Garments and nonmembers

[Guest saintish]

for those who are endowed members, how do you explain garments to nonmembers?

how would you respond if someone said: "I dont understand why G_d would ask you to wear special underwear" or " why does G_d care what kind of underwear you wear?"

[Vort]

for those who are endowed members, how do you explain garments to nonmembers?

how would you respond if someone said: "I dont understand why G_d would ask you to wear special underwear" or " why does G_d care what kind of underwear you wear?"

If he were anything less than a good friend, I would probably respond by saying, "Why are you asking me about my underwear? That's kinda creepy." (I have actually done this before, to an antiMormon who thought he would embarrass me. Didn't quite work out that way.)

For a good friend, I would simply explain, "The garment is a reminder of the covenants I have made with God. It's under my clothing because my covenants are personal, not something I parade around, but they are very intimate to me. The garment functions as a sort of spiritual shield and protection, constantly reminding me of the promises I have made to God and what he has promised me."

[Guest saintish]

Thanks for your response, How would you respond if they were to say: "why do you need to wear underwear to remind you of covenants, you dont wear anything special to remind you of baptismal covenants"

[Vort]

Thanks for your response, How would you respond if they were to say: "why do you need to wear underwear to remind you of covenants, you dont wear anything special to remind you of baptismal covenants"

It would seem unusual to me if they were to keep pressing the point. If I sensed hostility or an argumentative agenda, I would simply stop responding altogether, saying something like, "I see we have different views on this, so I'll just bow out of the conversation."

If they were sincere, I would continue to explain to them what they don't understand. That we "don't wear anything special" to remind ourselves of our baptismal covenants is not relevant. We do take the sacrament every week for that purpose, but the fact is that God has given us the blessing of the garment as part of our temple covenant with him. God sees it as necessary and desirable, whether or not we share that vision.

[KrazyKay]

If he were anything less than a good friend, I would probably respond by saying, "Why are you asking me about my underwear? That's kinda creepy." (I have actually done this before, to an antiMormon who thought he would embarrass me. Didn't quite work out that way.)"

I love that response.

I have never had anyone in the real world rather than online ask me about my garments. But if I had someone I didn't know that well, I think I'll respond the same as Vort above. But if it is someone I know well, then I would explain that it is a sacred reminder of the higher covenants I made in the temple with our Heavenly Father.

[Guest saintish]

Great responses! I have know a few people who have not been argumentative per say but have had a hard time understanding the concept of garments, it usually boils down to why they must be worn constantly as opposed to on sundays or while at the temple etc. or that they "look funny" they usually have accepted that they are a symbol or reminder of covenants.

[applepansy]

Some people wear special clothes on the outside to show their commitment to the commandments of God. Mormons just where them underneath.

[Backroads]

Some people wear special clothes on the outside to show their commitment to the commandments of God. Mormons just where them underneath.

We are hardly the first religion to be wearing special clothes--even undergarments.

[Tyler90AZ]

Same reason people wear crosses on their necks to represent their beliefs.

[Jennarator]

Love these answers. Now, I want someone to ask me. Darn, I live in IDaho, not going to happen any time soon.....

[KrazyKay]

Love these answers. Now, I want someone to ask me. Darn, I live in IDaho, not going to happen any time soon.....

I live in east Texas, about an hour north of Houston, and I have never had anyone ask me about garments, lol.

[Jennarator]

I live in east Texas, about an hour north of Houston, and I have never had anyone ask me about garments, lol.

Yeah, I grew up in San Diego, just moved here in 2009. Only time anyone really asked was on my mission in Florida.....

[Vort]

Love these answers. Now, I want someone to ask me. Darn, I live in IDaho, not going to happen any time soon.....

Poor Jennarator, desperately wishing that strangers would inquire about her underwear.

[LDSJewess]

I agree with Vort. My first response would be why do you want to know about my underwear.

But if a closer friend that you want to give an answer of sorts still can be brief. I think some people are just curious because they are worn under clothing and not seen. So they want to "know the big secret." Rather than going into a religious lesson on garments that they would likely not understand; perhpas it is suffice to simply say that just like a Christian wearing a Cross or a Jew wearing tallit and yarmulke, Latter Day Saints wear garments of a reminder of their covenant with God and a symbol of their faith. When asked why it is secret, perhaps just tell them they are NOT secret, rather they are private (as are all underwear), unless you are a Victoria's Secret model LOL. And there is a difference between secret and sacred. Hope this helps.

