LDS Sacred Garments, or 'Magic Underwear'

Members of the LDS Church have several stages to their membership. Baptism is just the first, then Confirmation. For males, there is then the striving to become Priesthood holders (which is in two variants, the Aaronic and the Melchizedek Priesthood), and then there’s Initiatory and Endowment.

Part of the Endowment, is the beginning of wearing sacred garments. Members who have completed their Endowment, will wear these garments as part of a covenant they made in the Temple. It is no different from people of other faiths who wear turbans, or kippah/yarmulke as symbols of their particular beliefs. The only difference is that Mormons wear their sacred garments underneath their clothes.

We see them as sacred as they are an outward and physical symbol of an inward and spiritual commitment. Just as a Sikh wears their turban as an outward sign of an inward commitment, LDS garments are no different. We choose to wear these garments to both remind ourselves of our commitments and covenants we have made, and also to motivate us to continue to keep those covenants.

They are often mocked by people of other faiths or no particular faith as ‘magic underwear’, but this is merely a childish attempt at humiliation. They’re not magic, nor are they claimed to be so. They’re also accused of being ugly and uncomfortable by people who are again, not members of the LDS church. Again, this is nothing more than a tendency to make fun of what someone doesn’t understand. The only way someone WOULD understand what these garments mean to the wearer, would be to undertake their own Endowment, something which can take years to reach.

I am not about to describe the ordinances, the covenants, or the activities that take place in the Temple, but rest assured, that there is nothing sinister in the wearing of these garments.

Let’s face it, if the media and the anti-Mormon brigade didn’t bring them to the public’s attention for the sake of mockery, then you would never know that someone was wearing them, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. The choices and covenants that we have made are between the LDS member and God. They should not affect anyone else’s lives in any way, and so these garments are not for displaying, or for showing off. They are to be kept under the clothes, and respected by the wearer. They’re not a symbol of pride, nor of standing in the Church. They’re simply for the benefit of the wearer.

Despite this, there will always be those who wish to point and laugh at committed, faithful members of the LDS Church. Even in Lehi’s dream, he was jeered by others. Steadfastly holding to the Iron Rod, will always bring with it a certain amount of criticism and mockery. It is how you deal with such mockery that will be your making.