The Sacred Garment of Mormon Theology

Beehive Standard Weekly ^ | 02/23/2008 | Emerson Chase

[Alex Murphy]

Old Testament
High Priest Robes

At the Beehive Standard Weekly, our Internet analysis tools allow us to see what some people are searching for on search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and the like. Time and again, we see searches for "Mormon Underwear" coming up in our keywords section.

There appears to be some appetite for those who are curious as to the undergarment that some Mormon men and women wear.  Rather than the void being filled with some anti-Mormon lunatic or those who might only desire to ridicule, we thought it would be appropriate to give a discrete response to those who might be genuinely curious, but who don't want to read the bigoted slander that exists on the world wide web.

The Temple Garment: A Symbol of Progression in Spiritual Matters

It is true that some Mormons wear an undergarment unique to the Mormon faith. As a curious reader, you should know that the "garment" as Mormons refer to the article of clothing is sacred and in the Mormon faith is believed to be representative of the covenants God made with man since Adam and Eve. As such, those who mock or ridicule the garment are not only inconsiderate of the faith and beliefs of others, but strike at one of the most sacred items within the Mormon belief system.

In short, having a knowledge of the garment should help others recognize what the article of clothing is and how to interact with Mormons when the topic comes up in discussion.

In general, the garment is obtained through a process of obedience to commandments and knowledge of Mormon doctrine. Where the entrance to the Mormon faith is baptism by immersion in the name of "the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost," the garment is representative of a higher level of commitment to establishing the Kingdom of God upon the earth.

To understand how the garment fits into a person's spiritual progression, it would be helpful to start at the beginning and follow a standard course of a convert.

Let's first assume that a person decides that the Mormon faith is true and correct and they join the church. They would first be baptized and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Baptism is accomplished by going into a pool of water and then being fully immersed in the water by someone having authority from Christ to perform the ritual.

The next step is to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. In the Mormon faith, the Holy Ghost is believed to be a member of the Godhead and a personage of spirit that can enter into the physical soul of man to testify of truth. In other words, when the message of Christ is shared with another person, the Holy Ghost enters into the soul of that man or woman and there is a confirmation of the truth of the message by the workings of the Holy Ghost. It is a physical manifestation of truth. Every soul upon the earth is entitled to this physical manifestation of the Holy Ghost or special witness in order to help them find truth, or more specifically, to find the message that Christ is the Son of God and Redeemer of mankind.

After about a year after baptism and the receipt of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, adult men receive the priesthood so they can begin to minister in supporting roles in the church. The Mormon faith has a lay clergy, or rather, they do not have paid ministers or pastors. Women do not receive the priesthood in the Mormon faith, but are vital in their leadership and service in the church. After a full year, women have had many opportunities to serve and contribute to their congregations as well.

In each case, after a full year of activity in the church, the man or woman should have had many experiences to help confirm their faith and advance the work of Christ upon the earth. At this point, those who desire to enter the LDS Temples to make a higher level of commitment to Christ are typically given the opportunity -- especially married couples.

It is within the Mormon Temples that the most sacred covenants between mankind and God are made.

But Isn't Baptism Enough?

Many would ask at this point, why is anything other than baptism necessary for salvation? It is a valid question.

Baptism is for the individual and one of the most important steps in one's progression. In truth, baptism is the entrance to the Kingdom of God and is essential. It does not, however fully define God's realm. Higher covenants are reflective of the commitment one makes to a spouse, a person's family and to God.

Mormonism's first prophet and founder, Joseph Smith, taught that marriage is a sacred ordinance and covenant, just like baptism. When a man marries a woman, that union is just as important as the baptismal covenant because it allows a man and a woman to participate together in the Kingdom of God as servants with Christ. In Mormon theology, this marriage covenant is essential to one's eternal progression. Through marriage, men and women become part of the hierarchy and government of the Kingdom of God. They are primarily responsible for their children and families, but also share the responsibility to share the gospel and care for the entire human family.

So where baptism is relevant to one's personal salvation, the covenants in the temple represent one's commitments to others, first to God, then one's spouse, then children, then the other Children of God upon the face of the earth. That commitment, along with a showing of obedience, qualifies a person to participate at a higher level within the gospel.

On a side note, some would argue that one cannot be saved by works and Mormons would not argue against this point. They would, however, state that without works their faith would be dead and as such the covenants they make to work in the Kingdom of God upon the earth simply illustrates their level of faith. Mormons believe that you are saved by "grace" after all you can do.

