a person can find physical and spiritual protection. The Lord God is enabled to grant promised blessings, fulfilling His side of the temple covenants. Thus, the garment is sacred to the wearer not for what it is, but for what it represents. The garment helps the wearer to focus his or her life on Jesus Christ and to thereby lay claim to the blessings promised to those who do so.
Mormons are not unique in the wearing of special clothing for religious purposes. Perhaps the most well-known example is the yarmulke, which is worn at special times by many Jewish men or at all times by devout orthodox Jews. Similarly, in some religions a minister or priest might wear a special collar that has religious significance, or nuns may wear special clothing that signifies the religious order to which they belong. In all cases the special clothing reflects the religious conviction of the wearer.
There is a historical precedent for wearing religious clothing. Mormons emphasize the fact that Adam and Eve wore clothing that was made for them by God before they left the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:21 states that "unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Mormons believe that such clothing was provided as part of the religious instruction given to Adam and Eve by God. This is the same context in which Mormons receive the garment: as part of the religious instruction contained within the temple endowment.
Other religious figures throughout history have also worn special clothing as they performed their religious duties. For instance, Moses was commanded by the Lord (as recorded in Exodus 28:1-3) to place holy garments and priestly vestments upon Aaron and others in preparation for officiating in the tabernacle.
There is no professional clergy in the Mormon Church, so in some ways the garment serves as a symbol of the lay clergy, where both men and women share in the responsibilities and blessings of the priesthood, particularly in the temple.
For more information visit Mormon Underwear.
I don’t like Mitt Romney.
I don’t like his Romneycare or his flip-flopping or his liberal tendencies.
But I could care less what kind of underwear he wears or if they have skidmarks in them.I don’t care if they are Fruit of the Loom or IZOD. Leave the mans religion out of this and concentrate on his liberalism.
This board is chock full of bigots and idiots.
I posted something about being led by God and some extra special idiot replied with some BS about mass murderers who said God told them to do it.
You cant help someone understand what they don't want to understand - you'll only give them more ammo.
God would be a lot more popular if it weren't for the religions scaring people away from him....
Not defending the Mormons here but you seem to know what God wishes even though throughout the entire Holy Bible, the Lord God explicitly tells his chosen people what to wear, how to worship and how to be religious.
Jews don’t regard their garments (tzitzit and kippa/yarmulke) like the Mormons with theirs as lurk says,
“The garments are a fetish, a belief that an article of clothing or an item has special powers. Hence the faith-promoting stories of garments saving people from accidents, burns, providing healing, etc.”
Jews wear them simply to remind themselves to keep the Torah.
Since Mormons think their magic underwear has special powers like an amulet or lucky rabbit’s foot we can see their superstitious nature and have a laugh over it.
Yes, The Mother of God was preserved from all sin and died a Virgin and was assumed into Heaven. You are correct.
I’m not LDS, but I have lived near many of them in Arizona and in Utah. I know enough history of the LDS Church to know there are inconvenient truths, like all religions. I also think you’re right that Mormons seem to be an acceptable group to bash. People who’d never say something crass or insensitive about Jews feel just fine attacking Mormons. A better position would be to attack neither one. Both of these religions enrich America.
Also black cats are bad luck and carrying a Buff Orphington feather in your left shoe is highly recommended.
Bingo. No ignorance here either. I know more about Mormonism than a lot of mormons. I have a photo-copied edition of a 1st edition Book of Mormon...complete with all the corrections. Over 4000 of them since 1830. When "elders" come to my house, I am more than happy to show it to them.
No...it's not ignorance. Just the opposite.
Thank you for your thoughtful Post #33. When I lived in Belize (Central America) for 18 months, we visited Spanish Lookout where the Mennonites have an enclave. It was fascinating to see the two camps - the orthodox Mennonites who absolutely rejected any and all new-fangled things and the “free” Mennonites who drove trucks and had thriving business enterprises. The orthodox Mennonite women had to wear these long heavy dark brown dresses while the “free” Mennonite women could wear nice looking breezy dresses. I felt sorry for the orthodox women because it gets fiercely hot and humid in Belize.
I was with Youth With A Mission at that time (non LDS) and we could pretty much wear whatever we wanted but to show respect I wore dresses to Church services in the Village of Roaring Creek where our Pastor was named Pastor Lucas Ochoa and better Christians you will not find on the face of the earth than the Belizean Christians. By the way, YWAM did not allow Mormons or Catholics to join up in their organization nor Jews unless you were Messianic Jew.
Anyway, thanks for your post. Take care.
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Here is just a thought that I usually associate with the Left when I see them discussing tolerance. It is that most people think tolerance is what’s shown to the people they approve of or that they agree with. With the Left, it’s about making things politically correct. Of course, what tolerance is is respect for people we profoundly disagree with.
“You cant help someone understand what they don’t want to understand - you’ll only give them more ammo.”
That is a point.
Jews take their instruction from God.
Mormons take theirs from Joseph Smith,Jr.
“Since Mormons think their magic underwear has special powers like an amulet or lucky rabbit’s foot we can see their superstitious nature and have a laugh over it.”
Please do not state what YOU think we are thinking. You are wrong about that.
By the way, as I have said, I learned about the Jewish undergarment from Senator Joe Lieberman when he addressed BYU recently. He made the point that Mormons and Jews have that in common, among other things. Sheeesh already.
Everything you posted in #20 is the same twisted suit-your-own-agenda stuff that has been rehashed and rehashed thousands of times here on FR.
Don’t you guys ever get tired of it?
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As predictable as an atomic clock. You, girlfriend, need to crack open some books and study your religion.
“I know more about Mormonism than a lot of mormons.”
You mean you think you do.
www.lds.org
www.mormon.org
The most ridiculous concept ever perpetrated by H.Sapiens is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of the Universes, wants the sacharrine adoration of his creations, that he can be persuaded by their prayers, and becomes petulant if he does not recieve this flattery. Yet this ridiculous notion, without one real shred of evidence to bolster it, has gone on to found one of the oldest, largest and least productive industries in history. [Robert Heinlein]
“Jews take their instruction from God.
Mormons take theirs from Joseph Smith,Jr.”
False. Joseph Smith was just a man; he was the first Prophet of the reformed Church but he was just a man. Jesus Christ is our Savior, the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost is our Guide. Thank you for letting me clarify that.
Me either! Like God cares what type of underwear or hat you wear. Religiosity squared. What a bunch of nonsense.
WORSHIP GOD, not your underwear.
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