[I don't like wearing garments]

I don't have any problems wearing the garment.

However I use to wear the tshirt style type and one day i went

down to the local shopping mall thinking I had a tshirt on but it was just the garment.

I didn't realise until after about an hour of shopping.

I don't wear the tshirt style anymore.

[I don't like wearing garments]

The Temple Recommend questions and attending the Temple are quite clear about how we wear our garments. Yes they can be hot, and yes they may be visible through some material, but it's quite clear, we are not to alter them in any way, and once we go through the Temple we are to wear them, both pieces, intact, 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. There may be exceptions, of course, I'm thinking particularly when bathing, swimming, exercising, participating in sports. But just because you're hot, or don't want them to be seen through your clothes is no reason to not wear your garments. They are a testament to the covenants you make with the Lord in the Temple.

Here is what it saids about wearing temple garments in Handbook 1 Stake Presidents and Bishops since their seems to be some confusion over this.

3.4.5

Wearing and Caring for the Garment

Church members who have been clothed with the garment in a temple have taken upon themselves a covenant obligation to wear it according to the instructions given in the endowment. When issuing temple recommends, priesthood leaders should teach the importance of wearing the garment properly. Leaders also emphasize the blessings that are related to this sacred privilege. These blessings are conditioned on worthiness and faithfulness in keeping temple covenants.

The garment provides a constant reminder of the covenants made in a temple. When properly worn, it provides protection against temptation and evil. Wearing the garment is also an outward expression of an inward commitment to follow the Savior.

Endowed members should wear the temple garment both day and night. They should not remove it, either entirely or partially, to work in the yard or for other activities that can reasonably be done with the garment worn properly beneath the clothing. Nor should they remove it to lounge around the home in swimwear or immodest clothing. When they must remove the garment, such as for swimming, they should put it back on as soon as possible.

Members should not adjust the garment or wear it contrary to instructions in order to accommodate different styles of clothing. Nor should they alter the garment from its authorized design. When two-piece garments are used, both pieces should always be worn.

The garment is sacred and should be treated with respect at all times. Garments should be kept off the floor. They should also be kept clean and mended. After garments are washed, they should not be hung in public areas to dry. Nor should they be displayed or exposed to the view of people who do not understand their significance.

Members who have made covenants in the temple should be guided by the Holy Spirit to answer for themselves personal questions about wearing the garment.

[Depression and the Atonement]

Christ in testifying of himself read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted..." (Luke 4:18).

Elder Holland said, "I testify that the Savior’s Atonement lifts from us not only the burden of our sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows, our heartaches and our despair."

To paraphrase Steven R. Robinson, my problem and your problem is that we believe in Christ but we do not believe Christ. We believe that he is the Son of God, we believe in the atonement. But when he says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30), we do not believe him. We think this applies to other people or to ourselves in some far future date. We do not lay down the cares we have today at his feet. Instead, right after reading these words we pick up our bag of troubles and try and do it ourselves. We think these problems are ours to bear alone or that somehow we can do it alone. What a lie.

Even Nephi had problems, but did he take the burden upon himself? No. Instead, he "knew in whom [he] had trusted." For he said, "My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep." (2 Ne 4:20)

So, first we must believe the Savior when he says he can help us. We must realize that the promises in the scriptures are for me and you. Then we must turn to the Lord in prayer. Elder Bednar explains that we should ask for strength to bear our burdens, not necessarily for Christ to lift them. If we ask in this way he will enable us to bear them (see "In the Strength of the Lord" by David A. Bednar). Then we must do our best. Not someone else’s best, not in comparison to Mr. Jones down the street, but our best. No doubt we will fall, but when we do we must humble ourselves, and recommit to try our best again. Once we are baptized and under the covenant it is this commitment, it is this turning our hearts to God, that makes all the difference in the world.

We then will have the strength of ten (and even more) because we will be yoked with Christ. We alone, are weak and feeble, but joined with Christ we become much more than we ever could.

Will we be completely free from sorrow and depression? No. But, we will see the Lord's hand in our lives, day in and day out, lifting and strengthening us and over time we will find that what once caused us concern no more concerns us because we have grown. That to me summarizes the process.

Thanks James.

Appreciate the thought you have put into this and i agree whole heartily

My question to you is do you feel that this is being taught most Sunday's? My original post was that there seems to be a lot of depression in our ward. Im sure if everyone read your post they would feel alot better but im wondering if their just hearing "You have 3 days before the month ends go out and do your home/visiting teaching".

Perhaps in the doing, the why has been lost.

[Depression and the Atonement]

All the answers have been good and very true so far, however I'll bring up one thing that I notice. We bring up works too much and grace too little. Don't get me wrong here, I understand the concepts, but when someone is constantly told to perfect themselves and then are not reminded that Gods Grace (through Christs atonement) will cover what we can't, it does tend to wear on some people.

Thanks, i think thats true.

[Depression and the Atonement]

I have been listening to messages, testimonies, lessons etc over the last few months paying particular attention to what i call the undercurrent of the message or in other words how a person may feel or receive the message.

Here is an example. We have a particular elderly member who gets up every month during testimony meeting and saids. We should all be going to the temple more often. Im sure this is not unfamiliar in alot of wards.

Im wondering if people hearing this are sitting their thinking

1. his right i need to go to the temple more

or 2. Im a failure for not going to the temple enough.

there is a big difference in how an individual mentally process the above statement.

One sunday i took the time to listen to all the, We should's, we need to be, we could be doing better at, have you done invitations through the 3 hr block and they really added up.

I could easily see how a person could feel overwhelmed and depressed.

[Depression and the Atonement]

I serve on the bishopric in my ward and have the opportunity to speak to a number of people.

I have noticed over a period now how many members are suffering or receiving counselling for depression ( and it's alot ) and I'm not just referring to sisters although I get the impression the sisters are more active in seeking help but the brethren tend to suffer in silence.

The numbers are alarming especially when you start looking at the fact that the gosple is the Plan of Happiness. Sometimes I feel people leave church on a Sunday more heavier, more burdened, more to do and less uplifted. I really hate sitting on the stand and looking into the faces of the congregation alot of people look sad ( I'm glad investigators don't sit on stands )

Is this normal? Or does our ward need a major adjustment. I wonder where the atonement fits into all of this. Some people I know have been getting counselling for years and years. There was a time when people would say yes I would love to serve. Now I get maybe, let me think about it, and sometimes just no. Is all this normal? Do LDS members suffer from depression more than other people and if so why? I guess I'm trying to figure out if this is a local problem or a much broader issue.

[I think your sitting on the wrong side]

Thanks for the advice everyone... Looks like I have a little more reading to do and alot more learning.

[I think your sitting on the wrong side]

Married 14 years, I have read the book but probably wouldn't hurt for me to read again.

Thanks for the tip

[I think your sitting on the wrong side]

I have tired, she normally apologies but then slips back into the same patterns. If I bring it up too much it causes contention.

[I think your sitting on the wrong side]

Sometimes when my wife and I go to the temple I think to myself your sitting on the wrong side. Often around the home I feel my opinions are over ruled or just not valued. Often decisions are made that I didn know about. Sometimes I have made suggestions about things and later a conference speaker may make a similar suggestion and only then will she notice.

Is this normal? I don't really subscribe to the I'm the head of the home so u need to listen to me thing. But it would be nice to have a little more respect and understanding.