Secret Mormon Temples and Magic Underwear

By Greg Nielsen
I’m not sure what the source of derision people have towards Mormon Temples and underwear. Unfortunately it isn't just the tabloid journalism, there is an increasingly insensitive, intolerant people who purposeful try to mock. Perhaps they don't truly understand what it is that they are mocking, therefore I hope to change that by a brief explanation of why Mormons have Temples and Garments.

Temples aren't "Secret". They are sacred. Temples of God have always been sacred (that means special and apart from the ordinary). It's not like many Buddhist temples that anyone can walk into on vacation in flip flops and tank tops and snap a few photos of others during their holy or sacred worship ceremonies. That is "casting pearls before swine" (Mathew 7:6). Anyone is welcome into Mormon weekly services or chapels anytime. Temples are an extra measure of worship, and the intent is to get closer to God by separating ourselves from the everyday.

The Garden of Eden was a type of Temple, a place on earth that was separated from the rest of the world where Adam and Eve could walk and talk with God. When they defiled it, they were asked to leave. Ancient prophets used mountains as a sacred "Mountain of the Lords House" to escape the everyday world and be closer to God in prayer and worship. Moses went into the mountains to separate himself from the world and get closer to God to receive instruction from God. Even the Temples in the ancient world required certain people or qualifications to enter.
Psalms 24:3-4 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."
Joel 3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Psalms 93:5 "holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever"
Micah 4:1-2 “1But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (KJV)
Mathew 17:1-4,9 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 9And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man,..” (KJV)

Our bodies can be temples, and we should keep them undefiled.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (KJV)
Mathew 7:6“ 6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet…” (KJV)

Secret or Sacred? Same thing, Christ tells us that it should be kept special. The Temple shouldn't be defiled, neither should our bodies. Something can be defiled with words by talking about it as well. "Taking the Lords name in vain" is an issue of respect and holiness. If the Lord's name can be defiled by talking about it inappropriately, so can his Temples. Holy worship should not be made a mockery of, and isn’t something to be broadcast on television and in front of the spotlights.

Mathew 6
"1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

This scripture and words from Christ not only applies to the Temple Worship and Ceremony, but also to the "Holy" underwear people like to make fun of as well. Holy symbols of clothing exist in many religions, Mormons aren't unique. Catholics, Jews and many Christians. These are all worn as SYMBOLS of faith. Clergy often wear them as an outward symbol of their belief. Catholic Nuns, Friars, Monks, wear habits. Priests, Bishops and higher wear certain clothing based on the level of their consecration. Orthodox Jews wear a white undergarment called the tallit katan in observance of the commandment in Numbers 15:38-40. Most people likely wear a wedding ring as a symbol of their commitment to a spouse. We wear garments as a symbol of our commitment to our Savior. It is a daily, constant reminder.

Mormons wear these garments as an inward symbol of their belief. Many religions wear crosses around their neck for all to see "before men"... What is more private and sacred than underwear? We are sincere believing followers of Christ who merely wear SYMBOLS of our faith and devotion in privacy and not to "be seen of men". (See Christs words in Mathew 6). Plus, it keeps us modest in dress and appearance. It's not magic, but can help us avoid temptation and sin. So if that is the magic they are mocking, let them.
Ephesians 6:13 " 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (KJV)

When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden or one of the first Temples that Gods presence was in, God gave them something
Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. " (KJV)
Revelations 15:6“And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.” (KJV)

Moses made them for Aaron
Exodus 28:2,42 “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty… 42And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:” (KJV)
Ecclesiastes 9:8 “8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.”

Revelations 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (KJV)
Isaiah 61:10 "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, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (KJV)
Revelations 3:4 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” (KJV)
God has commanded followers at various times to wear articles of clothing to remember him. See: Exodus 26:31;
Numbers 15:38-40 "38Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God." (KJV)
Priesthood workers in the time of Moses 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 (KJV)

The public’s derision of "Holy Underwear" is unfortunate because it, just like sacred “secret” temple worship is also biblical. Again, prior to understanding our beliefs, because of the negative connotation a few words have like secret and magic, the wrong impression is given.

Temples have been part of Gods plan from the beginning of time, and we believe it is so even today because God is unchanging.