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SpencerMarsh (talk | contribs) (→Question: What is the significance of the temple garment worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what is the appropriate way to wear them?) |
DavidSmith (talk | contribs) (Removed references to sacred content and a personal opinion) |
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#Whether or not they make a covenant to wear the garment | #Whether or not they make a covenant to wear the garment | ||
#When it might be appropriate to remove or modify the garment | #When it might be appropriate to remove or modify the garment | ||
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− | This article seeks to answer these | + | This article seeks to answer these questions given what we know from official Church sources. |
<embedvideo service="youtube">v=5vvN4qJRBM0</embedvideo> | <embedvideo service="youtube">v=5vvN4qJRBM0</embedvideo> | ||
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According to the [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/38-church-policies-and-guidelines.title_number234-p2450?lang=eng#title_number234#title_number234 official leadership handbook of the Church], “[m]embers who receive the endowment '''make a covenant to wear the temple garment''' throughout their lives.” Among the [https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend questions asked to candidates for temple recommends] is "[d]o you keep the '''covenants''' that you made in the temple, '''including wearing the temple garment''' as instructed in the endowment?" A "covenant" is [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/covenant?lang=eng defined] by the Church (and, indeed, by most dictionaries) as “a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions.” | According to the [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/38-church-policies-and-guidelines.title_number234-p2450?lang=eng#title_number234#title_number234 official leadership handbook of the Church], “[m]embers who receive the endowment '''make a covenant to wear the temple garment''' throughout their lives.” Among the [https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend questions asked to candidates for temple recommends] is "[d]o you keep the '''covenants''' that you made in the temple, '''including wearing the temple garment''' as instructed in the endowment?" A "covenant" is [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/covenant?lang=eng defined] by the Church (and, indeed, by most dictionaries) as “a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions.” | ||
− | + | Another way to argue that it is a covenant to wear the garment is to recognize that there is no substantive distinction between an instruction from God and a commandment. "Members who receive the endowment make a covenant to wear the temple garment throughout their lives." We covenant, both at baptism ([https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18?lang=eng&id=8-10#p8 Mosiah 18:8–10]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/moro/4.3?lang=eng Moroni 4:3]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/20?lang=eng&id=37#p37 Doctrine & Covenants 20:37]) and [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/what-is-temple-endowment?lang=eng in the temple], to keep all of God’s commandments. Thus it is at least part of a covenant to wear our garments. | |
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− | Another way to argue that it is a covenant to wear the garment is to recognize that there is no substantive distinction between an instruction from God and a commandment. | ||
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====2. When might it be appropriate to remove or modify the temple garment?==== | ====2. When might it be appropriate to remove or modify the temple garment?==== | ||
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As the quote states, the garment should not be removed nor modified to accommodate different styles of clothing. One of the [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/garments?lang=eng purposes] of the garment is to encourage [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/modesty?lang=eng modesty] in how we dress. The garment as currently designed indicates what parts of the body should be clothed in order to meet a more objective/specific standard of modesty in how we dress. | As the quote states, the garment should not be removed nor modified to accommodate different styles of clothing. One of the [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/garments?lang=eng purposes] of the garment is to encourage [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/modesty?lang=eng modesty] in how we dress. The garment as currently designed indicates what parts of the body should be clothed in order to meet a more objective/specific standard of modesty in how we dress. | ||
− | Several concerns have arisen because of various health and practical considerations. The garment, as currently designed, ''can'' potentially assuage some of those concerns. If concerns persist, these might be directed to God in prayer, a local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_(Latter_Day_Saints) bishop], a local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stake_(Latter_Day_Saints)#Stake_officers stake president], and/or a local temple worker. You might also consider emailing [email protected] | + | Several concerns have arisen because of various health and practical considerations. The garment, as currently designed, ''can'' potentially assuage some of those concerns. If concerns persist, these might be directed to God in prayer, a local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_(Latter_Day_Saints) bishop], a local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stake_(Latter_Day_Saints)#Stake_officers stake president], and/or a local temple worker. You might also consider emailing [email protected], which is the contact for assistance with Church Distribution Services. |
[[File:Garment Fabric Types Better.png]] | [[File:Garment Fabric Types Better.png]] | ||
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Even if this were merely an "instruction", it'd still be an instruction ''from God''. Do we not want to follow God's instructions? ''Instruction'' is a firm word by itself. It's certainly stronger than "suggest", "urge", "recommend", etc. Are we showing love to God if we treat our promises to Him lightly? Treat his instructions lightly? That said, we should be intuitive about our garment wearing and be in the communication with the Spirit to know when it may be necessary to remove them. | Even if this were merely an "instruction", it'd still be an instruction ''from God''. Do we not want to follow God's instructions? ''Instruction'' is a firm word by itself. It's certainly stronger than "suggest", "urge", "recommend", etc. Are we showing love to God if we treat our promises to Him lightly? Treat his instructions lightly? That said, we should be intuitive about our garment wearing and be in the communication with the Spirit to know when it may be necessary to remove them. | ||
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===Conclusion=== | ===Conclusion=== |
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perform several sacred ordinances or ceremonies for individuals that they believe are necessary for individual exaltation. A few of these ceremonies are performed in temples: holy places dedicated to serving God.
