"Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean" (Isa. 52:1).
The wearing of sacred clothing is a pattern replete throughout scripture. Noah wore a special garment that Ham removed (see Gen. 9:23), Aaron and other Levitical high priests had to don holy garments when performing certain rites associated with the temple (see Exo. 28), and the Lord Jesus Christ wore a costly tunic fashioned without seams up until his crucifixion (see John 19:23 – 24).
Even in the modern world, sectarian priests (men "of the robe"), Jewish men, military chaplains, and others (the list goes on) wear special outerwear to indicate their sacred status relative to those around them. Most major religions—Mormons included—ascribe to some sacred vestment or another to reflect their relationship toward God and away from the world—and this for a good reason:
"Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (Jas. 4:4).
Adam and Eve are a perfect example of how what we wear literally defines that with which we identify. Consider my summary:
When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, they became aware of how that they had disobeyed God and that he would see that they were naked. Like children insisting on defining themselves by putting on their clothes, though poorly executed and mismatched, Adam and Eve tried their best to define themselves through their choice of clothing.
They put on fig leaves, a sort of camouflage, that communicated outwardly that they felt lesser than God and identified with the world of nature as opposed to the divine.
But what did God do when he found his children choosing to dress themselves in a way that said, "We are lesser than you and we feel out of place around you"? Like a loving parent who fixes a child's poor attempt at dressing itself—turning the pants around and fixing the missed buttons—God personally dressed Adam and Eve in sacred vestments that said, "No, you are the children of God and are greater than this world."
The clothing choices we physically make reflect our spiritual choices. When we choose to wear the fashions of the world at the expense of sacred clothing (even that not meant for the eyes of others) we choose friendship with the world and say—without words—"I love the world more than God." In doing this, having already covenanted with God, we say also, "I have forgotten who God said I am."
I have seen so many times that even the occasional neglect of sacred clothing reflects directly to a person's waning spiritual perspective of themselves and God. Is it no wonder the scriptures call for the people who want to be called Zion to first put on their garments?
"For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments" (D&C 82:14, emphasis added).
P.S: For those Christians who have not yet come into possession of sacred wearable emblems, the message is not missed on you: "The fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Cor. 7:31), therefore "lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better" (D&C 25:10). Be conscious of what you wear and the message you send to God and the world.
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