When priestly officiants wore sacred vestments, they emulated celestial persons—God, angels, and redeemed souls—who wear sacred vestments. A number of scriptural passages convey the concept that the resurrected Jesus Christ wears sacred vestments, as do angels and redeemed souls. In this manner, the priestly officiants served as types and shadows of heavenly beings; they wore sacred vestments in anticipation of the time when they would reside in the temple of heaven wearing similar eternal vestments.
The Lord: When John the Revelator envisioned Jesus Christ in the setting of the temple of heaven, Jesus was clothed in sacred vestments (see Rev. 1:13; see also D&C 76:108). In this vision, the resurrected Lord dons the vestments of a priest, with a robe and sash (girdle) (see Ex. 28:4; 39:29).
Angels: There are scriptural accounts that portray the Lord’s angels wearing sacred vestments, including robes, linen, girdles (sashes), or crowns. For example, the seven angels who will come out of the temple in heaven will be “clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles” (Rev. 15:6). The angels’ golden girdles (sashes) recall the golden girdle (sash) of Jesus Christ, as described in Revelation 1:13; see also the statements by Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and George Q. Cannon,326 and Daniel (Dan 10:5; 12:6–7).
Exalted Saints: The scriptures provide several details regarding the sacred apparel of those who dwell in the temple of heaven. They are “arrayed in white robes” (Rev. 7:13; see also Rev. 3:5; 7:13); they are “clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold” (Rev. 4:4). Other celestial beings will also wear white linen, robes, or other sacred clothing (see Rev. 19:8, 14; D&C 109:75–76). Latter-day Saint prophets and apostles have provided several accounts that pertain to the dress of celestial persons.