Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Glenn Cook" <pule67 AT hotmail.com>]

Dear Cindy Smith

Maybe in part.

I'm not LDS and so cannot speak to it with authority, but they seem to have
other reasons for the garment-mostly revelation-and so don't need this to
justify the wearing of garments, but it is a covenant story to confirm their
beliefs.

By the way, If you are interested, women also wear the garments and the
garment is not a symbol of priesthood as in the story. And this story comes
from tradition and not just their story. The garment is given to them in the
temple and is a symbol of their being in the covenant, much the same as
circumcision is to the jews. As this covenant can only be made in the temple
and the garments are first placed on them in the temple, only members old
enough to attend the temple can wear them. The males must be ordained as
Elders in the Melchizedek Priesthood before they can attend the temple. This
is usually about 18 for men, as men normally  go to their missions around
this age and must have their endowments before they can go. It is sometimes
later for women as they are encouraged to wait to go to the temple till they
are married. But, if they are going on a mission, or for some other reason,
need to go to the temple and take out their endowments earlier, they can.
So, needless to say, the garment is not worn by the younger men.

It is true that the boy's receive the Aaronic priesthood when they are about
13, about the same age as the Jewish Bar-Mitzvah and it gives them some of
the same privileges and obligations as the Bar-Mitzvah does the Jewish
youth, but not exactly the same.

I'm not LDS and not an apologist for them, but feel that we have an
obligation to be accurate when discussing their beliefs, especially those
that want to criticize them. So if you have any questions about the LDS that
you want an unbiased opinion on, or a more correct answer to, I will be
happy to try and supply it. I don't criticize them, or fight them, as that
is God's business and as was said of Jesus, I might find myself fighting
God. I'm not wise enough to know all God is doing and all of His ways. I
know you were not criticizing them either and found that refreshing. There
is far too much fighting others and too little trying to live as the Lord
has ask us to.

I find the story interesting though, as an alternate understanding of what
happened and would clear up why Noah was so mad that he gave the harsh curse
that he did. But only interesting.


Glenn Cook
P.O. Box 123
Aurora, Utah
84620

---- Original Message -----
From: Cindy Smith <cms AT dragon.com>
To: <pule67 AT hotmail.com>
Cc: <B-HEBREW AT FRANKLIN.OIT.UNC.EDU>; <cms AT dragon.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2000 9:45 PM
Subject: RE: Uncovering nakedness


> Glen Cook,
>
>   The story you told about the special garment sounds like a supporting
> reason for the practice of LDS men of wearing a special undergarment
> that reaches almost to the knees signifying the Aaronic priesthood for
> LDS men over the age of 13.  What do you think?
>
>
> Cindy Smith    Spawn of a Jewish Carpenter
> GO AGAINST THE FLOW! \\ _\\\_     _///_ // A Real Live Catholic in Georgia
> cms AT dragon.com       >IXOYE=('> <`)=  _<<  "Delay not your conversion
> cms AT romancatholic.org//  ///       \\\  \\   to the LORD, Put it not off
> cms AT 5sc.net      from day to day" Ecclus/Sira 5:8
>