A search for "Mormon temple clothes" on Google turns up a strange mix. Outdated pages. Sites that aren't really about the Church or its temples. A few catalog links with no context. Nothing that actually helps a sister figure out what she needs. We wanted you to have exactly what you need, in one place. So this guide is the answer.
We'll cover what people mean when they say "temple clothing," what's sold by retailers like ZMCI versus what comes only from the Church, and what you'll actually need for your temple session.
A Quick Note on the Name
In October 2018, President Russell M. Nelson asked members and the public to use the Church's full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to refer to members as Latter-day Saints rather than Mormons. The Church's style guide followed.
Many people still search for "Mormon temple clothes" out of habit, or because they're unfamiliar with the change. That's part of why this guide exists. From here on, we'll use "Latter-day Saint" or "LDS." If you're searching for the same thing under different names, this is the guide for you.
What "LDS Temple Clothing" Actually Means
"LDS temple clothing" is an umbrella term that covers a few different things. Knowing the difference matters, because some pieces are sold by retailers like ZMCI, and others come only from the Church.
There are three categories.
Temple dresses for women, and white shirts, pants, and ties for men. These are the everyday white outer pieces members wear to and during a temple session. They're sold by independent retailers. This is what ZMCI specializes in for women.
Sacred ceremonial clothing. These are the white pieces worn during specific portions of temple ordinances. They are sacred. They are part of the covenants Latter-day Saints make in the temple. They are obtained only through the Church's Distribution Services, never from independent retailers. We don't carry them, and no faithful retailer should.
Accessories. Temple bags, white slippers, white tights, white slips. Some of these are sold by retailers. Others are personal preference.
When someone says "I need temple clothing," they usually mean one of these three. The category decides where to shop.
The Temple Dress
For Latter-day Saint women, the temple dress is the piece of clothing you'll wear into the temple before changing. It's white, it covers your garments, it's modest, and it's chosen by you.
A good temple dress does one job. It gets out of your way so you can keep your mind on Christ and the covenants you're making. We've written a separate guide that walks through fabrics, opacity, sleeves, fit, and how to choose one for your climate. Read The Ultimate Guide to LDS Temple Dresses when you're ready to dig into the details.
You can browse our LDS temple dress collection to see what we currently offer. Each dress is named after a temple location, sourced specifically for the temple, and priced from $45 to $86.
Sacred Ceremonial Clothing
The ceremonial clothing worn during specific portions of temple ordinances is sacred. It's part of the covenants Latter-day Saints make in the temple. It's obtained directly from the Church's Distribution Services or at the temple itself, never from independent retailers. Out of reverence, this guide doesn't describe those pieces in detail.
If you have questions about ceremonial clothing, the people best equipped to help are your bishop, a temple worker, your temple prep teacher, or your ministering sisters. The official Church resources at churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/sacred-temple-clothing walk through what you'll need for your specific session.
What You'll Bring
Beyond your temple dress, here's what most sisters bring:
- Your temple recommend. This goes in a pocket or your temple bag. Most of our dresses have hidden hip pockets for this exact reason.
- A temple bag. A simple white or light-colored bag that holds your folded ceremonial clothing, slippers, and personal items.
- White slippers or quiet shoes. Worn during the session.
- A slip, if needed. Some white dresses become translucent under the temple's bright lighting. A simple white slip solves it. It's worth checking your dress at home with a flashlight before your appointment.
- Personal items. Tissues, a small comb, lip balm.
The temple itself provides everything else.
Going for the First Time
Going to the temple for the first time can feel like a lot. There's the dress, the bag, the unfamiliar terminology, the people you may or may not know yet. We wrote a separate piece for sisters going for the first time. Read What to Wear to the Temple for the First Time.
The short version: bring your dress, your recommend, and an open heart. Everything else, the temple workers will help you with.
A Note on the Spirit of It
Temple clothing isn't fashion. It isn't a statement. It isn't supposed to draw attention. Its purpose is the opposite. To fade into the background and let the Spirit speak.
That's why we curate the dresses we curate. Not to dress up the temple, but to help you forget what you're wearing the moment you walk in.
Where to Start
If you're shopping for your first temple dress, start with our temple dress collection. Every dress is sourced specifically for the temple, named after a temple location, and priced from $45 to $86.
If you have questions, contact us. Kendra reads every email.
If you found this guide because you searched for "Mormon temple clothes," welcome. And if this is your first session, we're praying it's a good one.