Mormon women are lining up to purchase new $5 ‘sacred’ garments that symbolize a turning point for the church

Social media was abuzz with pictures of long queues, mostly women, waiting for their chance to enter specialty stores to purchase new items on Tuesday.

The enthusiasm for the new clothing, which members of what is widely known as the Mormon Church wear under modest street clothes, is not just limited to all the clothes that can be worn more easily over tank tops. Introducing more breathable fabrics and styles to white two-piece outfits is key, especially for those who struggle to wear them for medical reasons or live in warm climates.

“I think it’s great that they’re taking into consideration women’s needs,” said Amanda Shirley, a church member from Salt Lake City, who was shopping for clothes Tuesday. She knows some women who struggle with old clothes made of cotton and polyester because of health problems, including gynecological conditions.

While the symbolism of clothing is more important to Shirley than comfort, she is excited about a more breathable alternative. She considers the church’s introduction of new clothing to be “progressive thinking.”

The church, which has more than 17 million members worldwide, has an all-male priesthood and its senior leaders are all men. Higher-ranking women serve on boards with several layers of leadership under men-only groups.

Although they sometimes drew ridicule from outsiders, the clothing worn by both men and women can be compared to the sacred garments of other religions. They remind Latter-day Saints who go to the temple that they have made vows of obedience, sacrifice, sexual purity and devotion, said Kathleen Fleck, a former professor of Mormon studies at the University of Virginia.

Flake said that the new clothes were designed by a group that includes men and women inside the church. She said they consulted with major lingerie manufacturers to develop these styles over the past two years or so.

“They tried to basically make underwear for the world,” Fleck said. “The goal here was to make sure people were comfortable doing this aspect of their faith.”

New clothes draw long lines at Utah stores

And in Utah, the church’s home state, the new clothing lines were similar to those in Black Friday sales, state Sen. Mike McKell said in a post on X.

A line of mostly women carrying blue shopping baskets snaked through one of the church’s Deseret Book stores in Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the line was out the door.

New clothes cost about $4 to $5 each. An employee walked through the line carrying a measuring tape, happily telling customers about the new stretchy fabric, made with some spandex, which she said provided a cooling effect. Signs at store registers advertised a limit of 20 items per customer to ensure availability to as many shoppers as possible. As of 3pm, the store was very small and very small.

When one shopper, Janie Skinner, was asked why she was excited about new clothes, she simply said: “I sweat a lot!”

While there is a way to buy new clothes online, many shoppers told The Associated Press they want a chance to try on updated styles and sizes before purchasing.

Clothes change with time

Fleck, the longtime Mormon expert, said the church has made a number of stylistic changes to temple clothing throughout its history, simply because the way people dress is changing. This latest change has also been a long time coming because faith is truly universal and should meet the needs of everyone who practices it, she said.

“This change shows the church’s response to making clothing as comfortable as possible for as many people as possible,” Fleck said.

This is also why clothing was first introduced in other parts of the world where it was a more practical necessity, including hotter climates and where women typically wore dresses. Sleeveless shirts, underskirts and one-piece suits were already available in Africa and the Philippines, according to the church’s online store.

Daniel Walker hurried to buy new clothes before he left on Wednesday for missionary training. He said he’s excited to try out the new style of tank top, which he hopes will be more comfortable in the warmer months while serving his mission in Roseville, California. He said the current clothes can get hot, but he’s gotten used to it.

A friend who served a mission in Africa obtained the sleeveless clothing there last year and encouraged Walker to buy it as soon as it hit shelves in the United States, he said.

The missionary from Grantsville, 37 miles (59 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City, said he gets frustrated when people outside the faith joke that Latter-day Saints wear “magical underwear.” He hopes that by talking openly about spiritual importance, he can help overcome some of the stigma.

“I feel like sometimes people act like it’s a secret or something we need to hide,” Walker said. “But for me, it’s just something that reminds me of the promises I made with God, so I don’t think I should keep it a secret.”

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Bharat reported from Los Angeles and Mayer reported from Nashville, Tennessee.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through an AP collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.