Mormon Temple Garments: Explaining What Mormons Wear in Temples

For many faiths, clothing plays a powerful role in expressing religious devotion. Whether it’s the cassock of a priest, a Jewish prayer shawl, or the saffron robes of a Buddhist monk, sacred clothes have long served as visible symbols of spiritual commitments in many cultures. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—often informally called the Mormon or LDS Church—this tradition continues with specific clothing worn inside temples. Mormon temple garments are rich in symbolism and represent personal commitments between believers and God.

There are a few different kinds of religious clothing Mormons wear inside and outside the temple, and it’s important to understand the distinctions between them. There is the temple garment (sometimes mockingly called “Mormon magic underwear” outside the church), white temple clothing, and ceremonial temple robes. Here is an explanation of what each of these are and what they mean to members of the Church.

Symbolism and The Endowment Ceremony

To answer the question of what are Mormon garments, it’s first important to understand the role of sacred clothing in LDS temple worship. Latter-day Saint temples are different from the Church’s regular meetinghouses. While anyone is welcome to attend Sunday services in a local Latter-day Saint chapel, temples are considered especially sacred, set apart as a place to perform specific religious rites. Only faithful members of the Church who have spiritually prepared themselves to participate in these rites may enter a dedicated temple.

The clothing Latter-day Saints wear in temples falls into two categories: white temple clothing and ceremonial temple robes. The robes are worn over the white clothing during temple rites, which Latter-day Saints refer to as ordinances.

The endowment ceremony is a crucial step in a Latter-day Saint’s journey of following the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As with many faiths, Latter-day Saints treat certain rituals with reverence and privacy. The endowment ceremony isn’t discussed in detail outside the temple because it’s considered very sacred. But in a way, the endowment is somewhat similar to a graduation ceremony. Those who participate come prepared to progress to a higher level of responsibility in life. They wear symbolic clothing meant for the occasion and use symbolic gestures to represent their progression.

In the Endowment, participants make these four promises to God:

1. To obey God’s commandments
   
2. To live the gospel of Jesus Christ
   
3. To be chaste and faithful to their spouse
   
4. To dedicate their lives and resources to the service of God
   

Members of the Church leave the ceremony having made a solemn commitments about how they will live their lives. Part of this lifestyle involves always wearing “Mormon sacred garments,” underclothing officially called the temple garment, as a reminder of their covenant.

White Clothing: Purity, Unity, and Equality

During ordinances like the endowment and sealing (temple marriage), Church members wear all-white clothing. White represents purity and the sanctity of the promises being made. Additionally, the uniformity of temple clothing eliminates visual distinctions of wealth, social status, or Church position. The most senior Church leader and a new member attending the temple for the first time are indistinguishable when dressed in the same simple white attire.

When a member of the Church goes to the temple, he or she will arrive in regular Sunday church clothes. But once in the temple, locker rooms for men and women are provided as a place to dress in the white clothes meant specifically for the temple. For women, this clothing typically includes a long-sleeve or three-quarter-sleeve white dress or white blouse and skirt, along with white hosiery or socks and white shoes or slippers. For men, it consists of a long-sleeve white shirt, a white necktie or bow tie, white pants, socks, and shoes or slippers.

Ceremonial Temple Robes: Ancient Patterns and Modern Faith

Over their white clothing, members wear ceremonial temple robes during certain ordinances. These sacred robes are rich in symbolism and rooted in patterns found in the Bible, specifically the ancient temple worship of Israel. A sash, robe, and apron are some of the items worn. Although ceremonial dress like Mormon the garment may seem unusual to those unfamiliar with the practice, each piece carries symbolic meaning to the wearer that reflects a covenantal relationship with God.

For Latter-day Saints, the practice of wearing temple robes in their ceremonies connects them spiritually to temple practices described in biblically, including the use of sacred spaces, sacred clothing, and sacred covenants.

Mormon Garments: An Everyday Reminder of Sacred Commitments

Both inside and outside the temple, many Latter-day Saints wear a two-piece set of modest, white underclothing called the temple garment. Mormon garments are worn only by adult members who have participated in the endowment ceremony. The garment is not visible to the public and is worn beneath regular clothing. This way, members are able to take a part of the temple with them throughout their everyday lives.

Some people misunderstand or misrepresent these garments, referring to them as “magic underwear.” Terms like this are not only inaccurate, but disrespectful. There is nothing magical or mystical about the garment. For Church members, it’s simply meant as a personal reminder of their promises to follow Jesus Christ.

Endowed members of the Church are encouraged to wear the garments Mormons day and night, except during activities where it would be unreasonable, such as intense physical exercise, showering, or swimming.

It’s important to Latter-day Saints that the garment is not to be publicly displayed, especially to those who may not understand its spiritual significance. This discretion isn’t meant out of shame or secrecy, but as a personal and sacred act of devotion.

Respect for Sacred Practices

Because the temple and the Mormon sacred garment are so sacred to Latter-day Saints, they generally avoid talking about them in public. This isn’t because they are trying to hide something, but because reverence and respect are central to their religious experience. Latter-day Saints ask for the same respect any person of goodwill would give to those who want to practice their religious beliefs in peace. 

Those who seek to “expose” or mock temple practices and “magic underwear Mormon” are not only violating personal religious boundaries, but also undermining shared human values of religious freedom and mutual respect.

Mormon Temple Garments as a Personal Trust

What Latter-day Saints wear in temples is inseparably tied to their personal relationships with God. The white clothing and ceremonial robes are part of a rich spiritual tapestry that helps individuals draw closer to God, make sacred promises, and commit to living better, more Christ-centered lives.

Whether it’s the symbolic robes worn during ordinances or the daily mormon temple garments worn as a quiet reminder of faith, Latter-day Saint temple clothing is about devotion, not display. It’s not sinister or secret—it’s sacred. 

About Mormonism Explained

Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.

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