Actually, I think that your observation involves an equivocation. Yes, Jews are an ethnic group, but not all Jews are active participants in Judaism or wear ritual garments. Secular Jews, of course, wear nothing at all that is distinctively Jewish. Reform Jews may wear a Kippa and may wear a Tallit during services. Otherwise nothing. Conservatie Jews wear a Kippa and a Tallit during services and may wear a Kippa at other times. Orthodox Jews wear all sorts of ritual garments, all or much of the time. Including, as several of us have noted, the short or little Tallit under their outer shirt - just like the Mormons. So criticizing what Jews wear is criticizing a religious practice of religious Jews, not criticizing an ethnicity.
2 Likes
Yah, except, of course, Jews, Hebrews, Israelites or whatever you want to call us, have become âwhiteâ only very recently in US history.
4 Likes
A friend of mine is a Mormon, and heâs also one of the nicest people Iâve ever known. When weâve talked about various issues itâs also clear that heâs as opposed to the church leadershipâs stance on certain things as I am. I could say heâs still enabling the churchâs actions even if he doesnât agree with them, but then I have to ask myself why Iâm not just as critical of my Catholic friends who are the same way.
Maybe itâs my agnostic version of âhate the sin, love the sinnerâ, but then I see them trying to change the things about their respective churches they donât like, and even if I could I have no desire to try and take away what they get from their faith.
4 Likes
The symbols are Masonic markings that Joseph Smith (creator of the Book of Mormon and founder of Mormonism) borrowed when he created the LDS Temple Ceremony (called the Endowment). There are 3 markings, 2 on the top piece (t-shirt) and one on the bottom on the right leg.
The 2 on the top are the âsquareâ and âcompassâ symbols/visuals from Masonry. You may have also seen them in the Masonic symbol on the back of cars. Google Masonic Seal for an example. I would post an image but Iâm new here soâŚ
3 Likes
Yeah, I know jewish people becoming âwhiteâ is a recent thing, but I think thereâs sitll some weird pale-skin-is-inherently-more-pure shit going on with the Book of Mormon having the âwickedâ israeli-offshoot tribe that rejected the second coming of Jesus in america and may be the ancestors of native americans be âcursed with skin of blacknessâ for their transgressions, to make them unattractive to the light-skinned, ârighteousâ, still-christian Nephites.
Of course itâs not like thatâs the ONLY problem mormonism has with regards to raceâŚ
You can just copy and paste images into posts here and the nice people at boin-boing do something to them afterwards. 
You canât start a new religion without roping in a bit of justified and ancient Masonic symbology 
2 Likes
Donât even give @OtherMichael a âTechnically Correctâ because he has purposely misled you with a non-relevant statistic. Look up Utah and youâll be hard pressed to find a county that isnât majority Mormon. Many are in the 75-80% range.
Cool zoomable map:
2 Likes
My only contact with Mormons has been shutting my door in their faces a couple of times, and finding their funny Bible next to the Gideon one in a hotel room once. Arizona? Nevada?
This discussion is making me think a bit about the reaction to this case ( or at least the re-reaction when it came to light again with the cloned dog thing):
1 Like
Just putting it out there, but they do make some similar style ladies bottoms that you can purchase at Macyâs. They are made by Jockey, I believe. I have a couple and they are good for wearing under short casual dresses - give a little extra coverage and protection against chafing if Iâm doing a lot of walking.
2 Likes
Can you support that claim?
I sure hopes itâs true. Because in the time and place where I grew up, it was emphatically NOT true. The Mormons werenât treated as badly as people of color to be sure, but there was open, active discrimination against these âNon-Christian Cultistsâ at that time and place.
I now live far away, geographically and culturally, from where I grew up. My question is sincere --can you support your claim â because I donât know the current situation.
I think I qualify as a reputable source on this subject since I was raised LDS and wore the temple garments most of my adult life and participated in may LDS temple rites. I am what you would call a cultural Mormon, and I consider myself akin to someone of Jewish heritage who appreciates the traditions but does not believe the underlying dogma (âDoctrineâ in Mormon-speak). Here is some trivia about the Mormon garments, some of which has already been mentioned in previous responses:
- The embroidered symbols are indeed of a Masonic origin. Joseph Smith was a Mason and based many of the LDS rites on Masonic rituals.
