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?

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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?

Garments worn by male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Introduction to Questions

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:

1. Whether or not they make a covenant to wear the garment
2. When it might be appropriate to remove or modify the garment
3. Whether garment bottoms need to reach the knee in their material length

This article seeks to answer these three questions given what we know from the temple and other official Church sources.

Response to Questions

1. Do Latter-day Saints covenant to wear the garment?

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.”

In the temple, we are instructed to wear the garment throughout our life, to not defile it, and to remain true to the other covenants we make in the temple. In exchange, the garment will serve as a spiritual shield and protection (and what good does a shield that isn't worn do?).This clearly follows the definition of “covenant” above. It is understandable and forgivable that confusion would arise on the issue since the endowment does not explicitly state that you receive the garment by covenant, but the instruction given plus the blessings promised for complying with that instruction clearly fall in line with the definition of covenant.

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. The endowment ceremony clearly tells us that we are instructed to wear the garment throughout our 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.

To “defile” means to violate the sanctity of something. To not wear garments when you have the reasonable opportunity to wear them (as discussed below) certainly falls in line with this definition.

2. When might it be appropriate to remove or modify the temple garment?

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]. This email is directed to those in the Temple Affairs Department of the Church who frequently take user feedback about garments to better meet the needs of the wearer.

1. Some have been concerned about having to be in extreme heat when wearing the garment. Being in extreme heat may be a time to reasonably remove the garment. However, if one would like to try not to remove the garment, it should be understood that retailers that sell garments carry them in a number of different fabric types to accommodate this. The chart above lists the different fabric types.
2. Some have been concerned about the flaring of hemorrhoids when wearing the garment. The counsel here is to wear loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear in order to avoid excessive moisture and friction which may aggravate the hemmorroid. Consider switching to cotton garment bottoms and perhaps getting them in a bigger size as well as switching your pant style to something looser-fitting in order to avoid aggravation. But be intuitive and know that you can remove the garment if absolutely necessary.
3. Some women have been concerned about the garment causing yeast infections and/or urinary tract infections. It should be noted that all garment styles for women "have a 100% cotton bottom panel for breathability and hygiene, as recommended by OBGYNs." A few of the fabrics are either 95% or 100% cotton.
4. Some have been concerned about the potential for the garment to aggravate psoriasis when contracted. Those who suffer with psoriasis are encouraged to avoid clothing and bedding that touches the affected area that is made of wool and other synthetic materials. Also avoid clothes and bedding touching the affected area made with dyes. They do have chemicals in them that can aggravate psoriasis. You probably shouldn't use pants or underclothing with tight waistbands either if that is the going to rub up against the affected area excessively. If trying to continue wearing the garment, consider, for instance, switching to 100% cotton garments and untucking them (no guideline that says you can't untuck the top from bottom when wearing the garment) and buying garments I. larger sizes to be looser around your body and thus the affected area. But be intuitive and don't do things you know would aggravate your condition. Once your condition has subsided, then you can resume normal garment wearing.
5. Some have been concerned about potential skin allergies that garments might cause. As noted above, there are several different styles of fabric that one can choose from in order to avoid allergies.
6. Some have been concerned about the itchiness of certain fabrics. The chart above gives ratings for how soft and comfortable each fabric style is. Consumers can pick what works best for their circumstances.
7. Some have been concerned with the garment's potential to aggravate ingrown hairs. The medical counsel for this is to wear loose clothing that surrounds the area to avoid excessive friction. The garments themselves are fairly loose fitting. Consider trying different styles and/or sizes of garment and wearing different styles of regular shirt or pant that aren't as tight-fitting in order to avoid ingrown hairs.
8. Special styles of garments exist for women who are pregnant and/or nursing and for those that are terminally ill and/or bedridden for an extended period of time.
9. Some women have concerns about how the garment can hold menstrual pads. The garment is definitely not designed for this and many women resort to putting regular panties on underneath their bottoms or other approaches. Here, women are encouraged to do what works best for them and what seems to feel right spiritually after sincere prayer.
10. Some complain about uncomfortable waistbands. This might be solved by keeping the garment top tucked into the garment bottom. Also buying garment bottoms with a larger waist size. This may be an area of improvement for the garment's design.
11. Some assert that they don't want to wear the garment because it imposes an arbitrary notion of modesty. They assert that the garment style has changed a lot over the years that fit with different cultural definitions of modesty. It is true that the garment has changed over the years and that it likely reflects a response to changing societal standards of modesty and what is considered fashionable. The earliest garments were a one-piece suit that extended to the wrists and ankles. A person had to step into them from the hemmed neckline at the top of the garment. In 1923 Church leaders allowed women to wear garments that extended as far as the elbow and knee. They did the same for men in 1930. In 1979 they approved a two-piece style of garment for all that extended to the bicep and lower thigh. It could be that the standard of modesty currently inculcated by the garment's design is the one that we should be following all the way into the future. It might not be. We really don't know. Regardless, we shouldn't flout our covenant responsibilities because we observe changes in the garment in the past. We follow the living prophet and not a dead prophet nor a future prophet. Perhaps the only thing you can do if you really want the garment to change style is email the temple department with your concerns but then continue to wear your garment as faithfully as possible regardless of the outcome of your email.

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.

3. Do garment bottoms need to come to the knee?

The best answer to this question comes from the temple itself where instruction and education regarding the garment is given. In that instruction, specifically where the symbols on the garment are explained, the explanation for the knee mark specifically says that the mark should slightly cover the kneecap. This should hopefully deter many Latter-day Saints from purchasing the shorter styles of garment from the Distribution Centers around the world since the shorter styles were designed for shorter people.

Conclusion

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. 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.” He wants us to be "a peculiar people, zealous of good works." 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