Imagine this scenario. You, a woman, have just moved to a new city. You made a friend and met some other people you don’t really know. A man there finds out where you’re from (Utah) and immediately asks about your “magic undies”…

“Hey, so, tell me about your underwear? Isn’t it, like, super special or something?”

You look reasonably confused, “uhhhh… Excuse me?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Your underwear. I hear it’s different,” they say with unwarranted confidence. 

“My underwear?” You respond cautiously.

“Yeah. I hear people from there have magic undies that protect them from harm,” they respond with increasing intensity.

* * *

What would you say to that?

Would you tolerate it? Would you explain that it is inappropriate to ask someone about their underwear, especially if you just met? Or would you call the police? Maybe fish slap them for harassment?

You have to admit that in any social setting it is inappropriate to interrogate someone you don’t know about their underwear. And yes, this has happened to me more than once.

The other day I was at my friends house and her boyfriend started asking me about my “Magic Undies”, otherwise respectfully known as ‘Garments’. Lucky for him, I am used to this happening so I didn’t fish slap him and call him a pervert. Instead, I explained what they are, which I will do for you so that you know and won’t ask random people about their undies. You’ll thank me later. 

Garments are sacred clothing that we wear under our regular clothes to remind us of covenants that we have made with God in the Temple.

Boom. Simple enough. Typically, they are made of white cotton. Mystery solved. Other religions such as Muslims, Catholics, Buddhist Monks, and Jewish people wear their sacred emblems outwardly. I couldn’t tell you what theirs represents but I do know it has religious significance that should be reverenced and respected. 

Our symbolic clothing stems from biblical times. Such as Exodus 29:4-9 and Leviticus 8. I’d insert the scriptures here but they’re really long so just click on the links.

The Garment, not magic undies, are worn as a reminder by faithful Mormons (Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) voluntarily. It is used to help them remember their divine nature, covenants, roll as disciples of Jesus Christ, and some other stuff.

For example, when I was 21 years old I struggled with a bout of Bulimia.

I was a Garment wearing Mormon at the age of 21. As I struggled through the recovery process I drew power from these magic undies! KIDDING! However, I did draw strength from the promises I made with God by wearing my garments.

During my recovery and many relapses over the years, I would remind myself that the Garments encouraged physical health, knowing my self worth, and over all, reminded me that I am better than what I’m told is the modern day standard of beauty and success. It was difficult. But through the help of symbolic clothing, therapy, and an amazing support system, I was able to overcome this eating disorder.

A while back the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints shared a video about Garments for the public to help dissolve the mystery of our magic undies.

I didn’t discover this video until after a particularly awkward interrogation from some coworkers while working a seasonal job. They insisted on knowing everything. Don’t worry. I’m still friends with some of them because they’re cool, I’m cool, we are all cool.

Click Here to watch the video.

Needless to say, in my opinion, it’s best not to publicly interrogate someone about their underwear. If you want to know more about it, maybe do it politely and in private. We all respond to polite inquiries about our underwear better than impolite inquiries, I think. Wouldn’t you agree?

I hope you all enjoyed reading this article! And I really hope that it has helped clear up any questions you may have had about the magic undies we chose to wear. To be fair, I was curious too before I decided to wear them myself! Curiosity is a wonderful thing!

Further Information:

On Divine Nature:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/becoming-like-god?lang=eng

On Garments (Magic Undies):

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/garments?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/eternal-marriage-student-manual/temple-preparation/the-temple-garment-an-outward-expression-of-an-inward-commitment?lang=eng

On Temples:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng