Mormon Undies

Not all Mormons wear what they refer to as 'undergarmets' but the good, temple-going ones do. My father, quite the homophobic and misogynist, does.

I heard all the tales about their magical properties: people in fire with no burns where the underwear was, or who would have been crushed to death had they not been wearing them. Even as a young child, I thought the stories were pretty much just that.

A garmet wearing Mormon family member got in a car collision, resulting in complications. Noone questioned why the garmets failed to protect them, nor why god would allow such an event to take place; however something my father said, "If she hadn't been in that [built like a tank, American] car, she would be dead", spoke more truth then anything.

T.O. Temple

The temple is a place where many, even Mormons, are restricted from entering. The one exception is when a new temple is first erected. I was able to go to what is called the Toronto temple, even though it's in Brampton, right before it opened in 1990.

When I heard how much it cost to make it I was in awe, but also questioned how that money could have been better used. The interior, with its intriciate designs, reminded me of other faiths churches. I was unaware at the time of how these criticisms aren't cabalistic (unlike church)

Even though I was a young primary aged child, I had a sense this would be my one and only time inside a temple. That was the one truth I felt that day.