Paabes

I wanted to reply to Lakumi's discussion regarding the spiritual versus the physical protection of the holy garment. The spiritual side is quite easy for many to see weather member or non-member. There are many religions that have a holy or sacred piece of clothing or cloth that they wear at times. Some will wear for particular prayers or ceremony or as we do in the LDS religion we wear them always with rare exceptions that are between the member and The Lord and this represents their personal commitment to follow the Savior Jesus Christ. The Physical seems to be a bit vague and there are many stories or reports of those who state that due to the wearing of the garment they were protected from physical harm, that is not church doctrine but I do not dispute anyone's claim to a happening of such. However the physical that this garment has as a protection becomes one of a physical reminder to the member of the covenants made. For example, it can become difficult to break one of the covenants we make in the temple if it requires us to remove that garment to do so. So this is one way in which a physical piece of clothing becomes an actual physical protection to our bodies and our spirits. I hope tis helps you understand a bit more and I would recommend that yo meet with current full time missionaries to discuss some of your other questions and then follow their council to pray to God the eternal father to know if the things they teach you are true. No matter the period of inactivity or the reason for said inactivity a person should never remove the garment unless instructed to do so by a priesthood leader. The priesthood leader may after an appropriate council require the member to remove the garment until such a period of time passes and the member can be reinstated into full activity but again beating the dead horse here, if the garment has been removed it should be returned and ANY member of the church who has been endowed may go to a distribution center and purchase a new pair of garments.