Unusual Underwear on Peculiar People

In 1 Peter 2:9 it says, “But, ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people…” Mormons believe that they are this ‘chosen generation’ spoken of in the bible. And, Mormons often are referred to as a ‘peculiar people’ for good reasons. Typically, Mormons wear this title as a badge of honor. In their eyes, they are surely God’s chosen people so it’s all right that they are strange and atypical; being in the world, but not of it. However, nothing is more peculiar about the Mormons than their underwear; except for, maybe, the reasons they wear this unusual underwear in the first place.

The initiatory ceremony is the first ritual done in the LDS temple. It is literally an initiation into the greater secrets of the Mormon Church. By going through the temple in general, you are being initiated into a deeper, holier level of Mormonism. During this initiatory ritual, you are washed and anointed, ‘initiated’, so that you can wear the special protective underwear called ‘the holy garment’.

Garments are sometimes simply referred to as ‘G’s’. Other nicknames for ‘the garment’ are ‘polygamy panties’, ‘magical underwear’, ‘fire suit’, and ‘bulletproof undies’. The reason it is sometimes referred to as ‘polygamy panties’ is that the original purpose of wearing ‘the garment’ was to remind Joseph and the other ‘brethren in the priesthood’ of their sacred oaths of secrecy regarding plural marriage, or the doctrine of polygamy. The name ‘fire suit’ reminds you that if you are wearing this underwear faithfully then you will not be burned at Jesus Christ’s second coming. ‘Bulletproof undies’ comes from the idea that the garments are literally a protection, a shield, and armor against physical harm. There are many Mormons who have stories about their garments supposedly, miraculously, saving their lives, another reason why they have earned the name of ‘magical underwear’! The belief in ‘magical underwear’ shows the superstition pertaining to this thin, white, see through layer of clothing. Fear is the result of superstitious beliefs.

From the early 1840’s, when ‘the garment’ was first introduced, through the 1970’s, garments were all one piece. Since the women were not originally intended to be a part of the endowment ceremony, once they were admitted into this ritual, and holy rite of passage, they were required to wear the same fashion of garments as the men in the temple ceremonies until 1975! ‘The garment’ was all one piece, like a jump suit, with a collar around the neck, and strings tying it together, keeping it fastened in the front. It extended all the way down to the ankles and all the way down to the wrists with holes at the crotch so you wouldn’t need to take them off to do your business; any kind of genital, bodily business. How convenient! Pioneer women as early as the 1890’s tried to get the church to make garments specifically for women, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

In 1916, women were once again trying to get the approval from the church for garments that fit properly on a woman’s body. Some women had been altering the garment to fit them better, but that was viewed as defiling, and damaging, ‘the garment’. The women's answer to this request at this time in history came in a statement from the Prophet Joseph F. Smith saying, “The garments worn by those who receive endowments must be white and of the approved pattern. They must not be altered and mutilated and are to be worn as intended, down to the wrist and ankle, and around the neck. Admission to the temple will be refused those who do not comply with these requirements. The Saints should know that the pattern of endowment garments was revealed from heaven, and the blessings promised in connection with wearing them will not be realized if any unauthorized change is made in their form or in the manner of wearing them.” (President of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, Improvement Era 9:812, 28 June 1916) So, their answer from the first presidency of the church was a resounding “NO!”

In 1923, the first presidency allowed a few modifications to ‘the garment’. They shortened the sleeves from the wrist to the elbow, shortened the pant legs from the ankle to just below the knee, allowed buttons instead of strings to hold it together, eliminated the collar, and at last closed up the crotch! Many years later, the sleeves were shortened from the elbow to the just below the shoulder, where it remains today. Also, the pant legs length went from just below the knees to just above the knees where it remains today. I remember seeing my parents wearing the one-piece, long legged, long sleeved jump suit style of the garment and thinking to myself, “No way in Hell will I ever wear that as my underwear!” Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, by the time I went through the temple many changes had been made to the ceremonies and to the garments.

