With a collar line similar to a tank top or the scoop neck undershirts from Collected Threads, Mitt Romney’s “Temple Garment” undershirt top shown below is clearly visible through his white (light colored) dress shirt.
Wikipedia states
Adherents consider them [Temple Garments] to be sacred and not suitable for public display
I’m curious if “not suitable for public display” means wearing them alone, or if being visible under a light/semi-transparent dress shirt would count.
Would be interesting to know how a visible TG (Undershirt) like this is perceived within the Mormon Community.
Anyone with the LDS care to share their thoughts?
I am a Mormon, I was raised one and have been one all my life. Stumbled across this post and though I am extremely late to the party, thought I’d share my thoughts nonetheless.
First off, know that I’m not offended by this post in any way.
The Mormon community is not the collective mind that the LDS church would have the public believe. The “Mormon Community” ranges from the very devout to the very reformed, of which I am the latter.
So whether something is “acceptable” is really a roll of the dice depending on who your speaking to. But allow me to educate you on the Temple Garment in comparison to other undershirts.
There are 4 different fabrics used.
Standard cotton, which is much like a T-shirt you would find from fruit of the loom.
Dry Lux, which is a thinner, lighter, softer, but tighter weave cotton.
Nylon, much like the inner netting of a swim suit. And silk, which is more like something out of a Victoria’s Secret catalog than an undershirt.
The Dry Lux is the mainly used by men, the silk is mainly used by women. The others are used a bit equally by both genders. All but the standard cotton come in two collar choices.
You can have a standard T-shirt collar, or the large swoop like you see Mitt Romney wearing. The standard cotton only comes in T-shirt collar.
As far as color choices go, they are almost always white. The only exception to this is for military and police officers. By showing their credentials they can get blue or tan.
As far as Mitt’s attire choice being acceptable, I can tell you that it is widely acceptable. Most older adult males at church dress exactly like Mitt. You can almost always see the collar swooping across their chest.
I’m sure there is someone that thinks it is somehow disgraceful to have anything showing, but I’ve never met someone like that.
The main reason they decide that they are not for public display is that the markings on them are considered sacred. The markings and their meanings are what makes them sacred to the Mormons, less so are the style choices.
Hopefully, this is somewhat helpful to those curious about the Temple Garment.
heya connor, thanks so much for stopping by, and taking the time to share your thoughts (:
great information for sure!
If I understand correctly, the so-called has many variations, but is usually white. So the reason why Romney’s undershirt is called is not connected to what one sees in the photograph, except the color white, but because Romney is known to be in that organization.
Since a feature of Joseph Smith’s view is or was polygamy, the temple garment reminds the wearer that he or she follows the command from above.
That undershirt is a temple garment? That’s a style for jocks. Mitt’s a millionaire, and he’s just born into that family and belief. School kids in Illinois don’t get lynching in history class, and I’d like to know if Phil Schneider would say those creatures who gave the golden tablets enscribed in a foreign language to the fourteen-year-old later Mormon founder – who was also a Free Mason for awhile – were aliens?
heya peter — if you get a chance, take a look at the wikipedia page. the temple garment undershirt top is actually a full undershirt with a deep scoop neck opening. kinda like scoop neck undershirts and t-shirts from companies like collected threads, asos, and undergear.
Personally, I would not wear the undershirt, not my style of undershirt. I do not think its a matter of religion but more so of comfortability. If he is comfortable which it looks like he is then by all means wear it with pride.
good advice shawn. i get the feeling mitt is wearing that temple garment with pride, but who really knows — only mitt does (:
Mitt Romney is Mormon, and their church has them wear their specific undergarments 24/7.