To what extent does garment-wearing make you a better person

[Anonymous]

Bear wrote:

I personally see my garments just as I see my wedding ring. I don’t always wear it but wear it 99% of the time. It’s just a symbol nothing else but it has great meaning for me and I made certain promises that I will try my best to keep. I actually think the symbolism is beatiful. To actually wear a promise that you made. But maybe that’s just me:)

I always thought the wedding ring was a symbol that alerts other people the married person is taken. Garments — you can’t always tell if people are wearing them or not — and it would be wrong to mark people as covenant-keepers or not, to the rest of the world. I always wear opaque clothing when near members for that reason.

[Anonymous]

cwald wrote:

Garments became such a distraction and symbol of Pharisacial practice, that I had to quit wearing them for my spiritual well being.

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I like Cwald.

Garments need to be removed from the Mormon daily experience. They are distracting to actual spiritual experience. It is a lucky rabbits foot. People of god should not need such tokens

[Anonymous]

Quote:

Garments need to be removed from the Mormon daily experience. They are distracting to actual spiritual experience.

Except for the millions of people for whom they aren’t.

Seriously, it’s important to recognize how diverse people’s experiences are with lots of things and avoid sweeping generalities that aren’t accurate about large groups of people. If we want others to grant us that respect, it’s important to grant them the same respect.

I have NO problem whatsoever with people viewing the garment as Cadence just described – but I have a HUGE problem with the conclusion quoted above. An implementation of the actual wording in the handbook of instructions (that, ultimately, how and when to wear the garment is up to the individual member) would be the ideal solution, imo – one that would honor Cadence’s feelings, my own and every other member’s.

[Anonymous]

SilentDawning wrote:

Bear wrote:

I personally see my garments just as I see my wedding ring. I don’t always wear it but wear it 99% of the time. It’s just a symbol nothing else but it has great meaning for me and I made certain promises that I will try my best to keep. I actually think the symbolism is beatiful. To actually wear a promise that you made. But maybe that’s just me:)

I always thought the wedding ring was a symbol that alerts other people the married person is taken. Garments — you can’t always tell if people are wearing them or not — and it would be wrong to mark people as covenant-keepers or not, to the rest of the world. I always wear opaque clothing when near members for that reason.

I have not worn my wedding ring for years. I find it to be uncomfortable. DW stopped wearing hers some time before for similar reasons (sizing etc.). I have only ever had one person ask me about this. People who know me know that I am a dedicated family man. People who don’t know me might want to take some time to get to know me.

There are things in my life that are important and represent the best of myself. To the degree that symbols put me in touch with that “best” self, then they do help make me a better person. Like the ruby slippers from “the wizard of oz” or the magic feather from “Dumbo” – the power was within us all along but sometimes we need a little help in unlocking it. And if those ruby slippers cause my feet to blister, then I’m going to trade them in for something that better fits me. The journey is long and nobody is benefitted from my wearing ill-fitting shoes. Garments “work” for me – so I’ll keep them.

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

Quote:

Garments need to be removed from the Mormon daily experience. They are distracting to actual spiritual experience.

Except for the millions of people for whom they aren’t.

Seriously, it’s important to recognize how diverse people’s experiences are with lots of things and avoid sweeping generalities that aren’t accurate about large groups of people. If we want others to grant us that respect, it’s important to grant them the same respect.

I have NO problem whatsoever with people viewing the garment as Cadence just described – but I have a HUGE problem with the conclusion quoted above. An implementation of the actual wording in the handbook of instructions (that, ultimately, how and when to wear the garment is up to the individual member) would be the ideal solution, imo – one that would honor Cadence’s feelings, my own and every other member’s.

Do you really believe “millions”of Mormons would wear garment 24/7 if it wasn’t a requirement to be a tier 1, TR holding member?

I would hazard to guess that most members wear garments because that have to, and/or for show to other Mormons.

IMO.

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[Anonymous]

Yeah, cwald, millions is an exaggeration. Given the total baptized member number and the temple recommend holding percentage, there can’t be millions who wear the garment.

Thanks for calling me on the hyperbole. I don’t know the number, obviously, but the point I made is a valid one. The garment works and is special to many members, and we need to acknowledge and respect that fact.

[Anonymous]

I guess I don’t really know if not wearing garments now that I am endowed would affect me in any way, since I have worn them daily for over a decade. However, I was actually more religious before being endowed, so if that is an accurate gauge then I guess it has made me worse! Really to me now it is just a superstition that I don’t take them off. They don’t mean anything to me. But for some reason I am afraid to stop wearing them, and I dislike that.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think they made me a better person, in some ways worse – more full of fear or shame if I didn’t handle them “correctly.”

But they did make me dress modestly.

I don’t wear them anymore, but I still try to dress modestly.

Double layers (garments plus top clothes) are a form of boot camp – especially when it’s HOT… they test your ability to deal with uncomfort. :shifty:

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

The garment works and is special to many members, and we need to acknowledge and respect that fact.

Quoted for truth. Different strokes for different folks.

It’s a personal decision whether to wear them or not. As well as when to wear them and when not to. For example, I don’t wear mine when I’m working on the car, painting, landscaping, etc. Why? Because I realise that (even thought they have no special power) they are special and should be treated as such. Does this make me better than a person who wears them 100% of the time (I’m sure there are a few)? Nope. Does it make them better? Nope. Each person gets to decide when, where, or whether they wear them. A hard line either way does nothing to move the conversation forward.

[Anonymous]

Meh Mormon wrote:

Old-Timer wrote:

The garment works and is special to many members, and we need to acknowledge and respect that fact.

Quoted for truth. Different strokes for different folks.

It’s a personal decision whether to wear them or not. As well as when to wear them and when not to. For example, I don’t wear mine when I’m working on the car, painting, landscaping, etc. Why? Because I realise that (even thought they have no special power) they are special and should be treated as such. Does this make me better than a person who wears them 100% of the time (I’m sure there are a few)? Nope. Does it make them better? Nope. Each person gets to decide when, where, or whether they wear them. A hard line either way does nothing to move the conversation forward.

I like this, and think it’s a healthy attitude. I’m just not sure many leaders or members would agree with this view? You know, the whole “not removing them to mow the lawn” talk that has become cultural doctrine?

I could be wrong.

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