What's the deal with Mormon underwear?

Search: mormon underwear

Why: On PostSecret:

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I am sure you know that we Mormons consider our symbolic underclothing to be sacred and not for public view. Would you choose to publish photos of Muslims in their underclothing? Or Orthodox Jews?

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EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED that you would violate that sacred belief. You don't have to agree, but you should RESPECT it.

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Our undergarments are sacred, yes, but if I can get the images in the first page of search results on Google Images, they are in no way 'secret'. Besides, just because they are visible to non-members doesn't make them any less sacred to us, and in my opinion, only increases the sanctity of being worthy to wear them.

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Would you post pictures of atheists in their underwear?

I've never even heard of this!

Answer: They're called "temple garments." In short:

What is the big deal about Mormon underwear?

Many people are particularly interested in why Mormons wear these sacred undergarments. It’s interesting to note that religious clothing is a fairly regular occurrence in many world religions. It is often worn by those who are participating in certain religious ceremonies or who hold a specific position in the faith (e.g., priest, pastor, etc.). While in other faiths it is common to wear this religious clothing in plain view, Mormons wear the garments underneath their normal street clothes.

Perhaps the best description of Mormon underwear is that they are an outward express of an inward commitment. When Mormons go to the temple for the first time (typically around the age of 20), they participate in a sacred ceremony known as the endowment. The endowment consists of making covenants with God to obey the commandments He has given us. Mormons start wearing the garments during this first visit to the temple and will continue wearing it throughout their lives.

The temple is a beautiful and peaceful place where Mormon members can come to worship God and leave behind the worries and fast-paced lifestyle of the world. When going back into the world to resume studies, work, and personal lives, it’s not always easy to manage priorities. The garments serve as a constant reminder about the promises we have made to God to remember Him and keep His commandments.

So it's kind of like a yarmulke or a priest collar, except on the inside.

There is also a historical precedent for wearing religious clothing. In fact, Adam and Eve wore clothing that was made for them by God before they left the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:21 states that “unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Mormons believe that such clothing was provided as part of the religious instruction provided to Adam and Eve by God. This is the same context in which Mormons receive the garment—as part of the religious instruction contained within the temple endowment.

Source: TheMormonUnderwear.com, Mormon-Underwear.com

The More You Know: There's only one photograph of it on the Internets, but here is a drawing: