Why do Mormons wear "magic underwear"?

I can't help but laugh about this every time someone asks me about "magic underwear". I personally have never asked anyone about their under garments, even Hanes commercials have shown the awkwardness of discussing underwear, remember when Cuba Gooding Jr shouts to Michael Jordan "I'm wearing your underwear". Let's keep this discussion civil.



Anyway, let's clear up two things: First, Mormons do not believe their underwear is "magic". However, they do believe their under garments serve as a reminder of their personal commitment to God, and it should be noted that remembering the love of God has saved many a person from harm, danger, or error. Second, Mormons do not call them "underwear" but they call them "garments".

Is there any indication that clothing serves as a reminder of God?

Numbers 15: 37 - 41 gives an indication as to why the children of Israel wore some types of clothing.


Numbers 15:37-41
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak 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: And 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: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.

The analogy I like to use is a watch. Every morning thousands of people awake in the morning and in their routine put on a wrist watch. For me, my watch provides me with a reminder of the time, although I admit I did have one of those cool calculator watches back in the day. With a simple glance at my watch I can tell whether I am late, early or on time for a meeting. I can see how much time I have before lunch or how many hours to go before I head home. The watch serves as a reminder of the movement of the sun, which we recognize as the time of day or night. The wrist watch is a useful part of my wardrobe.

Following this line of thought, the Mormon garment becomes a daily reminder of the promises a Mormon has made to follow Gods commandments. Both Mormon men and women wear the garment "that [they] remember, and do all [God's] commandments, and be holy unto your God" (Numbers 15:40). For a practicing Mormon, the garment serves as a useful part of their wardrobe.

Read another great explanation at The Beehive.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great explanation!

Anonymous said...

I want to share a scripture from the New Testiment that talks about the King's Wedding Garment of Evangelical Holiness.

Matthew 22:1-14
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.