News Flash: There has been a significant shift in garment practices within our faith community over the last 30 years.
I remember, as a kid, sleeping over at my friend’s house, whose family had been inactive in the church for well over a decade.
I recall seeing his father in a casual moment in front of the television, wearing pajama pants with his garment top exposed.
It caught me off guard as my young brain was trying to understand why my friend’s father wore garments but didn’t go to church.
Now, 30 years later, it is clear that some of the most valiant members are attending church, attending the temple, fulfilling callings, bearing testimony, and doing all the other things, yet often don’t seem to wear the garment regularly.
Now, to be clear, this is an observation post, not a judgment post.
Of course, I have my own opinions on garments, but I’ll try to keep them to myself.
Along that note, it seems that the Boomer generation is more rigid when it comes to wearing garments.
Gen X is more consistent because the Boomers taught them, and many are wondering if Millennials and Generation Z are wearing garments at all. (Remember… no judgement)
Currently, the vast majority of church leaders are in the Gen X demographic and feel concerned about the up-and-coming generation “not getting it!”
This leaves the leaders wondering how to motivate a behavior of garment wearing, while the more recently endowed are saying, “mind your own business!”
This is the point of the article where I typically offer a conclusive point; however, I don’t have one.
I only have a few observations.
Observation 1: A shift is occurring away from consistent garment wearing, and the older generation will need to adapt to it. Garment practices have consistently shifted over our short religious history, and we should expect them to continue changing.
Observation 2: Our teaching on the garment is not as clear as more orthodox leaders may assume. There is no clear covenant stated in the temple to wear the garment; however, the Handbook says we covenant in the temple to wear the garment. The system is confusing and is producing an uncertain habit.
Observation 3: Temple practices in general are so symbolic that the daily application of these covenants is unclear to the majority. There is much talk about strength through covenants; however, the typical covenant journey doesn’t connect the eternal with the temporal very well.
What observations are you seeing?
Is this something to be concerned about as leaders?
Is there a more effective way to motivate a garment-wearing behavior other than using “should”?
Sincerely,
Kurt Francom
Executive Director
Leading Saints
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