THE GAUGE

The "navel mark" or gauge is a horizontal buttonhole sewn into the fabric of the Mormon undergarment. Along with the Masonic symbols of the square, compass, and knee marking, the navel mark is considered sacred.

According to Chuck Sackett, author of What's Going On In There? and former Temple worker, the navel mark "recalls the need of constant nourishment for body and spirit. In the early Mormon Temple ceremonies some of the marks were cut into the garment with a small knife while on the patron's body, thus knicking his flesh and shedding his blood into the garment." ¹

The navel mark resembles a gauge or ruler. William Schnoebelen tells us, " [the navel mark] is the Masonic symbol for the 'Middle Pillar' of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Just as the right and left hand parts of the body in occultism are male and female respectively; so the Middle Pillar corresponds to the center of the body--the head, solar plexus, navel and genitals." ²

References:
(1) Chuck Sackett, What's Going On In There?, 1892, p. 13
(2) William J. Schnoebelen/James R. Spencer, Mormonism's Temple of Doom, 1987, pp. 13-14

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