[Iggy]

Paid clergy, such as Catholic Priests have sacred garments that they wear during certain rituals that distinguish them as clergy. It just happens that these sacred garments are worn on the outside.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are in a sense, Lay clergy. We don't have a paid clergy. Endowed LDS members have sacred garments also - only we wear ours under our street clothes as instructed by Christ.

In my way of thinking, because our faith is a Restoration of Christ's original Church, then the wearing of the garments is also a restoration of what was done in Christ's original church. Every thing we do: Baptism, giving the gift of the Holy Ghost, partaking of the Sacrament, Temple Endowments, Proxy work ~ have all been restored to us too.

[skippy740]

You wanna know about garments?

Psst... they're MAGIC! Yep!

You wanna know HOW they're "magic"?

You know how when you were a kid, you'd tie a string around your finger or your wrist so you wouldn't forget something?

It's the same thing! It's like MAGIC! I remember the things I promise God that I would do and NOT do - just like the string around my finger!

Told you it was magic! :)

[Vort]

But if a closer friend that you want to give an answer of sorts still can be brief.

So to speak. Ba dum bum.

[Blackmarch]

generally my responses to mormon underwear questions usually go along this line;

WHy are you so interested in my underwear? .... and who the heck told you they were magic?

Thanks for your response, How would you respond if they were to say: "why do you need to wear underwear to remind you of covenants, you dont wear anything special to remind you of baptismal covenants"

I'd reply"different covenents involve different things" Edited June 2, 2011 by Blackmarch

[Backroads]

So many good answers...

I like to think that most people are simply curious and it'd possibly backfire to be rude. I'd probably be a little more humerous if I sensed antogonism, though.

[MorningStar]

I've only been asked about them very respectfully by close friends. I just explain that they are reminders of covenants we made and we choose to wear them under our clothes rather than have special clothing that everyone can see.

[Jamie123]

I knew a fella once - a recent convert to Mormonism - who flew into the most terrible rage when I said something to him about temple underware. He accused me of all sorts of crazy stuff. He said I it was people like me who had been responsible for murdering Joseph Smith.

In some ways I was rather impressed: He clearly felt very deeply about his beliefs - even though he defended them in such a goofy manner. I eventually calmed him down, and he gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon to read (though I actually already had one).

When I talked to him again about a month later I was somewhat less impressed. He'd pretty much abandoned the Church and was now living with his non-member girlfriend.

Rather a sad story, really...

[Blackmarch]

So many good answers...

I like to think that most people are simply curious and it'd possibly backfire to be rude. I'd probably be a little more humerous if I sensed antogonism, though.

in my experience the people that have asked me about have started hounding (rather rudely) after an answer such as "I can't talk about it" or "It's part of the promises i've made with god", doesnt satisfy them... and generally they are ones i know who have a history of being hypocrisy.

[Guest saintish]

I knew a fella once - a recent convert to Mormonism - who flew into the most terrible rage when I said something to him about temple underware. He accused me of all sorts of crazy stuff. He said I it was people like me who had been responsible for murdering Joseph Smith.

In some ways I was rather impressed: He clearly felt very deeply about his beliefs - even though he defended them in such a goofy manner. I eventually calmed him down, and he gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon to read (though I actually already had one).

When I talked to him again about a month later I was somewhat less impressed. He'd pretty much abandoned the Church and was now living with his non-member girlfriend.

Rather a sad story, really...

WOW! that is pretty crazy. Its unfortunate that there are some new members who never learn about the garments, and even some like this fellow it seems, that think it is a product of anti-mormon propaganda.

I know I embrased the idea of garments when i first found out about it, i thought it was awesome that LDS had their own type of religious clothing like the jews and other religions have. My wife on the other hand hated the idea of having to wear the same type of underware every day (she is very brand concious and hate anything that makes her different from the mainstream) some adjust easier than others i suppose.

[MeaganSmith]

I'm not a member. I was told that it was a reminder of the covenant between the person who wears them and God. That reminder helps people who are LDS live their lives. I realize that it's a little deeper than that, but that explanation is good. I and others have made covenants with God and we all have reminders like crosses we wear, practices we engage in and etc. I've made a personal connection between my life and the life of those who wear the garments. It makes it less mysterious or foreign to me. I understand it. I respect it. I don't need to ask anymore questions or make fun of it or whatever.

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

Thanks for your response, How would you respond if they were to say: "why do you need to wear underwear to remind you of covenants, you dont wear anything special to remind you of baptismal covenants"

My response is similar to Vort's...only I use the example of wedding rings that many married couples wear as a reminder of their covenants and a show of their commitment to each other. No one has ever pushed the conversation beyond this point. I would seriously wonder about their intentions if they did (in other words they are likely just trying to be arguementative.)