When I was a little girl, I asked my mom about her wearing (temple) garments. She told me she was grateful to be able to wear them. She told me they represented sacred covenants she had made in the House of the Lord, and why wouldn’t she want to wear “the Lord’s” garments.

This conversation has had a special meaning to me. It shaped my attitude about LDS temple garments, starting from a young age more than a decade before I eventually received my endowments in the Salt Lake Temple.

The topic of garments has been in the news lately, fueled in part by Mitt Romney’s candidacy and curiosity about his religion. While the all-white underclothing is commonly referred to simply as “garments,” it may also be called temple garments, which is different from other temple clothing. There are many other nicknames, including many that are disrespectful to what is sacred for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I grew up knowing what garments looked like. Although my parents were modest and wore their garments appropriately, I occasionally saw my mother getting dressed and I helped with household laundry. I did not think my parent’s underclothes were bizarre. I did not grow up in a predominately Mormon neighborhood. Most of my friends were not LDS, but I never thought about their parent’s underwear. As I got a little older, I certainly recognized the difference, hence the question to my mother, but I knew my family believed in many different things than my friends’ families. Garments were just one of those many things that were different in my family – different, yes; different, but not weird.

I knew I wanted to someday attend the temple and receive my endowments. As I got older, my conviction to do this was strengthened. I knew that doing so would mean that I would also wear garments. I never thought of this as a sacrifice. I felt, as my mother had shared with me, that I would also be grateful to be able to wear them.

I am grateful that I am able to wear them. I cherish the sacred meaning of the temple garments. I know many do not value this as I do. I know many may think I am wrong in my beliefs. I really don’t care. I think they are missing out, but it is completely their choice to do so.

I had a mother who shaped my attitude, and therefore also my experience, of temple garments. I was also able to ask her questions. In a Church of mostly converts (and also many without endowed family members), those taking out their endowments may not have someone who can offer some practical tips for wearing garments. When I took out my endowments, I was in a young single adult ward. I would not have felt comfortable asking my Bishop (who was very helpful in helping me prepare for the endowment) or my Relief Society president about actually wearing garments.

Aside from the issue that underwear is an intimately private topic anyway (There are only a couple of people in my life who I have talked to about wearing a bra.), I think it’s difficult to broach the topic of wearing garments. We know that garments are sacred and that endowed members make promises not to talk about certain things outside of the temple, and we do not want to diminish the sanctity of the garment by making it commonplace. So, if you’re un-endowed, how do you know what is okay to ask about, without being disrespectful, inappropriate or awkward?

A lot of people find themselves in this situation. They don’t have someone they would feel comfortable talking to about underwear of any nature; forget about finding someone to discuss the practical matters of wearing temple garments. I understand that there can be anxiety about taking out endowments and wearing garments. Unknowns can cause apprehension.

Since The Cultural Hall is a forum to share things about Mormon culture that are often not talked about, here’s what I would say to my sister regarding wearing garments without revealing anything about the temple ordinances. While most of these tips are for women, some could also apply to men:

1)   First of all: be prepared for the temple. Take the temple prep course. Read the Church statements about the temple ordinances and garments. Study. I especially like the recommendations offered in Elder Nelson’s April 2011 General Conference talk. What’s practical about preparation? As you increase your understanding and testimony, your resolve to wear the garments will increase. You are less likely to have feelings of resentment in your promise to wear the garments. Your desire and attitude changes. You find yourself looking to find ways to make it work instead of finding excuses for times not to wear them. It becomes a joyful experience. That is an each and every day practicality tip.

2)   There are several types of fabrics and cuts available, more than just what you may or may not have noticed mom wearing. Just like you may have preferences in what type of fabric your bra is made of, you will have preferences in what type of fabric your garments are made of. Not everyone is this way, but your preferences may be related to the weather, an activity you are participating in (specifically, sports) and the fabric or type of outer clothes you are wearing. You may want to wear a different fabric depending on if your shirt is cotton v. silky, or say if you’re hiking in the middle of summer v. skiing in the winter. Some of the fabrics are more likely to stretch out of shape or shrink in washing. Try the different fabrics out. I especially like one of the new fabrics the Church has come out with recently.

3)   The ladies who work at Church Distribution are nice. They will tell you all about the different fabrics and cuts. Feel free to ask them questions.

4)   Get your tops in long. My sister is not short or petite, and they have cuts for those who are. Even if you are not very tall or don’t normally wear longs in other types of clothes, longs stay tucked in better. Also, in some cuts, the longs are longer than others. What is a “regular” length in one cut may be the length of the “long” in another. Cuts vary depending on the fabric.

5)   The same goes for regular v. petite bottoms. You may not normally wear petite, but petite bottoms may fit you better. The biggest difference, as far as I can tell in bottoms, is in the rise. Again, cuts vary depending on the fabric.

6)   Surprising tip: try calf-length bottoms to wear with pants. What?! Why would I want ones that are longer? you may be thinking. They don’t ride up. The ends don’t curl as some knee-length ones are prone to do with jeans. They stay down. This is the kind of tip that is whispered from one sister to another.

7)   When new cuts or fabrics are available, try them. And I would say, for more than just one day. If you don’t like them at first, give them a chance a while later. You may be surprised.

8)   You may like wearing a different size, cut or fabric at night than you do during the day.

9)   Don’t throw out all your un-modest clothes, just yet. (My sister has some of these.) I wear tank tops all the time in layering, especially with shirts that are lower cut in the front or could be too short when you bend over, lift your arms up or sit down. My tank tops are really long. I usually tuck the tank top in and then don’t have to worry about my underwear showing when I move around. (Really, I think this is a good tip for everyone. We don’t need to be seeing that inch of skin between your shirt and pants that peaks out every time you move. Eliminate plumber’s crack!) Lots of my friends wear a modest shirt under a tank top or sleeveless shirt. There are lots of creative ways to modest-ify outfits.

10)   Only wash your whites with other all-white clothing. Anything else will make your whites look dingy over time. Wash whites in hot water. Most people use bleach, but it can make whites yellow over time. Use white vinegar instead. It helps with sweat and collar stains, and it softens like a fabric softener. If you make sure you have a good rinse, your whites won’t smell like vinegar after washing.

11)   And since when my sister takes out her endowments, it will probably be because she is getting married, I would tell her to buy a DownEast Wonder Tee to use for her wedding dress fittings before she is endowed. (Shade has one like it too.) While the neckline is different, how the sleeves hit is pretty spot on. If she was concerned about the bottoms, I would say to picture wearing biker-type shorts or knee-length spandex like she used to for sports.

12)  If/when she’s pregnant or if she ever has surgery, I would tell her to a) try out maternity tops, b) buy tops or bottoms several sizes up, c) try a men’s top and d) don’t forget about the different fabrics.

We’d love to hear about any other practical tips you may have about wearing garments. However, The Cultural Hall will not approve any comments that we feel do no honor the sacred nature of the temple garments.