Mormon women have become so obsessed with an \u201cillicit\u201d item that they are turning to the black market to get their hands on it, catapulting the controversial church into the spotlight once again.<\/p>\n
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently redesigned its infamous temple garments, a type of underwear worn by faithful members under their clothes.<\/p>\n
These white garments are traditionally very modest, a deliberate design feature that serves as a constant reminder of their commitment to God and the religious promises they have made.<\/p>\n
But the cap sleeves and high cut made them effectively unwearable under clothing, rendering many styles \u2013 particularly in womenswear \u2013 hard no-gos.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why, when the church announced a \u201cslightly more revealing\u201d version at the end of last year\u00a0to give \u201coptions in styles and fabrics for those residing in hot, humid areas\u201d<\/a>, the community went nuts.<\/p>\n It saw the classic short-sleeve shirt \u2013 worn with knee-length shorts \u2013 trimmed back to a tank-top style, and marked the first time the faith has offered the underclothing without sleeves in its nearly 200-year history.<\/p>\n After months of waiting, the \u201cskimpy\u201d new temple garments were finally released in America, the country with the largest concentration of Mormons.<\/p>\n A limited supply of a new Mormon undergarment has spawned a \u201cblack market.\u201d @alyssadgrenfell\/TikTok<\/p>\n But the church clearly underestimated demand, with huge queues forming outside of stores, eventually resulting in US-based Mormons going to extreme lengths to secure the in-demand goods.<\/p>\n One Mormon influencer based in Hawaii said she was prepared to do whatever it took to get the new undies immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cI will get them at all costs. I will fly to Japan if I need to,\u201d Andrea Fausett, 31, told\u00a0The New York Times<\/a>\u00a0recently.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mouth dropped to the floor when I saw the line,\u201d declared Shayla Egan\u00a0on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0after waiting over three hours in line.<\/p>\n Huge queues formed in the US when the church-approved product was finally released in October. @ldspreppergirl\/Instagram<\/p>\n While a Utah-based stylist who specialises in modest dressing, McKenna Banks, told the publication Mormons were \u201cdying\u201d to get the new undies.<\/p>\n As a result, a\u00a0\u201cblack market\u201d\u00a0has reportedly emerged online, where desperate churchgoers are paying inflated prices for the hot-ticket item.<\/p>\n Many\u00a0have paid over US$150 plus shipping to source garments from warmer climates, such as Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, where larger quantities were released.<\/p>\n Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints followers among the lucky few to score the sacred garments first have been flooding social media, some in tears, as they expressed their joy.<\/p>\n \u201cMe crying because someone sent me a tank top garment so I can wear it on my wedding day and have sleeves just like my little girl heart wanted,\u201d said one on\u00a0TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n One woman waited over 3 hours in line. @ldspreppergirl\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re finally able to wear tops with no sleeves and feel closer to God than ever,\u201d shared another.<\/p>\n But the lack of availability has also sparked disappointment and jealousy among churchgoers, with some stating they \u201cnever saw it coming.\u201d<\/p>\n Those not following the Mormon faith have watched on, seemingly bemused at the furore over \u201cchurch approved undies\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cA church having a merch drop is WILD,\u201d said one.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot FATHOM waiting in line for 3 hours to buy church approved \u2018underwear\u2019,\u201d added another.<\/p>\n While one remarked, \u201cThis is simultaneously the funniest and saddest thing I think I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n Others said they had \u201cno idea\u201d Mormons were required to wear garments at all times, previously believing it was something that was just worn while attending church.<\/p>\n Female Mormons had been pretty vocal in the past about the issues of the old design, expressing \u201csignificant discomfort\u201d and feelings of body shame that negatively affected their overall wellbeing and sex life with their partners.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t