A Symbol of Commitment to Others

Mormon marriages are performed in the holy temples. Before a man or woman marry each other, they enter into covenants with God to honor the pledges to be made in the marriage. These covenants state that they will respect the marriage covenant into which they will be entering as well as follow the commandments of Christ.

During the process of taking on these covenants, men and women are clothed in garments which represent these higher covenants and commitments. In essence, the garment reflects the promise to each other and to God to obey God's laws for their own benefit, for the benefit of their marriage and ultimately for their families.

Those married in the temple are significantly more likely to stay married than those married outside of the LDS temples. At one time, the divorce rate was only ten percent, though this figure has been increasing in recent years.

Eternal marriage also allows the woman to participate in the priesthood covenants of her husband without directly receiving the priesthood. In a similar fashion, by example, a queen shares the royal privilege of the king, who may have the authority to reign in a kingdom. Through marriage and the sharing of the covenants made in the temple, woman are entitled to the same blessings as their husbands, nothing more and nothing less. The men, however, by receiving the priesthood directly are responsible for the administrative affairs and church governance.

Now, let's return to the discussion of the garment.

The Mormon Garment is not worn in such a manner as to display the covenants made by the individual to the world. Where a pastor or preacher might wear a white collar or robe to indicate authority and covenants to God, Mormons are very personal in their commitments and wear the garment under their clothing. In short, it is a statement that the covenants established are between that person and God and the opinions of others don't count. There is no show-and-tell because the covenants are sacred, and because of their personal nature, secret. It is somewhat like medical records or financial information. It is not something that is considered appropriate for public disclosure. As they say, it is what you do when people are not watching that really matters.

The Garment and Society

It is inevitable with millions of Mormons in the United States, that everyone will at some point encounter a Mormon wearing the garment. Between locker rooms, gyms, public pools, dressing rooms, hospitals and the like, it is almost unavoidable. This is especially true in the military where general housing of troops will most certainly reveal the differences in under-attire during the course of a day.

So how does one react when it is clear that the person dressing next to you is wearing the garment? First, the Mormon man or woman is already aware that they stick out like a neon light in a mine shaft, so bringing additional attention to that fact doesn't really help matters. In truth, Mormon men and women probably won't think much about it if you don't say anything. Just don't stare. Mormons get enough of that already. Go on about your business as if they were wearing BVDs or Fruit of the Looms.

If for any reason you needed to handle the garment, such as in an emergency at a hospital, understand that the garment should not touch the floor. If ever you come into possession of a garment, you should place the garment into a plastic sack and give it to a loved one or church leader, even if it is soiled.  There is a proper procedure for destroying the garment that should be respected. The garment is not like "underwear" to Mormons. They reverence the garement like a soldier would respect the American flag. To see the garment treated like Fruit-of-the-Loom briefs would be offensive to Mormons.

In terms of when the garment is to be worn, Mormons are counseled by their leaders to wear the garment as often as possible; however, there are times and places where it would be inappropriate. For instance, in a football game or at a gym, where a great deal of activity would be exerted by its bearer (the garment is not suitable for athletics). Likewise, a stage performance where the bearer might subject the garment to ridicule or scorn would also be inappropriate. Despite the exceptions, the garment is intended to be worn while sleeping or lounging about the home, during work - even construction type jobs, and play, such as going to the park or easy hikes.

Some may wonder if the garement interferes with normal marital relations. It would be unusual for Mormon couples to wear the garment during intimate encounters.

Ultimately, when to wear the garment is a personal decision, though it is clear that the leadership of the Church would prefer it be worn most of the time, both day and night.

The Mormon Mafia

Mormons have a little secret. It is the way Mormons identify other temple-worthy Mormons. Non-Mormons can identify Mormons the same way, or at least the worthy Mormons who have entered into the temple covenants. The temple garment usually has a t-shirt like appearance under one's shirt. For men, this is not a tell-tale sign as many men wear t-shirts underneath their dress shirts and even casual shirts; however, for women, it is a little more obvious. For women, the garment is often trimmed in lace.

To see if a person you know is Mormon, man or woman, look for an undergarment "line" stopping at or about the knee. If you see such a line, you are probably talking to a temple-worthy Mormon.

Young women in the Mormon faith who want to know if a Mormon man is worthy to marry them in the temple will often let their hands "accidentally" rest on the man's knee to see if they can feel the garment below. If it is not present, the dating might take a quick step back as the man has not yet established his worthiness to marry in the temple -- an all important step in Mormon culture. Men don't have the same advantage. In Mormon culture, men receive their garment shortly after receiving the ministering priesthood, before they go on two year missions for the church. This is at about the age of nineteen. Women normally receive their garment immediately before being married. As such, Mormon men have no excuse to touch the knees of their dates.

Of course, peer pressure can cause unworthy persons to go through the temple simply for the appearance of worthiness, so the garment is only a single step in determining another person's dedication to the faith. A person inquiring into the worthiness of a Mormon would typically consider other factors such as whether a person is from a family of actively attending members, whether the person has gone on a mission (both men and women can go on missions), what position of responsibility the member has held in the volunteer oriented church, whether they regularly read the scriptures or pray frequently, etc. Of course, with great scrutiny can also come great deception, so Mormons look upon these conditions as guide posts, not facts of worthiness and dedication.

Some call this screening activity the basis of a "Mormon Mafia" a humorous reference to a secret society of harmeless do-gooders. It is the functional equivalent of the Little Rascals Club Super Secret Code Word. It might get you in the club house, but after you are in, it is all cheese and crackers.

Of course, like any major movement, just because a person claims to be a Mormon and wears the garment doesn't mean that they are honorable or trustworthy. In fact, Mormons and Non-Mormons alike should be very cautious of those who are engaging in irregular behavior who are wearing the garment. If they can't live up to the covenant of their God and spouse, to what degree should they be fully trusted?

This, of course, is an oversimplification. Some men struggle with alcohol or tobacco addiction who have made the commitment to live at a higher level and are having a tough time staying away from old habits. Such addictive behavior is hardly a commentary on trustworthiness, but rather human frailty and imperfection; however, seeing a man or woman in a strip club is an entirely different matter as the covenants Mormons make deal directly with sexual purity. Sexual promiscuity is considered a major sin in the Mormon faith.

Seeing a person wearing garments should be a sign of trustworthiness, but it is not a guarantee. In other words, Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware).

Culture Lesson

To Non-Mormons the garment should never be used as a ego lesson to demean another person. For instance, in an argument, a person who would use the garment as a means to prove a point or win a battle of words is shallow and base. For instance, let's assume that you have had a disagreement with a general contractor who you know is Mormon and is wearing the garment. To say to him in heated discussion "I can't believe you would wear your holy garment and then lie to me to my face," is a pretty low blow. A difference of opinion or even a human frailty is common to all men -- including Mormons.

The garment and what it represents is between that man or woman and their God. Trying to use that to your advantage in a dispute or argument is a classless act. Even Mormons in the most heated disputes would not sink that low. Don't use your knowledge of the garment as a way to get leverage over Mormons. That would simply be improper. It doesn't mean that you can't challenge the person to do the "right thing." That works much better on Mormons as they are typically grilled by spiritual leaders to conduct themselves honorably in business and their personal lives.

Voyeurs Not Welcome

There are those who want to find out every little detail about the Mormon garment for mere voyeuristic curiosity. There is not a single website on the Internet sponsored or endorsed by the Church of Jesus Christ that exists that describes the garment in detail. The reason, of course, is that the garment and what it represents is sacred to Mormons. Of course, that won't stop thousands from satisfying their carnal desire to take a peak at unofficial, and often times slanderous, websites that demean and poke fun at the religious beliefs of Mormons. For those seeking such religious pornography, the information is there for the taking, though you might consider taking a shower after reading some of the articles.

The temple garment is unique to the Mormon faith and even within the faith. Children do not know the meaning of the garment until they go through the temple as adults. It is a rite of passage and in a perfect world, should be an expression of worthiness. The garment is rarely discussed, even in church settings among those who wear it. Those who are not familiar with the concepts underlying the garment should refrain from discussing it in detail out of respect for those who have made the commitments and hold the garment sacred.

One of the basic tenants of the Mormon faith is to respect and show tolerance for others and their beliefs. Mormons only ask the same in return.

[La Enchiladita]

I’m not going to “looky” at anything the likes of you pings me to. Do NOT ping me again.

[Elsie]

Ouch!!

[Elsie]

I just learned to use your play book from time to time.

Then you'll need your OWN list, too!

[Elsie]

[Choose Ye This Day]

You anti’s crack me up!

You’re so cute when you’re obsessed!

Carry on!

[Choose Ye This Day]

Please don’t ping me to Mormon-bashing threads.

I have more constructive things to do with my time.

[fproy2222]

I’m not going to “looky” at anything the likes of you pings me to. Do NOT ping me again.

