Death and Garments

[Tyler90AZ]

Originally Posted by annewandering

It is hardly up to us to judge a persons worthiness when they arent even here to defend themselves. Wearing garments on a dead body isnt going to get a person to the right side of the spirit world. So why do we dress the body in garments at all? It all boils down to respect and love doesnt it? It certainly has no real effect on the spirit that has pass onto the spirit world.

I was going to say, not allowing a person to wear Temple Gear when they die is like kicking a dead person.

[Bini]

In my grandfather's case, it was not an issue of whether he was worthy to be buried in his temple garments. Like I noted, his children were evenly split down the middle, for it and against it, due to either being LDS or not being LDS. Unfortunately, he had never stated, written or otherwise, that he wished to be buried in his garments. I'm assuming this is because he had been an inactive for so long, the "issue" had not been something on his mind..


But my questions were answered. Basically, someone who has not been excommunicated (regardless of inactivity or minor sins), is to be buried in their garments if they wore them prior to death.

[Gwen]

My understanding was that if they have been endowed (no matter their standing - excluding excommunication) they were not only to be buried in their garments but the entire temple ceremonial clothing.

In cases where there is no endowed member to dress them or a family conflict issue the packet of clothing can be placed in the casket with them upon burial.

My mom is an inactive endowed member. She was talking to me about what her wishes were and so I asked her about the temple clothing. She just assumed when she went inactive that she would not be allowed to wear them and said she needed to think it over. If she never gets back to me then I will probably just request to put them in the casket with her.

[beefche]

Why put the clothes in the casket? And for that matter, why dress people in the ceremonial clothing? If someone is getting cremated, do you still dress them in the ceremonial clothing? Is it thought that whatever they wore in death is what they will wear in the next life?

[Bini]

Originally Posted by beefche

Why put the clothes in the casket? And for that matter, why dress people in the ceremonial clothing? If someone is getting cremated, do you still dress them in the ceremonial clothing? Is it thought that whatever they wore in death is what they will wear in the next life?

I was going to ask this when I posted the original post but didn't, so I'm glad you did.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by beefche

Why put the clothes in the casket? And for that matter, why dress people in the ceremonial clothing? If someone is getting cremated, do you still dress them in the ceremonial clothing? Is it thought that whatever they wore in death is what they will wear in the next life?

Yes, when they are getting cremated they are dressed in their ceremonial clothing if possible. I don't know the why part- but why not? The LDS Store On Line sells ceremonial clothing for burial. The dress is not sewn closed at the back- has ties at the neck, and you just tuck the dress under the body. When my Mother was buried, the Bishop of her Ward placed the veil over her face after the services and moments before they closed and sealed the casket.

My sister weighed too much for us to dress her- over 650 pounds- plus she was being cremated, so her garments, ceremonial clothes, gown, socks, slippers were placed in her envelope and placed in her hands.

Originally Posted by beefche

Is it thought that whatever they wore in death is what they will wear in the next life?

That is just in the movies, not as any doctrinal teachings. As Far As I Know.

On the other side of the clothing part, when we buried my Grandma- she was not LDS, her back was so bent from arthritis that they had to put padding around her to keep her from rolling on her side. She also only had sweat shirts with great V's cut into the neckline and sweat pants, she wore slippers she knitted. The last 8 years of her life she refused to wear bras or her girdle. We just could not see stuffing her into a bra and had no money for a dress and the trimmings. So, we dressed her in one of her new nightgowns, her favorite slippers and in a box we put her favorite broach, necklace, earrings and bracelet. She had told us that she didn't want to be buried wearing her wedding rings- but we could not get them off of her without trouble so they are still on her finger. Had she been an endowed member, she would have been dressed in Temple Whites.

[bytebear]

I am trying to remember, but as I recall, the deceased is dressed nicely, but not all in white as you would in the temple, but the temple ceremonial clothes are placed on top of the non-white clothes. So, it's not required that the dressing of the body exactly match the temple experience. Also, there are not special rites to the dead as there are in other religions. There is a dedicatory prayer given to the grave site, but that is no different than a father dedicating or sanctifying a home, asking a special blessing on the space.

But I think it is an important remembrance and I know it's a very sacred time as the act of dressing the body is given to family and not to the funeral director. I also think unless you are excommunicated, you are still entitled to the rights (and rites) of temple clothing. You are still encouraged to wear garments even when fellowshipped.

[Gwen]

My understanding about wearing the temple ceremonial clothing is multiple reasons (mostly symbolic and out of respect for the endowed person).

The body is a temple and that is how we dress for/in the temple.

The symbolism about being prepared to return to god's presence (that is where we are headed when we die). In the temple the whole process is symbolic of preparing to enter the celestial kingdom and the ceremonial clothing is part of that process.

It's not about what our spirits will be "wearing" on the other side though I have heard myth like stories (not from church leaders or confirmed by them) about such being the case.

I have heard and can't find a reference for it so now I'm curious if anyone else has heard it, can provide the reference, or knows it's a myth.... We will be resurrected into the body we had when we died (I know that is taught) including the clothing we were wearing, if we are worthy of the celestial kingdom we will rise in our temple clothes so we do need them on or with us (that's the part I'm not sure about). Personally it would be nice to know I won't be resurrected in the nude. lol

On a side note I personally think the process is more for the surviving than the dead. I have had opportunity to help dress or prepare clothing for the deceased on multiple occasions. It's a very powerful experience. For those that had family there you could see the closure the whole process provided. It was truly an honor to be there with a daughter as she dressed her mother in the clothing of the temple. The temple was something they shared in their testimony, they had spent cherished time there together, it was a reminder that they had been sealed and would be together again. When we entered the room you could see the heavy grief on the daughter's face, she expressed concern that she would not be able to participate. When we left there was still sorrow but you could see a light in her eyes again as she smiled and caressed her mother's face and told her how beautiful she was and how much she loved her and seeing her again one day. The spirit was very powerful even for the funeral home director who respectfully observed from the corner and offered advise on the logistics of dressing a body. Even though she did not understand the temple and the covenants shared between this mother and daughter she knew what was taking place was different than anything she had experienced. I know her grief was lightened by the process. I know the process can help to heal those left behind.

[annewandering]

Perhaps the biggest reason for dressing in the temple clothes is to remind the living that because of the temple sealings even death can not truly separate us from our loved ones. As in the funeral service we are reminded of the purpose of the Atonement and that if we keep our covenants we will be reunited for eternity.
Thank you for this thread to help me to realize this for myself.
I am not a fan of funerals etc at all, not for myself at least. This helps me to see that some aspects of it are good lessons and reminders for our loved ones we leave behind.

[beefche]

It's interesting to me that about the only place you can "legally" see someone dressed in the ceremonial clothing is at a funeral. Otherwise, we are very careful to keep those clothes from being seen by others--even in the temple, you cannot walk around in your ceremonial clothing. You must remove it to go to a waiting area or any other place besides the celestial room or dressing room.