Men and women actually wore the exact same style of garments as their underwear until 1965. That is the year the endowed women in the church finally received what they had been asking for, for nearly a century, a design that fit better, and was more comfortable and compatible, with a woman’s body. Women did not have a top that specifically accommodated breasts until 1965?! That is crazy! Although they still had to wear the men’s style of garment while attending the temple for ten more years, they could wear the other more comfortable fashion during their everyday activities which was a welcomed change for sure! However, ‘the garment’ was still all one piece like a jump suit until around 1980 when the two piece option finally became available. Two pieces, a top and a bottom, shorter sleeves, shorter leg lengths, and modifications specifically for housing boobs were splendid changes from the baggie old men’s design no doubt about it!

 

Garments have special markings in them over the breasts. The right breast has the mark of the square sewn onto the garment representing the ‘justice and fairness of God’. The left breast has the mark of the compass sewn on it. The compass symbolizes Polaris, the North Star. This emblem, like the star, is supposed to guide us on an undeviating course to eternal life. It is the same compass and square symbols that you find in Freemasonry that are on the Mormon breasts. There are two more markings on the garments, a line over the naval and a line above the right knee. The line over the naval is a reminder to keep ALL ‘our appetites and passions within the boundaries the Lord has set’, while the line over the knee reminds us that ‘every knee shall bend and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ’, maxim’s you hear inside the temple.

          Why do Mormons need to have ‘the garment’ on in the first place? What is so significant about wearing this unconventional underwear? Gordon B. Hinckley, in a letter from the first presidency on October 10^th, 1988 proclaimed, “Church members who have been clothed with the garment in the temple have made a covenant to wear it throughout their lives. This has been interpreted to mean that it is worn both day and night. The promise of protection and blessings is conditioned upon worthiness and faithfulness in keeping the covenant. Members of the church wear the garment as a reminder of the sacred covenants they have made with the Lord and also as a protection against temptation and evil. How it is worn is an outward expression of an inward commitment to follow the Savior.” Follow the Savior? I am fairly certain Jesus never wore anything akin to ‘the garment’ in his day. Yet, this is why Mormons wear this unusual underwear. Most importantly, they believe it shows their enduring commitment to Christ.

          I now view wearing ‘the garment’ as pure superstition; it is the same as carrying around a ‘lucky rabbit’s foot’ in your pocket, and I get that some people need that. I understand that the idea of wearing this extra layer of clothing for ‘protection’ is reassuring to many members. However, it is really just a security blanket they get to take with them wherever they go, hiding it under their cloths. Fear is the driving force behind this fallacy. Joan Lowery Nixon said, “Life is not easy. We all have problems, even tragedies to deal with, and luck has nothing to do with it. Bad luck is only the superstitious excuse for those who don’t have the wit to deal with the problems of life.” Through this journey out of religion I have learned, you must confront fear with knowledge and wisdom rather than shielding it by superstitious actions and beliefs. Problems, difficulties, trials, and challenges come to all of us regardless of the type of underwear we are wearing. Our underwear is insignificant when it comes to life’s trials and tragedies. It is our character, values, and our morality that will see us through the difficult times that nurture and grow our Soul. 

         In September 1999, in the Liahona magazine article titled The Temple Garment: An Outward Expression of an Inward Commitment, Carlos E. Asay, of the Quorum of the Seventy, further explained it, he said, “We are at war! Our enemy is not an invading army from a bordering nation or a navy of some overseas power. Bullets are not whizzing above our heads, nor are bombs exploding in and around our homes. Nevertheless, we are engaged in a life-and-death struggle with forces capable of thrashing us inside out and sending us down into the depths of spiritual defeat if we are not vigilant… There is, however, another piece of armor worthy of our consideration. It is the special underclothing known as the temple garment, or garment of the holy priesthood, worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have received their temple endowment. This garment, worn day and night, serves three important purposes: it is a reminder of the sacred covenants made with the Lord in His holy house, a protective covering for the body, and a symbol of the modesty of dress and living that should characterize the lives of all the humble followers of Christ.” This is how Mormons are taught to view ‘the garment’, as the shielding, protective, armor of God, and as a weapon against Satan’s influences in the ongoing combat for our Souls. It is a fear based mentality that keeps the faithful wearing ‘the garment’. This article by Carlos screams out ‘superstition’ to me now, but back then, when I first went through the temple, I was very much looking forward to being a part of the exclusive ‘club’, which meant, like it or not, I would be wearing this underwear. 

