What is the purpose and basis for the special garments issued to temple-going Mormons?

Question

I understand that there are certain garments which temple-going Mormons are obliged to wear after going through their initial Temple Ceremony. My question is regarding the basis for this. When did it originate? Was it a new revelation from God? Is it recorded in any LDS Scriptures or the Doctrines & Covenants? Does it have any relation to the priestly garments worn by Levites in the Old Testament?

I also understand that there are various symbols on them. What are the specific purposes of those?

I do not wish to be irreverent here. That would not be constructive, so please observe the same tone in any answers.

Answer 1

The "temple garments," as they're commonly known, serve as a constant physical reminder of the covenants that the person wearing them have made. They are associated with the temple ceremonies, as you noted in the question. These ceremonies were revealed to Joseph Smith, and as they are not meant for the world in general, the details have not been published in works of scripture meant for the world in general, such as the Doctrine and Covenants.

I have not heard of any doctrine that directly equates them to the Levitical priestly garments, though I did at one point hear a somewhat similar explanation from a top church leader. (Vague memory, and I have no reference to link to, but I remember that this was given in the spirit of analogy and explanation rather than as solid doctrine, during a discussion involving leaders of other churches.) It went something like this:

In your church, you have people who hold clerical offices. This carries certain rights and responsibilities with it. And they wear special clerical clothing as a symbol of their office. Well, for us it's a very similar system, except that we have a lay priesthood that any worthy member can be ordained to, not just leaders. These people have their own vocations and day-to-day activities, and it would be impractical for them to go around dressed like priests all the time, but the temple garments allow them to carry such a reminder of their ordination with them at all times as a personal reminder, to them, of what it means, instead of an outward symbol to the rest of the world.

Likewise, the symbols on the garment are meant to serve as reminders of specific spiritual truths. Exactly what they represent cannot be effectively discussed in a setting such as this, where objectively correct answers are desired above all else, because those who have been through the temple ceremonies are under a strict covenant obligation to not reveal the knowledge gained therein to the world.

This means that anyone who claims to explain their meaning either have not actually received the ceremony and so they are just making it up, or they have received it and, in telling, are willing to break a solemn vow made to God, and thus their explanation cannot be trusted, especially as in practice, those who do are almost invariably doing so for the specific purpose of trying to make the church look bad, which should automatically call their objectivity into question.

Answer 2

Update: The LDS Church posted a new online resource solely about the temple garments. The video interviews are quite helpful here.

The garment originated back in Biblical times and the concept is related to the priestly garments worn by the tribe of Levi. There are Biblical and other LDS-scriptural references to the temple garments.

From the Mormon Newsroom:

Biblical scripture contains many references to the wearing of special garments. In the Old Testament the Israelites are specifically instructed to turn their garments into personal reminders of their covenants with God (see Numbers 15:37-41). Indeed, for some, religious clothing has always been an important part of integrating worship with daily living. Such practices resonate with Latter-day Saints today.

LDS doctrine states that in our day, temple ordinances have been restored to the earth in their fulness, offering great and eternal blessings to faithful members of the Church. Because of the restoration of these ordinances, temples and associated commandments may be found in the Doctrine and Covenants. So in a sense, it was a new revelation from God, but was seen on the earth before.

From this article by Elder Carlos E. Asay of the Seventy:

It is written that “the white garment symbolizes purity and helps assure modesty, respect for the attributes of God, and, to the degree it is honored, a token of what Paul regarded as taking upon one the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13; cf. D&C 27:15). … Garments bear several simple marks of orientation toward the gospel principles of obedience, truth, life, and discipleship in Christ.”

However, discussion outside of the temple of the specific meanings of details of the garment and of the temple itself is not acceptable by Latter-day Saints and such discussion is often considered offensive because of the sacred nature of these things.

It is commonly said that the temple garment is "an outward expression of an inward commitment to follow the Savior" (see Asay's full article above).

Answer 3

Mason and Matt have answered this quite well, but there's another aspect to the garments that hasn't been brought up.

In the temple, Mormons are told that the garments represent the clothing given to Adam and Even when they were naked in the Garden of Eden, which can help us understand other things about the garment.

For example, Adam and Eve would either had to kill or witnessed the killing of an animal, whose skin would be used to make the clothing. This would have been the first death that they saw, and is likely when they learned about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the symbolism of animal sacrifice. As such, the covering of skins taught them the power of making covenants and developing a relationship with God. The animal skins do not symbolize modern-day garments; rather the modern-day garments are meant to remind us of the animal skins.

Answer 4

Mormon Temple Garments can be of any material, including skins. Joseph Smith's were originally made of unbleached muslin.¹ They should be made of wool:

Some of you have got an idea that wool will not do will not do; but let me inform you that when Peter came and sat in the Temple in Kirtland, he had on a neat woolen garment, nicely adjusted round the neck. What do sheep wear next the skin? Wool, of course. What do goats wear? Hair, for that is their nature. These are facts that are apparent to all who will look. ²

The Sufis wear a special garment made of wool. Suf means wool, and is the garment worn by early Muslim ascetics.

¹ _{James Allred as quoted in "Mormon Fundamentalism" by Max Anderson. Page 326; "Early Pioneer History" by Eliza M. A. Munson; "The Book of Remembrance of Elna Garner McReavy"}

² _{Original Mormon Apostle, Heber C Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 9:376}