Underneath it all
I heard a rumor today that Friday’s episode of Law and Order featured garments, but from the blog traffic on this it would appear that the context was a story about some “fundamentalist” teenage boys from a polygamous faith who are involved in a murder investigation and have drawn on their personal underwear. I haven’t seen the episode and probably won’t go out of my way to, but it seems to me that LDS reaction to this can make a big difference in avoiding amplifying any sense of persecution in the wake of Prop 8.
Latter Day Saints aren’t the only group that has distinguishing clothing. Policemen, Firemen, Soldiers, Sailors and able bodied Seamen all wear special clothing. So do Catholic, Lutheran and Presbyterian ministers, and Buddhist, Taoist and Shinto monks. The big difference is that they all wear their vestments on the outside while Latter-day Saints wear them under their clothes.
In both cases, the clothing is a reminder of the commitment and dedication the wearer has to their faith or their job. The big difference between LDS deacons, teachers. priests and high priests is that there are many times more of them in a typical congregation than in a protestant or catholic congregation. A Christian minister, someone who has totally committed themself to Christ, wears special clothing to manifest and remind that they are different, set apart from the rest of the congregation. In the LDS Church, there may be dozens of men who have made that same commitment and they will be wearing a symbol of that just like the others do. What is so surprising about Mormons being embarrassed to have their underwear exposed in public? Try going up to someone at work and saying; “Hey! Show me those Victoria’s Secrets!” and see what happens.
For some comparisons here are some links to sites that explain Catholic , Syriac and other vestments. Legal justices wear them too. We even wear robes when we get our diplomas in High School. What’s all the fuss?
It’s hard not to think that this isn’t the result of the BLTG agenda in LA taking another swipe at Mormons for Prop 8. As for me, I’m neither ashamed of my underwear or my commitment to my faith, just modest about them.