+++++++++++++=

Sorry to offend you, I used an old “mitt” list because of the link to Mitt Romney in an earlier post on this thread.

I will not use the list again.

[fproy2222]

Sorry to offend you, I used an old “mitt” list because of the link to Mitt Romney in an earlier post on this thread.

I will not use the list again.

[Saundra Duffy]

“motivated by love”

That is the key. For some reason, the anti Mormons just can’t stop themselves from making fun of us and telling lies about our heart-felt beliefs. Again, Jesus Christ is my personal Savior who suffered and died to save me from my sins. This was Heavenly Father’s Plan and the Holy Ghost is my witness. For some strange reason, my confession of faith is not good enough for you and you still think I’m going to hell. What more is there to say?

When you imply or say Mormons are going to hell - that we are not Christians - it is going to cause us to be severely wounded because we love the Savior with all our hearts.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[meandog]

Perhaps one day the LDS will acquiesce, like its true Community of Christ brother (the church Joseph Smith intended), into the fold of mainline Christianity and, then, Mormonism will be a standard accepted practice.

[meandog]

What do you have against the Reformed Church of Latter Day Saints (i.e. Community of Christ).

[colorcountry]

You equate the Gospel of Jesus Christ with LDS Gospel don’t you?

So why don’t you say, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the LDS Church?

[Saundra Duffy]

“and, then, Mormonism will be a standard accepted practice.”

God forbid! We are a peculiar people. I just don’t like it when people say I’m going to hell because I don’t believe the way they do . . . which is apparently what you are saying. You are free to say it but I don’t have to like it. Again, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I am not ashamed of Him.

[Saundra Duffy]

I am not ashamed of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He died for me. My personal relationship with the Savior is actually none of you business.

[colorcountry]

You are correct, your personal relationship with Jesus Christ is none of my business.

What is your testimony of Joseph Smith?

[colorcountry]

If I have discovered Mormonisms claims to be a lie, as a Christian, what do you think I should do about it?

[Zakeet]

When you imply or say Mormons are going to hell - that we are not Christians - it is going to cause us to be severely wounded because we love the Savior with all our hearts.

Sorry to severely wound you further, but ...

Your own Mormon scriptures and Mormon prophets say Mormons are not Christian

Consider the following three points:

FIRST: MORMONISM REJECTS MANY ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES

I suggest you check out the article: We're Christians just like you! wherein the author presents a number of well-annotated examples.

If necessary, dozens of additional articles and illustrations can be found on this WEBSITE alone.

SECOND: THE MORMON CHURCH UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMNS CHRISTIANS AND CHRISTIANITY

Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century. – Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.167

The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God. – Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:171

Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute beast. – Prophet John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225

What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing ... Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God. – Prophet John Taylor, Journal of Discourses 13:225

And the angel of God said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. – Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:10-11

In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints "do not believe in the traditional Christ.”No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. – Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church News, June 20, 1998, p.7

If still not convinced, you can find many more similar quotes of Mormon leaders slamming Christians HERE and HERE.

THIRD: THE MORMON CHURCH ITSELF REJECTS CHRISTIANITY

Beginning with Joseph Smith, Mormon prophets have steadfastly proclaimed all Christian denominations were in a state of apostasy.

This raises an interesting question. A heretic is someone who rejects one or more doctrines of religion, but an apostate is someone who has rejected the religion entirely. How is it, exactly, that you can be something you have completely dismissed? How does that work?

[meandog]

God forbid! We are a peculiar people. I just don’t like it when people say I’m going to hell because I don’t believe the way they do . . . which is apparently what you are saying. You are free to say it but I don’t have to like it. Again, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I am not ashamed of Him.

Nope! Universalist here in believing that everyone makes it eventually (even Hitler and Sadaam) as hell more or less a prison instead of an eternal death chamber ... I'm just saying that the Community of Christ (the Reformed Church of Latter Day Saints) is more in line with standard mainstream Christianity. As you know, after Joseph Smith was lynched along with his brother Hyrum the succession of leadership in the early day LDS community was unresolved but there were many who believed the church should have gone to Smith's 11-year-old son after he came of age instead of the bigoted racist Brigham Young.

[Reaganesque]

Well, that’s one. Of course, BYU has a student body of nearly 7,000 students but I’m sure one is representative of that entire group. Additionally, the Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake’s liberal newspaper, has never, ever exaggerated the number liberals amongst the LDS or BYU students before. Naaaaah! What would you do without the Mormon church to hate?

[greyfoxx39]