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The scriptures include injunctions for modesty in dress that are more direct and some that are more indirect. | The scriptures include injunctions for modesty in dress that are more direct and some that are more indirect. | ||
| − | Book of Mormon prophets see "costly apparel" very negatively—always framing it as a manifestation of pride.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.6,27,32?lang=eng&clang=eng#p6,27,32 Alma 1:6, 27, 32]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/4.6?lang=eng&clang=eng#p6 4:6]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/5.53?lang=eng&clang=eng#p53 5:53]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/31.28?lang=eng&clang=eng#p28 31:28]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/hel/13.28?lang=eng&clang=eng#p28 Helaman 13:28]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/4-ne/1.24?lang=eng&clang=eng#p24 4 Nephi 1:24]</ref> In contrast to costly apparel, the prophet Alma looks positively on those that dress and groom themselves in a way that is "neat and comely."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.27?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Alma 1:27]</ref> The author of Timothy directs women to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [meaning "braided"] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [b]ut (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-tim/2.9?lang=eng 1 Timothy 2:9]. The author says "the author" of Timothy because modern biblical scholarship is united in affirming that Paul did not write Timothy. See Raymond F. Collins, ''1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary'' (Nashville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), 4.</ref> A nearly identical injunction is found in 1 Peter 3:3-4.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-pet/3.3-4?lang=eng#p3 1 Peter 3:3-4]</ref> A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 known as "The Law" commands members to "let all [their] garments be plain, and [the garments'] beauty the work of [their] own hands[.]"<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/42.40?lang=eng Doctrine and Covenants 42:40]</ref> A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1830 told missionaries to “[cry] repentance, saying: Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh.”<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/36.6 Doctrine and Covenants 36:6]</ref> That revelation echoes the words of Jude who similarly argues that evangelists should "others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/jude/1.23?lang=eng Jude 1:23]</ref> | + | The first scriptures that may be important for considerations about modesty are the creation narratives. Subsequently to partaking of the forbidden fruit and just before casting Adam and Eve from the Garden, God made Adam and Eve coats of skin. Perhaps this had to do with the fact that the eyes of Adam and Eve were opened after partaking of the fruit and they knew that they were naked. An injunction to be modest in how we dress may be extracted from these passages.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/gen/3.21?lang=eng Genesis 3:21]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/4.27?lang=eng Moses 4:27]</ref> Book of Mormon prophets see "costly apparel" very negatively—always framing it as a manifestation of pride.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.6,27,32?lang=eng&clang=eng#p6,27,32 Alma 1:6, 27, 32]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/4.6?lang=eng&clang=eng#p6 4:6]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/5.53?lang=eng&clang=eng#p53 5:53]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/31.28?lang=eng&clang=eng#p28 31:28]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/hel/13.28?lang=eng&clang=eng#p28 Helaman 13:28]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/4-ne/1.24?lang=eng&clang=eng#p24 4 Nephi 1:24]</ref> In contrast to costly apparel, the prophet Alma looks positively on those that dress and groom themselves in a way that is "neat and comely."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.27?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Alma 1:27]</ref> The author of Timothy directs women to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [meaning "braided"] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [b]ut (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-tim/2.9?lang=eng 1 Timothy 2:9]. The author says "the author" of Timothy because modern biblical scholarship is united in affirming that Paul did not write Timothy. See Raymond F. Collins, ''1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary'' (Nashville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), 4.</ref> A nearly identical injunction is found in 1 Peter 3:3-4.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-pet/3.3-4?lang=eng#p3 1 Peter 3:3-4]</ref> A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 known as "The Law" commands members to "let all [their] garments be plain, and [the garments'] beauty the work of [their] own hands[.]"<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/42.40?lang=eng Doctrine and Covenants 42:40]</ref> A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1830 told missionaries to “[cry] repentance, saying: Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh.”<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/36.6 Doctrine and Covenants 36:6]</ref> That revelation echoes the words of Jude who similarly argues that evangelists should "others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/jude/1.23?lang=eng Jude 1:23]</ref> |
Other scriptural injunctions that support practicing the virtue of modesty in dress include being a peculiar people so as to encourage member retention as well as interest in the Church and thus success in missionary work,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/deut/14.2?lang=eng&clang=eng#p2 Deuteronomy 14:2]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/deut/26.18?lang=eng&clang=eng#p2 26:18]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ps/135.4?lang=eng Psalms 135:4]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/titus/2.14?lang=eng Titus 2:14]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-pet/2.9?lang=eng 1 Peter 2:9]</ref> keeping unspotted from the world,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/1.27?lang=eng James 1:27]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/59.9?lang=eng Doctrine and Covenants 59:9]</ref> abstaining from all appearance of evil,<ref>[https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-thes/5.22?lang=eng&clang=eng#p22 1 Thessalonians 5:22]</ref> practicing meekness/lowliness of heart/easiness to be entreated before the prophets who have asked us to practice modesty,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.44?lang=eng Moroni 7:44]</ref> following the commandment to receive all the words and commandments of the prophet as he receives them as if from the mouth of God in all patience and faith,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/21.4-5?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5]</ref> and being anxiously engaged in a good cause.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/58.27-29?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–29]</ref> | Other scriptural injunctions that support practicing the virtue of modesty in dress include being a peculiar people so as to encourage member retention as well as interest in the Church and thus success in missionary work,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/deut/14.2?lang=eng&clang=eng#p2 Deuteronomy 14:2]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/deut/26.18?lang=eng&clang=eng#p2 26:18]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ps/135.4?lang=eng Psalms 135:4]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/titus/2.14?lang=eng Titus 2:14]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-pet/2.9?lang=eng 1 Peter 2:9]</ref> keeping unspotted from the world,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/1.27?lang=eng James 1:27]; [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/59.9?lang=eng Doctrine and Covenants 59:9]</ref> abstaining from all appearance of evil,<ref>[https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-thes/5.22?lang=eng&clang=eng#p22 1 Thessalonians 5:22]</ref> practicing meekness/lowliness of heart/easiness to be entreated before the prophets who have asked us to practice modesty,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.44?lang=eng Moroni 7:44]</ref> following the commandment to receive all the words and commandments of the prophet as he receives them as if from the mouth of God in all patience and faith,<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/21.4-5?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5]</ref> and being anxiously engaged in a good cause.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/58.27-29?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–29]</ref> | ||
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Question: What does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach about modesty and what is its importance?
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Introduction to Question
Questions about the Church’s standard of modesty have arisen in recent years. This article seeks to be an exposition of everything we should know about modesty and the reasons for practicing it as well as a response to certain criticisms that have arisen about it. There is a large amount of groundwork that needs to be laid down in order to have an organized and effective conversation about the Church's standards of modesty. We'll start with the definition of modesty, then discuss some cultural and historical facts about modesty in dress, then address the specific questions that have arisen.
Notes