"Magic Mormon Underwear"

[Jim108]

OK the use of the word "magic" is offensive and your friend was just trying to push your buttons. I respect your tradition, but I do not understand something. I believe in Jesus. I know that He will protect me from evil. Why do you need the underwear? He will protect you too, right.

[miztrniceguy]

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours"

[the Ogre]

OK the use of the word "magic" is offensive and your friend was just trying to push your buttons. I respect your tradition, but I do not understand something. I believe in Jesus. I know that He will protect me from evil. Why do you need the underwear? He will protect you too, right.

Protection has nothing to do with it. "Protection" is only a myth (though, I have faith that that myth is true).

The garments reaffirm sacred covenants made in the temple. Plain and simple.

[Hemidakota]

Explain that 1) they are not magic. 2) just as some Jews, Catholic priests and nuns, and some Protestant pastors wear special outer garments to set them apart from the world, we wear our holy garment under our clothing, so as to be a personal and private reflection of our faith. It reminds us to be holy and devoted to God.

To append to what Ram has stated, from Doctor Daniel H. Ludlow, Encyclopedia of Mormonism Volume 4:

Garments

The word "garment" has distinctive meanings to Latter-day Saints. The white undergarment worn by those members who have received the ordinance of the temple Endowment is a ceremonial one. All adults who enter the temple are required to wear it. In LDS temples, men and women who receive priesthood ordinances wear this undergarment and other priestly robes. The garment is worn at all times, but the robes are worn only in the temple. Having made covenants of righteousness, the members wear the garment under their regular clothing for the rest of their lives, day and night, partially to remind them of the sacred covenants they have made with God.

The white garment symbolizes purity and helps assure modesty, respect for the attributes of God, and, to the degree it is honored, a token of what Paul regarded as taking upon one the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13; cf. D&C 27:15). It is an outward expression of an inward covenant, and symbolizes Christlike attributes in one's mission in life. Garments bear several simple marks of orientation toward the gospel principles of obedience, truth, life, and discipleship in Christ.

An agency of the Church manufactures these garments in contemporary, comfortable, and lightweight fabrics. They are available for purchase through Church distribution centers.

Scripture, as well as legends from many lands and cultures, points toward the significance of sacral clothing. A biblical tradition teaches that Adam and Eve, prior to their expulsion from Eden, wore sacred clothing. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21). These were given in a context of repentance and forgiveness, and of offering sacrifice and making covenants.

In antiquity, priestly vestments were part of widespread tradition. The Targums (Aramaic paraphrases of the Old Testament) teach that these garments were "precious garments" or "glorious garments" or "garments of honor." Rabbi Eleazer called them "coats of glory." A rabbinic source asks: "And what were those garments?" The answer is, "The vestments of the High Priesthood, with which the Almighty clothed them because Adam was the world's first-born" (Kasher, Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation, Vol. 1, p. 137). In Moses' time those who officiated in the Tabernacle wore a certain kind of garment: "And [Moses] put upon [Aaron] the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith" (Lev. 8:7; see Testament of Levi 8). Latter-day Saints similarly wear temple garments in connection with their priesthood functions.

The clergy and many of the committed in almost all major faiths wear special clothing. For Latter-day Saints, among whom there is no professional ministry, men and women from all walks of life share in the callings, responsibilities, and blessings of the priesthood. Their sacred clothing, representing covenants with God, is worn under rather than outside their street clothes.

In a Messianic passage Isaiah declared: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isa. 61:10). In the current dispensation, the principle has been reaffirmed in prophetic idiom: "Zion must increase in beauty,Â…and put on her beautiful garments" (D&C 82:14). Latter-day Saints believe that all such clothing is symbolic of the submission, sanctification, and spotless purity of those who desire to serve God and Christ and ultimately regain their eternal presence (D&C 61:34; 135:5).

Bibliography

Nibley, Hugh W. Sacred Vestments, 38 pages. Provo, Utah, 1984.

Packer, Boyd K. The Holy Temple. Salt Lake City, 1980.

EVELYN T. MARSHALL

[Jim108]

Protection has nothing to do with it. "Protection" is only a myth (though, I have faith that that myth is true).

The garments reaffirm sacred covenants made in the temple. Plain and simple.

Thanks, I did not know that. See what kind of stupid things us nonmormons think. I am not sure where I picked that up.

[the Ogre]

Thanks, I did not know that. See what kind of stupid things us nonmormons think. I am not sure where I picked that up.

Don't call yourself a non-Mormon. I'm not a Mormon either, I'm a Latter-day Saint, however the appellation is unimportant. Potted plants are non-Mormons, but I don't spend time chatting them up on line. Who you are is more important and of the most value to me is the content and intention of what you are saying.

By now you are a vested part of the community (thus the stab on the other thread . . . I'm just as nice in person). Some social scientists (dirty anthropologists) would say you qualify for the term "mormon" as much as do I with your 200+ posts.

"Welcome to the village," I, the village bridge-terrorist, say.

[beefche]

"Welcome to the village," I, the village bridge-terrorist, say.

Who is the village idiot? And doesn't it take a village to raise a child? So, who is the child?

[Dravin]

Who is the village idiot? And doesn't it take a village to raise a child? So, who is the child?

They could be the same, its more economical to do it that way.

[the Ogre]

They could be the same, its more economical to do it that way.

I tell my kids all the time that all kids are idiots.

Yeah, they love me.

[Dravin]

I tell my kids all the time that all kids are idiots.

Yeah, they love me.

You don't have an extreme love of Jello Pudding do you?

