My friend is a Mormon and while we were trying on clothes in the fitting room, I noticed she was wearing an undershirt under her tank top. It was a super hot day so I was like, "Wtf?"
She said that it part of her religion -- that she always had to have some kind of barrier between her skin and clothes.
I didn't understand and tried to ask her why, but she got uncomfortable and changed the subject.
Is that true? If so, why is this a requirement of the Mormon religion?
2007-08-08 12:33:11 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My friend is 24 years old. She's been married for about two years and she has a three month old baby boy.
2007-08-08 12:58:16 · update #1
It's just a made up thing that must have popped into the mind of Joseph Smith when he was making it up, as make it up he surely did.
Read the basic story about the angel flying around and dropping golden tablets, and the stone in the hat. It is absolutely ridiculous, and it is incredible that so many apparently sane people believe it.
Except it shouldn't be incredible-it is what happens after all, millions believing one weird story millions another, and another, etc. All mutually exclusive, and all adherents thinking they are they only ones of the true faith.
As for your friend-she doesn't really know why it's necessary, she knows the story, and knows that it is absurd, so is shy to tell you.
2007-08-08 12:44:39 · answer #1 · answered by hog b 6 · 0⤊ 7⤋
Lady Ann, you've had some great answers given by Jasimine, Dane, HighFly, and Dizneyland, but this is one curiosity best left unexplained to the fullness because of the sacredness these undergarments represent. We take upon ourselves sacred covenants when visiting the Temple of the Lord and they are not to be mocked or trifled with.
The faithful Latter-day Saint, having received certain ordinances in the Temple, will wear the garments night and day except for swimming, showering, and sex--the three S's. If practical in sports, we are to wear them too.
Outsiders look at Mormon practices simply as curiosities to be explained willingly. Not so. If anyone is that curious then I strongly suggest they contact the local Mormon missionaries, receive the lessons, prepare for baptism, and then, in a year or so, they might be able to attend the Temple on their own merits.
Other than that, such curiosities are annoying at best, sacrilegious at worse. The Latter-day Saint is not compelled or required to explain such curiosities to those ready to mock or ridicule our faith.
2007-08-09 04:48:49 · answer #2 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It has nothing to do with clothes touching the skin.
How old is your friend? That would help me answer the question. If she is a teenager, then it is most likely a modesty issue. Many LDS young women wear an undershirt because it is so difficult to find shirts or blouses that do not show more than they would prefer.
If she is older, then she might have been through the temple and received special undergarments. Here is a great article that explains about them.
http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=92ba196b5a1eb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
2007-08-08 12:47:48 · answer #3 · answered by Senator John McClain 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The Garments/"underwear" is an outward expression of an inward commitment, it reminds me of covenants i have made and it does protect, I have had my own experience, but do not wish to share since many on here will not understand or completely distort it.
We do not have to wear them in the shower or when having sex. Some even choose not to wear them while playing sports.
Talk to your friend, she knows what to tell you. I wouldn't look into it too much on the Internet because many Anti-Mormons completely take it out of context and make it sound like something crazy, for us it is very sacred.
2007-08-08 13:57:01 · answer #4 · answered by HighFlyDanger 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is, but you should really have your friend explain it to you. It is worn as a protection and part of a covenant we made in our Holy Temples to be modest. They remind us of the promises we made to be obedient to commandments. And they help us to stay modest. I have only 1 non-mornon friend who has ever seen or even knows about my garments (that's what we call them). It doesn't have anything to do with having a barrier between her skin and clothes. She likely didn't tell you because they are very sacred and some ppl are afraid to tell others because of what they will say or think. I personally like to set the record straight as often as I can. They are not secret they are sacred. Big difference. Not all mormons where them. Only those who have attended the temple, usually ppl who are married or going on missions, or feel ready to take on the covenants and are serious about them. Its a big deal.
2007-08-08 12:42:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The undergarments are viewed as a symbolic reminder of the sacred covenants made in temple ceremonies, and are viewed as an either symbolic or literal source of protection from the evils of the world. But of course you don't HAVE to. It's still your choice.
2016-05-17 09:32:34 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friend is very confused if she is telling you that and making light of something that is very sacred. Maybe she just didn't know how to explain it, especially if you are asking her "wtf." (BTW, women should not wear tank tops when they are wearing garments since the garments would show. That is disrespectful.)
When we go to the Temple, we make sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father. When we go through the Temple the first time we are given these sacred garments to wear. I went through the Oakland Temple when I got married in 1978.
We are told that they will be a protection for us. Spiritually, they always are a protection since it reminds us of those covenants. We are suppose to wear them all the time, except for things like bathing & various types of "exersize."
If someone has not gone through the Temple, they don't wear garments.
People have some really weird ideas about us. Many are mentioned above! We are not weird. We are not members of a cult. We are Christians. You may not agree with our beleifs but please be respectful of them. I respect your beleifs.
2007-08-08 14:23:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
They're garments and when we get our endowments out at the temple is when we covenant to god to wear that stuff to cover out skin. I don't know everything because Im only 15, but yeah, its a part of our religion.
2007-08-08 17:03:00 · answer #8 · answered by NatNat 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They go thru a special ceremony & they feel this special undergarment (that's what it's called "Mormon Garments" you can google it) protects them somehow... sort of like spiritual armor.
I had a patient in yesterday wearing it as well, it was 100 degrees & the heat index made it about 110.
I think they sleep in it & they only remove it to bathe & have sex.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_garment_(Mormonism)
Hey, if you think about it, all religions have weird practices when you get down to it & this is harmless, so let them believe what they want...
2007-08-08 12:38:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Shade Shirt Mormon
2017-01-15 06:40:23 · answer #10 · answered by mengesha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