"The Garment: [An officiator clothes the initiate in the garment. The officiator then pronounces the following words.] Brother _________, having authority, I place this garment upon you [for and in behalf of _________, who is dead], which you must wear throughout your life. It represents the garment given to Adam when he was found naked in the garden of Eden and is called the garment of the holy priesthood. Inasmuch as you do not defile it, but are true and faithful to your covenants, it will be a shield and a protection to you against the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work on the earth." (The Initiatory)
"The New Name: [In the case of a living endowment, the officiator who clothed the initiate in the garment continues as follows.] With this garment, I give you a new name, which you should always remember and which you must keep sacred and never reveal, except at a certain place that will be shown you hereafter. The name is _________. [In the case of a person receiving the endowment on behalf of the dead, the person is presented to an officiator, who pronounces the following words.] Brother _________, having authority, I give you a new name for and in behalf of _________, who is dead, which you should always remember and which you must keep sacred and never reveal, except at a certain place that will be shown you hereafter. The name is _________." (The Initiatory)
Let me first give my take on these vile and wicked garments. Surely, the Mormons like to take verses out of context when it comes to the Bible. Just because Adam and Eve made themselves aprons in order to cover their nakedness, they liken this to us putting on special undergarments for God also. As if what Adam and Eve did was good, when they took and ate the forbidden fruit of good and evil. This is that story in the Bible. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3:6,7) So did the clothes that Adam and Eve made protect them from the enemy? No. What about the clothes that people made up until this generation? No. So does clothing help us overcome sin and temptation? No. Only the Holy Spirit in us does this. Come on Mormons! Burn that underwear, for it is not of God.
Mormons get the teaching of a new name from Revelation, chapter 2. It reads, "I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:14-17) But again, who will give us this new name, and when? This will happen when we pass away from this life, and then receive eternal life in heaven. Jesus gives us this name in heaven, for we have overcome the evils of this world through our faith in HIm. Anyone claiming to receive a new name from God in this life is lying to you. Amen.