As part of ceremonies in the temple known as “initiatories”, individuals put on sacred underclothes to symbolize some of the sacred promises that they make in the temple as well as sacred knowledge conferred to them. These underclothes are commonly referred to as "the temple garment", "temple garments", "the garment", or simply "garments".
Members of the Church who go through these ceremonies and put on these sacred garments are sometimes confused as to two things:
This article seeks to answer these questions given what we know from official Church sources.
According to the official leadership handbook of the Church, “[m]embers who receive the endowment make a covenant to wear the temple garment throughout their lives.” Among the questions asked to candidates for temple recommends is "[d]o you keep the covenants that you made in the temple, including wearing the temple garment as instructed in the endowment?" A "covenant" is defined by the Church (and, indeed, by most dictionaries) as “a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions.”
Another way to argue that it is a covenant to wear the garment is to recognize that there is no substantive distinction between an instruction from God and a commandment. "Members who receive the endowment make a covenant to wear the temple garment throughout their lives." We covenant, both at baptism (Mosiah 18:8–10; Moroni 4:3; Doctrine & Covenants 20:37) and in the temple, to keep all of God’s commandments. Thus it is at least part of a covenant to wear our garments.
The official leadership handbook section on wearing the garment states that “[t]he garment should not be removed for activities that can reasonably be done while wearing the garment. It should not be modified to accommodate different styles of clothing. The garment is sacred and should be treated with respect. Endowed members should seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to answer personal questions about wearing the garment.”
What are those activities where it might be unreasonable to wear the garment? Examples might include intimate relations between husband and wife, any period of intensive exercise, and any aquatic activity including showering.
As the quote states, the garment should not be removed nor modified to accommodate different styles of clothing. One of the purposes of the garment is to encourage modesty in how we dress. The garment as currently designed indicates what parts of the body should be clothed in order to meet a more objective/specific standard of modesty in how we dress.
Several concerns have arisen because of various health and practical considerations. The garment, as currently designed, can potentially assuage some of those concerns. If concerns persist, these might be directed to God in prayer, a local bishop, a local stake president, and/or a local temple worker. You might also consider emailing [email protected], which is the contact for assistance with Church Distribution Services.
The basic notion that the author wants to express is that garments should not be removed when we have the reasonable opportunity to wear them and that, generally speaking, we should be seeking for opportunities to wear them rather than not wear them. Why would there be so many fabrics and styles that one can choose from if the Church didn't expect us to wear them as much as possible?
Even if this were merely an "instruction", it'd still be an instruction from God. Do we not want to follow God's instructions? Instruction is a firm word by itself. It's certainly stronger than "suggest", "urge", "recommend", etc. Are we showing love to God if we treat our promises to Him lightly? Treat his instructions lightly? That said, we should be intuitive about our garment wearing and be in the communication with the Spirit to know when it may be necessary to remove them.
Wearing the garment is a sacred privilege. They are expressly not "just like any other underwear." Wearing the garment communicates love for God by keeping our promises to him and love for others by giving them an example to follow that leads them to Jesus Christ.[6] We often want so much to conform our garment-wearing to the world rather than help the world conform to garment-wearing. We shouldn’t be afraid to be different from others. The Lord has told us that, as Christians, we should “[l]et [our] light so shine before men [and women], that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.”[7] He wants us to be "a peculiar people, zealous of good works."[8] Being different by wearing our garments and treating them with sacredness is an excellent way that we can humbly follow the Lord and, by so doing, be peculiar and interesting to other people. This interest may lead them to explore the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ and be converted to it. Thus, by wearing the garment we can fulfill the Lord’s commandments. As Latter-day Saints, we should be model disciples of Jesus Christ. Wearing the garment is one way that we can do that and it brings tremendous spiritual blessings.
Notes
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