I sat down with scholars Nancy Ross and Jessica Finnigan to discuss their taboo research on Mormon garments. They, along with Larissa Kanno Kindred, are the co-authors of the groundbreaking book Mormon Garments, Sacred and Secret. The deeply candid conversation pulls back the curtain on a historically taboo research topic within Latter-day Saint culture, exploring the complex intersections of theology, historical evolution, and the very real physical realities of wearing temple garments.
Don’t miss our other conversations Nancy Ross: https://gospeltangents.com/people/nancy-ross/
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Gospel Tangents
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What started as a small research project in 2014 quickly exploded when the authors’ survey garnered 4,500 responses in just one week. The authors were stunned by the heavy, unexpected stories pouring in, which highlighted a stark contrast between the experiences of men and women. While men generally reported lower physical costs, women detailed the immense, ongoing physical toll associated with wearing garments day and night through various stages of life.
Medical Reality of “Pads and Gore”
The authors frankly discuss how the required underclothing frequently traps heat and moisture, disrupting the body’s natural pH. This environment contributes to severe medical issues for some women, including chronic yeast infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and in extreme cases, precancerous lesions. Managing menstruation, pregnancy, and nursing while wearing garments often creates a difficult “mess,” yet women expressed immense guilt over taking them off, even when their doctors explicitly begged them to stop wearing the garments at night for health reasons.
Silence, Surveillance, and Strictness
Ross and Finnigan explain that the institutional silence surrounding garments created a dangerous void. Because there was no official guidance for biological realities, the void was typically filled by the most demanding, conservative voices in the community. Women were left navigating complicated, unofficial rules—such as whether it was acceptable to wear regular underwear underneath their garments to hold period products in place. Furthermore, the surveillance of other people’s underwear practices is deeply normalized within the culture, adding psychological pressure. The authors also noted that for individuals experiencing doubt, the garments often shifted from being a symbol of faith to a psychological tool of institutional control.
Opening the Door for Change
Despite receiving pushback from the community for discussing the topic, the authors actually presented their findings directly to the LDS church’s correlation research division to advocate for women’s gynecological health. Recently, there have been very positive developments, including new handbook updates that explicitly allow bishops to grant medical accommodations. Additionally, the church has introduced much-needed modernizations like half-slips, full slips, and period garments. By breaking the silence, the authors hope their work will validate the varied bodily experiences of women in the church and make the practice of wearing garments much kinder and more flexible for everyone.
0:00 Meet Nancy & Jessica
1:44 Are Garments Taboo?
5:27 Presenting to LDS Leadership?
9:20 Gender Differences with Garments
Don’t miss our other conversations Nancy Ross: https://gospeltangents.com/people/nancy-ross/
Copyright © 2026
Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
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