           ‘The garment’ is the defense of the Mormon Church, and you will conform if you want to wear their uniform! Believing that the garment is going to protect you from evil, or harm, is just as superstitious as using lucky charms, talismans, and four leaf clovers to protect you from evil or injury. Robert G. Ingersoll wrote, “Superstition is, always has been, and will forever be, the foe of progress, the enemy of education, and the assassin of freedom.” And then there’s Voltaire’s statement about superstition in religion, he said it is “the mad daughter of a wise mother.”  

          Superstitions become habits. I think that is the reason numerous Mormons don’t question the rationality of wearing this ‘protective’ underwear. It is a comforting mental habit to have it on their body. However, garments are not comfy to wear. Garments are all white showing every little stain plainly. They don’t stay pure white for very long, creating the need to replace them frequently. They must be worn next to the skin meaning a bra must go on the body after the garment top, which is not comfortable at all., especially while nursing. Going without a bra was a favorable alternative for me when I was wearing garments, but that is viewed as immodest. In fact, it got me into trouble more than once; a woman’s ‘rose buds’ must be perfectly covered; and, the compass and the square don’t hide them entirely.

          The bottoms are not very suitable for menstruation in my opinion, try wearing a pad with wings on boxer shorts and observe where the pad ends up over time, usually sliding down your leg! Some women believe that wearing garments puts them at a higher risk for yeast infections. I would have to agree with that idea. Let’s just say, you get very sweaty in that style of underwear especially in the summer months, and garments stick to sweaty skin like glue! I never enjoyed wearing those under cloths. I was very unhappy about trading in my cute, colorful sexy panties for long, boring, plain white, ‘libido killers’, another accurately cleaver nickname for the ‘G’s’. However, if I wanted my family to be ‘together forever’, I didn’t have any choice about it. That’s why I faithfully, submissively, and dutifully wore my ‘Angel undies’ for twenty years!

          Garments are a critical part of keeping all of the members in check. It’s all about control, specifically, mind control, in my opinion. Making people wear very specific underwear is a daily reminder of where your loyalty lies. They even admit that in these quotes. It is very psychological. The church knows what it is doing. Guilt and shame are the consequences if you aren’t properly wearing the garments day and night! Mormons actually look closely at each other to see if you are wearing them or not. There is a distinct line around the thighs and an ‘eternal smile’ under the back of the shirts of both men and women if you are wearing them under your cloths. It’s not hard to tell ‘the wheat from the tares’. ‘The wheat’ are the righteous and ‘the tares’ are the wicked. ‘The wheat’ wears ‘the garment’ all the time and unquestioningly follows the prophet’s every word while ‘the tares’ pick and choose where and when they will wear them, and which counsels they will obey. I was often measured on the side of ‘the tares’ while practicing Mormonism for my rebellious moments. However, I am clearly not counted among the 'wonderful', 'white', 'wheat' people any more.

Over the years, many changes were made to the Mormon temple rituals. Temple ceremonies have definitely evolved with the whims of man. You would think that if it was “revealed from Heaven” making changes would be unnecessary. God should have gotten all of it right the first time around. But, that was not the case. A major change was made in 2005 to the initiatory ceremony. You are no longer naked under an open shield. You are no longer touched with water and oil all over the body. This was a significant change. It is like going from a full immersion baptism to a baptism with the sprinkling of water. This was not the first time a notable change was made to this rite of passage either. There have been many. In the earliest days of the church you were literally ‘washed and anointed’ in a bath tub with water and oil in the temple for this ritual. The most recent change happened last year, in 2016; the first presidency decided to finally ditch using the ‘shield’ all together. I will explain in my next post what that means for Mormons. All of these changes are just more proof that man is in charge not a ‘God’.  So, keep in mind the experience I am going to share with you next time is no longer the experience a 'neophyte' temple attendee would have going through the temple today. 

Namaste!

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