[the Ogre]

You don't have an extreme love of Jello Pudding do you?

I do, but I never buy it. My 18 year old still eats the stuff straight from the box. I'll see him later on with brown powder on his earlobes and he'll be like: "what."

[YoungMormonRoyalist]

Ask them if they would make fun of a Jew's Yarmulke.

Or a Sikh's garmets (yes, they have them to represent chastity)

Or a Muslim's turban, etc.

We just wear our special clothing under everything else.

[rameumptom]

OK the use of the word "magic" is offensive and your friend was just trying to push your buttons. I respect your tradition, but I do not understand something. I believe in Jesus. I know that He will protect me from evil. Why do you need the underwear? He will protect you too, right.

It isn't for protection. It is as a personal reminder of our being set apart from the world. Do you wear a cross or other religious symbol? Why? Is it for a magical purpose, or is it as a reminder of your personal faith in Christ? Our wearing an undergarment reminds us especially of chastity, virtue and purity. I think there's much value in anything that reminds us of the covenants we've made with Jesus, be it a cross, a nun's habit, or a Mormon's garment.

[rameumptom]

I tell my kids all the time that all kids are idiots.

Yeah, they love me.

They are NOT idiots. They are large bundles of hormonal dynamite. The hormones literally thrash the neocortex of the brain (the thinking part), rearranging the neuron pathways to prepare them for adulthood.

Sadly, the result is they appear to be complete idiots.

[Jim108]

It isn't for protection. It is as a personal reminder of our being set apart from the world. Do you wear a cross or other religious symbol? Why? Is it for a magical purpose, or is it as a reminder of your personal faith in Christ? Our wearing an undergarment reminds us especially of chastity, virtue and purity. I think there's much value in anything that reminds us of the covenants we've made with Jesus, be it a cross, a nun's habit, or a Mormon's garment.

I don't wear anything like a cross or the like. Jesus lives inside of me and is with me every moment of every day. Jesus in me will remind me enough.

[Faded]

He will protect you too, right.

There is a certain amount of resemblance in thought to wearing a Cross around your neck or placing your hand on the Bible while swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There's a certain mystique that the cross will protect you from evil and that the Holy Bible will keep you from telling lies. There are stories with regard to both of those where they protected or seemed to protect people. Likewise, there are stories where the temple garment protected or seemed to protect people. These stories are very nice, but they do perpetuate the myth of "magical protection" just like the Cross and the Bible.

The Bible is useless if you don't read it. Holding up a Bible is not going to magically protect you from death, disease or disaster. The cross is only as useful as the meaning it holds in the hearts of those who wear it or see it. The Temple Garment is only meaningful and useful insofar as it reminds the wearer of the covenants they have made to dedicate their life to God. The fact that wearing it prevents a person from dressing in an inappropriate and immoral manner is a nice bonus, but it's not the main point.

[beefche]

To answer the OP in seriousness, I have had a couple of people approach me in such a manner. In particular, I remember one who commented on my bridal gift purchase at Victoria's Secret, "Why are you buying that? You can't wear it with your special underwear!" Of course, this made the women I was showing my purchase to start asking questions. I simply stated that of course I could wear such negliges as there are certain times when I don't have to wear my garments--marital relations, bathing, swimming, etc. I also stated that I prefer not to talk about my underwear with anyone. That got a laugh. Later, one of the women asked me in private about my garments which allowed me to explain the reason and my beliefs. She accepted it and it wasn't a problem.

Typically, teens are cruder and louder and won't let things go. If I had a teen ask me how to respond, I honestly would say to use humor. These kids don't want to know the truth. They want an opportunity to be loud and obnoxious. So, if the question is about magic underwear, I would advise to ask "Do you always ask people about their underwear?" and then just calmly walk away. If any of the tormentors wanted to know the real truth, then he/she would approach you in a more private setting or at least more rationally to ask. Then you can simply tell them what they are.

[Just_A_Guy]

Don't call yourself a non-Mormon. I'm not a Mormon either, I'm a Latter-day Saint, however the appellation is unimportant. Potted plants are non-Mormons, but I don't spend time chatting them up on line. Who you are is more important and of the most value to me is the content and intention of what you are saying.

A professor of mine used to teach at the BYU law school and was frequently referred to as the "non-Mormon professor". She finally told her dean, "You can call me a non-Mormon if I can call you a non-female".

[ReubenDunn]

How do I respond to friends at school asking "Is it true that you mormons wear magic underwear that you think is offensive to talk about?" I know they do it for a reaction, but I don't have a good response to that. It comes up more often than you'd think, and I don't really want to talk about it. I usually try to change the subject, but it hardly ever works... they pry and pry sometimes... Any advice?

I knew a missionary who, when asked by a total stranger while standing in line in a bank, about his "funny underwear", said in a loud voice;

"What kind of person would ask a total stranger about his underwear?"

The bank got kind of silent, and the matter was dropped.

[the Ogre]

I knew a missionary who, when asked by a total stranger while standing in line in a bank, about his "funny underwear", said in a loud voice;

"What kind of person would ask a total stranger about his underwear?"

The bank got kind of silent, and the matter was dropped.

Oi, what a great idea. I'll use it.

[lilered]

There is a big difference between Magic and Sacred.

[Dravin]

There is a big difference between Magic and Sacred.

I'll say.

[azaware]

A few things you can say. Laugh at them for being so stupid to think anything could be magic. Magic underwear I guess you believe in Santa too. Something like, you have to be pretty rich to afford them or they cost way more then anything you can afford or buy. Try to buy some.