Bill & RFM take a look at Mormonism’s Holy Garments. We look at the history, doctrine, and disavowed theories and spiritual speculation around them. Are they a magical spiritual protection? Were they allowed to have their design changed? Must they be worn all day every day? What super secret sacred details will Bill and RFM uncover?
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Love this Episode. My husband and I also still like wearing our garments most of the time as post-Mormons. They are just comfortable and practical for us, especially in the colder months. Not so much summer, for me.
If you ever hear about non-Mormon garments, let us know, ha ha! Thx guys!!
In early 1970’s whenever I went to the temple, we had to change out of our “street garments” and wear “temple garments” which had the tie strings instead of buttons. I forgot about that until I was listening to this.
Loved this episode! I have hated garments since I saw my parents wearing them around the house when I was a child. I hated having to wear them as a TBM. Now I am free of them and wear what I want. While my husband is still TBM, he has never said one word to me when I went from garments to cute, matching bras and panties. lol
Thanks for all your hard work on our behalf.
I came across this article that has been very helpful with TBM family and friends.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gWLp61Z7VKEf6j7l75_e7mdAYbYSf1hB/view
This was an interesting and entertaining piece, thank you all for your efforts.
With all the updating of various policies and practices by the church, I guess I’m a little surprised, but I’m not, that they wouldn’t update the garments in the 21st century. If they only serve as a reminder of covenants, it seems to me they could choose a much simpler method. Orthodox Jews wear yarmulkes, Christians often wear crosses on a necklace, etc. Why not just fashion the signs from the garments on a simple pendant that could be worn on a necklace? It wouldn’t even need to be seen by others, with the right clothing.
My point is, if garments only serve as a reminder, then they should be optional for those members who are intelligent, devoted, have good memories and critical thinking skills. Sometimes I need reminders in my life regarding my weekly calendar and other appointments and tasks, but I would never consider myself someone who needs reminders of what should be such an important aspect of my being – covenants with God.
No, I think garments are more about control and influence over church members rather than providing a way to remind them of their beliefs.
I think you may have forgotten some required reading on the subject which is Mysteries of Godliness, the history of Mormon temple worship. There’s quite a bit more about garments then was covered in your recent show
As a missionary in Germany in the mid 90s, I worked mostly with US military members who had been in Iraq as part of Desert Storm. The garment story told to me by a military member was that during the war, the US military noticed a large amount of LDS members were being killed by Iraqi snipers. They determined the cause was that the white undergarments showed up on the night vision scopes used by the snipers, making them easy targets. They immediately worked with SLC to change over to drab olive garments, and this is the reason for special military garments (which have now been discontinued).
My grandmother made garments for other people at her kitchen table. She rarely went to church, We had the string tie garments in the Temple in 1960. Many of the elders in Finland (they were from Canada). Had thermal long johns on which their mothers put on the markings. JC Penny sold the LDS garment in the yard goods dept. in Tucson. Of course a temple worthy sister handled the sales. It was always a “ hush hush “affair. Most old members in my youth wore the original garments to the knees and ankles and with ties Think of that in summer in Arizona!
Temple garments were sold in the JC Pennys Company in Douglas, AZ, where my mother purchased them. There was a Catholic convent in this little town and the sisters were purchasing them for themselves which came to the attention of Church officials.