My Mormon Underwear

I’ve wanted to write about the Mormon garment. I don’t call them my Mormon underwear or  magic underwear. That’s a derogatory term used by those who wish to ridicule Mormons who have made sacred covenants that include wearing a sacred garment.

In fact, I find it inappropriate to talk about anyone’s underwear, sacred or skimpy or sexy or simply not there. Underwear is private, no matter what your faith or non-faith. Well, it used to be, before our society lost its moral compass. But since some people seem to be rude about this, I felt it necessary to share my side of the story.

Yes, I wear my garments. That’s what we call them. We  really don’t call them underwear. There are different styles and sizes and fabrics; tops and bottoms. I can choose tight-fit or loose-fit; but all the bottoms go to the knee and tops have a slight cap-sleeve for women. Men’s tops can be scooped-neck or crew-neck; bottoms are boxer-like or tighter. In fact, they don’t look that strange today.

My sister-in-law, not a member of the church, saw mine and wanted some. One time, my daughter was visiting family (non Mormons) and left a top there. Her cute auntie called to her tell she left her “white top”, and she hoped it was OK that she wore it one day! She had no idea it was part of the Mormon garment.

Can we take them off to bath and workout and be intimate — of course. Do I have other sexy undies for fun in my married life — of course.

There are several reasons why we wear sacred garments. There is a long history of the wearing of a garment, beginning with Adam and Eve who were dismissed from the easy and blissful life of the garden, and relegated to this telestial earth, overrun with thorns, thistles, and noxious weeds.
Our first parents were given coats of skin to cover their nakedness, as a protection, while continuing their sojourn here upon the earth. According to ancient tradition, the garment “of light” (miss-translated as the coat of many colors) was passed on, from father to son, down to Noah.

Adam and Eve with fur garments

 

There are other forms of clothing that represents or reminds the owner of promises. Through the ages, there have been clothing used for special achievements — robes with pretty silly looking hats at graduation from college. Grads in the past have kept the tassel and hung it on their rear view mirror or other fixtures.

Others of faith have worn special clothing or accessories — For example: men and women wear crosses as a sign and reminder of their promises to Christ; priests wear collars and robes; rabbis may wear special clothing depending on their orthodoxy.  The Jewish prayer shawl, called a tallit is a special clothing, as is the kippah or yarmulke, covering the head. Veils for women are common in many faiths and marriage ceremonies.

Mormons that have been to the temple have made covenants to live righteous lives, much in line with keeping the ten commandments. To be clothed in a garment as part of this covenant reflects the ancient temple ceremonies. It is a reminder to me each day, to live faithfully, to love my neighbor as myself, to follow the commandments and be faithful to my spouse, to give to the poor and not hoard my wealth. I put aside the old man of sin (or wo-man, as the case may be), and put on Christ. The garment is the symbol of this covenant–that I carry with me. Some may wear a cross to remind them. It’s not that weird. We can respect each other’s faith.

Mormons do not wear their garments for others to see. It is just between me and my God. Mormons who serve in the military wear LDS garments that are the same color as military issue, so as not to stand out, but to keep these important reminders sacred.

When Joseph Smith restored this ancient custom for our day, he included women. Both men and women enter the temple to receive these ancient blessings:

The Lord commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle (the temple in the wilderness)–

And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

 Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. (Exodus 40)

Hugh Nibley relates the writings of Cyril of Jerusalem who wrote of being clothed in white linen after baptism.

“As Christ after his baptism . . . went forth to confront the Adversary, so you after your holy baptism and mystic anointing [the washing and anointing] were clothed in the armor of the Holy Ghost [a protective garment], to stand against the opposing . . . power. Having put off the old man’s garment of sorrow, you now celebrate as you put on the garment of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been baptized in Christ and having put on Christ (cf. Galatians 3:2713) Cyril continues, “After you have put off the old garments and put on those of spiritual white, you should keep them always thus spotless white.” Nibley

The Testament of Levi from the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs:

Levi goes to Beit-el, where he says, “And I saw seven men, clothed in white, who said to me, arise and put on the garment (endusai). Each of the seven angels, the seven men in white, as he placed an item of clothing upon Levi, said: From this time, thou art a high priest of the Lord, thou and thy seed after thee, for all eternity. The first anointed me with holy oil and gave me the staff of judgment. The second washed me with pure water and gave me bread and wine in the Holy of Holies, and placed upon me the holy and glorious garment [the leather stole, the protective garment]. The third placed about me a linen robe like an ephod. Hugh Nibley “SacredVestments.”