Mormons officially reveal temple garments

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Amazed it took this long: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/58541815-180/clothing-church-temple-garments.html.csp

[TokyoBayer]

I suppose that since anyone can google magic underwear then the church decided to put something out with their spin on things.

A couple of notes from someone who was unfortunate enough to have to wear the damn things. First, until 1979, they were all one piece. When I tried some on for the first time, I had no idea how to get into the things. They had flaps on the bottom so you didn’t have to remove them when taking a dump, and I tried getting in there first. It finally occurred to me that you had to pull them up. Since they went over your shoulders, they would have a huge neck.

Women were told that they had to wear their bras over the garments, that the garments went next to the skin. There have been a lot of complaints about how uncomfortable the garments are for women. They seem to be trying to change that.

The information released is careful to not disclose a lot of things, such as the secret Masonic marks placed on the garments at the beasts and knee.

The history of and more information about the garments can be found here:

In 1842, just two months after being initiated into Freemasonry, Joseph Smith introduced the wearing of garments to a select group of men. On Wednesday, May 4th, 1842, Joseph Smith initiated nine men into his new inner-circle called the “Holy Order,” the “Quorum,” the “Holy Order of the Holy Priesthood,” or the “Quorum of the Anointed.” This ritual would later come to be known as the LDS temple endowment.

Performed in the upper story of Smith’s Nauvoo store, this new ritual was a significant departure from the simple feet washings Joseph Smith taught in Kirtland. In addition to body washing and anointings, these select men of Smith’s “Quorum of the Anointed” received garments.

The original garment was designed only for priesthood men, after the pattern of mid-nineteenth century longjohns. It was originally a one-piece garment made of plain, unbleached cotton cloth that covered the body from ankles to wrists.

. . .

Ceremonial markings on the garment were originally snipped into the cloth as part of the man’s washing and anointing ceremony. This helped keep the markings secret from those who had not been through the ritual, including the women who sewed the garments. These marks made during the endowment were much more prominent than the marks in garments today.

Purpose

The original purpose of wearing garments was to remind Smith’s priesthood brethren of their sacred oaths - especially oaths of secrecy regarding the plural marriage doctrine.

(my emphasis)

In 1842, Joseph Smith introduced polygamy to a select number of close associates and swore them to secrecy, all the while denying the public rumors concerning his polygamy. Smith borrowed extensively from the Masonic ceremony to create the Mormon one, which originally was only for those who secretly practiced polygamy.

Originally, only the men wore them, but later women had to as well.

While the Mormon church never “officially” claimed that the garments physically protected the wearers, it was told by the leaders. The belief came from when Smith and his brother were shot in a jail cell by a mob.

The brothers had taken off their garments before surrendering to the authorities for charges stemming from Smith ordering the destruction of the printing press of a newspaper set up by leading dissents from the church. The first and only issue of the paper exposed Smith’s polygamy and Smith, as mayor of the city ordered the press destroyed, only to fact state charges.

In the cell with the Smiths were two other Mormons who hadn’t removed their garments and thus were protected by their magical powers, as the story goes.

Here’s CBS 60 MINUTESinterview with Bill Marriott on how the garments saved him once. Those types of stories are commonly told and retold by the faithful.