- The design of the undergarments has evolved over the years. Originally they were one-piece units that extended to the cuffs and ankles, similar to much underwear in the 19th century - sort of like the red or gray long-johns you see in westerns. Sometime in the early 20th century the sleeves were shortened and the legs were shortened to just above the knee but they were still one piece with trap doors just like old-timey underwear. About 35 years ago they went to the current two piece style.
- No, Mormons are not required to wear them when they have sex.
- The website mentions wanting no profits going to the LDS church. Actually, there are no profits involved. The garments are sold to members at cost: material + manufacturing + packaging + distribution - typically priced at $2-$3 per article.
- They are available in olive drab for those in the military.
- There is an initiatory rite Mormons go through before they are allowed to wear the temple garments.
I am not offended but can understand that many true believer Mormons will be horrified by these gentile garments, which seems to be the whole point of the enterprise.
5 Likes
Mormons literally believe themselves to be the new jews
1 Like
Speak for yourself. I donât do anything in the name of religion, much less silly things in the name of religion.
I may mock the silly things the religious do, and the absurdity of what they believe, but the religious will tell me to my face that I deserve to suffer in cosmic torment forever just because I donât agree with them. That seems disproportionate.
2 Likes
According to a description by LDS Church president John Taylor in 1883, the âSquareâ represents âthe justice and fairness of our Heavenly Father, that we will receive all the good that is coming to us or all that we earn, on a square dealâ, and the âCompassesâ represents âthe North Starâ. In addition to the Square and Compasses, Taylor described the other symbols as follows: the collar represented the idea that the Lordâs âyoke is easy and [his] burden is lightâ, or the âCrown of the Priesthoodâ; the double-knotted strings represented âthe Trinityâ and âthe marriage covenantâ; the navel mark represents âstrength in the navel and marrow in the bonesâ; and the knee mark represents âthat every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christâ.
1 Like
Some of the comments in this thread lead me to believe a lot of people have NO IDEA how much power the Mormons actually hold in this country. They basically own an entire state, unlike really any other religion or cultural group that I can think of has.
2 Likes
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism and a number of other religious groups have held significant control over the resources and politics of states and regions around the world. Or maybe Iâm misreading your comment?
1 Like
Every casual, less-that-positive comment isnât automatically pejorative, any more than âpenguin suitâ is a deep-rooted hatred of nuns.
Now, white shoes and matching belts â câmon, thatâs just asking for it.
I will just leave this here for the handwringersâŚ
This too
5 Likes
I meant specifically within the U.S., and in a really amazingly short period of time. Itâs still a pretty new religion, when comparing to other religions (obviously itâs just another off-shoot of an off-shoot of an off-shoot, but itâs also very different).
And Mormons hold a LOT of political power in this country, even still being so new.
And then there is Scientology, which has gained a lot of influence in an even shorter amount of time, although thatâs on a totally different level and seems really centered on the fame aspect of âfame and fortuneâ in a way most religions never have before.
Iâm not making a value judgement (well, okay, maybe a little). I just find it interesting that a lot of people here are talking as if they are some sort of tiny little minority, when they really arenât. They are a massive, OPPRESSIVE religion that hods a lot of power in this country.
Now â I wonder: what IS the Mormon influence around the globe? Anyone know? Iâll go to the Googles later when I have more time and if I remember.
5 Likes
Freedom of religion doesnât mean protection from uncivil disrespectful atheists/hedonists. Freedom of religion does mean I have freedom of conscience to believe, practice and worship as I choose as long as I donât break laws where I live. Just because I choose to believe, worship and practice the values, principles of my Christian faith by being civil, respectful, God-believing and Christ-like doesnât mean those that disagree with me will do likewise to me. So be it. I am required by my personal choice to treat others the way that I want to be treated. So God bless the mockers, the railors, the venters, all those who just donât get the good up til now. I hope one day you will.
1 Like
