questions for some mormons...?

Question

i'm a caregiver at a retirement center. i work the am shift which means i help dress some of them. there are some that are mormon (its in the biosketch and my boss told me) and they request that they have some sort of undergarment under their clothes. i was curious as to why, but couldn't get an answer from my boss ... and i was a bit nervous about asking some of the residents about it. plus, they have dementia, although i'm sure something as deep as faith would remain in thier heads...
so.. this question is for you if you can answer it. why the undergarments? is there any biblical support for it? (i have found none yet)...
no, i'm not trying to be mean here, i sincerely want to know.

jtucker something.. if i wanted to google it , i would have.
i wanted what people here on yahoo answers knew about it.
after that, i would have googled it.

Answer 1

It's a long answer, but It's all I could find.

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,…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).

Answer 2

There is no Biblical support for the Mormon undergarment. The best way to describe it would be that it is meant to spiritually protect the wearer, and it is also designed to encourage modest dressing. Clothes are chosen that will cover the garments, so naturally someone who wears garments would not choose short-shorts, tanks, tube tops, belly shirts, etc. The Mormon undergarment has other purposes connected with the temple work that Mormons do.

Answer 3

The undergarments are worn by Mormons who have been granted admission to the Temple to perform its rituals. The main Temple is in Salt Lake City, there are others around the world. Those who have been admitted, called 'Temple Mormons', are supposed to wear this underwear at all times. If I am not mistaken, that includes while going to the bathroom, so that apparently the female version is crotchless, to allow you to pee. The really orthodox won't even take it off (at least not all of it all at once) to bathe. I just ran a search, had a look at one of the links, you should be able to find more detail about the symbolism there. You will not, however, find anything about it in the Bible. Possibly in other Mormon documents, considered by them to be Scripture, which I am not familiar with. I give a link to those Scriptures below.

Answer 4

Thanks for your honest question. I think that destiney and pixie have given you good answers.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who perform certain sacred ceremonies in the temples of the Church wear sacred undergarments. Actually, people of many faiths wear special clothing or jewelry in association with their faith. Whether or not to remove the clothing in question for certain activities is up to the individual wearer.

I am very grateful to wear this sacred clothing. Among other blessings, I feel that it helps me to avoid temptation.

Answer 5

The idea of having special clothing that is to be considered sacred and dedicated is not foreign to the Bible, for both the Old and New Testaments contain references to garments of special significance. The Old Testament specifies, "Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment" (Eccl. 9:8). The New Testament declares, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Rev. 16:15).
The garment worn by Latter-day Saints that is given them in the temple is a symbol of covenants, purity and faithfulness to Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that, as Adam and Eve were clothed by the Lord ["unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21)] so we too are clothed as a reminder of our promises to the Lord. It should not be surprising that clothing which represents promises to the Lord should be regarded as holy, especially to those who understand the role of the temple in ancient Israel.

The Lord commanded Moses to instruct Aaron and others in the making and wearing of clothing that was to be regarded as holy. Speaking of Aaron the Lord told Moses, "Bring his sons and put shirts on them; put sashes around their waists and tie caps on their heads" (Exodus 29:8-9, Good News Bible). These garments were designated by God and considered sacred (Exodus 28, 39:41).

Elder Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, had some interesting comments about the undergarment received in the Temple. In one address to the non-member faculty and staff of the Navy Chaplain's Training School, he reminded them that as chaplains, they too wear articles of clothing that set them apart from everyone else. He added that their religious clothing meant a great deal to them and that likewise we draw something of the same benefits from our special clothing "as you would draw from your clerical vestments. The difference is that we wear ours under our clothing instead of outside. For we are employed in various occupations in addition to our service in the Church" (The Holy Temple, p. 76).

The wearing of the garment, although seen by some non-members as a peculiar practice, is for the devoted Latter-day Saints an activity which symbolizes a life devoted to Christ-centered activity. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment" (Revelation 3:4-5). Certainly it is a practice for which there are several significant Biblical precedents.

Answer 6

I'm not a Mormon but if you are really interested in the topic, you could have typed "Mormon underwear" in google:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_garment_(Mormonism)

That should tell you everything you ever wanted to know.

Answer 7

I think it's because this so called holy underwear is supposed to help them "not commit sins" or something. Anyway that's what I heard. I may be wrong.

Answer 8

It has to do with ordinances done in the LDS temples.

They are sacred - much like the Jewish shall or garment!

Answer 9

I think Mormons use the Book of Mormon, not the Bible.

Answer 10

Mormons have to where holy underwear but I don't know why and you won't find a reason in the Bible. (they don't really use it)