SALT LAKE CITY — The long-anticipated sleeveless temple garments from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have officially gone on sale — and they’re already nearly impossible to find.
Lines formed early this week outside Deseret Book stores and church distribution centers across Utah, as members rushed to purchase the new “open-sleeve” garment tops. But by Wednesday, shelves were empty and the church’s online store was struggling to keep up with demand.
Even now, the message on store.churchofjesuschrist.org warns shoppers that “due to very high demand, some products are temporarily out of stock.”
Sold Out Within Hours
The new sleeveless garment styles — first announced a year ago for members in “hot climates” — became available nationwide on Tuesday. Within hours, many stores had sold out entirely.
In Salt Lake City, two Deseret Book stores confirmed that smaller women’s sizes disappeared first and that they had no timeline for restocking.
Online, the situation was just as chaotic. Some shoppers managed to place orders, only to receive follow-up emails saying their items were “temporarily out of stock” or that shipping would be delayed.
“The website was up and down all day,” said one church member from Layton. “By the time I checked out, everything in my cart said unavailable.”
Social Media Buzz and Frustration
On social media, the launch drew both excitement and exasperation. Rachel Gerber, a Northern California member and Instagrammer at LDS Changemakers, said her friend placed an order within minutes of the garments becoming available.
“When the order arrived two days later,” Gerber said, “there were no tops.”
Another friend arrived at the Oakland distribution center just 15 minutes after it opened — and still missed out. “They were already sold out of her size,” Gerber added.
Church spokesperson Irene Caso declined to comment on when new shipments would arrive.
Why the Sleeveless Style Matters
The sleeveless garments are part of an effort by the church to make temple clothing more comfortable, especially for members in warm or humid regions.
Garments — considered sacred by devout Latter-day Saints — are worn beneath regular clothing as a reminder of spiritual covenants made in temples.
For many women, the new design represents both comfort and inclusivity. “The new styles allow us to keep our temple covenants and have more options for what we can wear,” said Sydney Benavidez, who waited in line at the Orem Deseret Book. “It’s a win-win.”
The Wait Continues
While distribution centers and Deseret Book locations have seen some relief from the early-week crowds, supplies remain tight nationwide.
The church’s online store posted an updated statement Friday:
“We are experiencing very high demand for the new garment styles, which has caused some products to be temporarily out of stock online and in some distribution stores. Online orders will be processed in the order they are received.”
For now, that means faithful shoppers will have to wait — just a little longer — for their long-awaited sleeveless garments.
As Benavidez put it: “They’re a win, win. Now we just have to wait, wait.”
