Question: What does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach about modesty and what is its importance?

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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.

Response to Question

The Scriptural Case For Modesty in Dress

The scriptures include injunctions for modesty in dress that are more direct and some that are more indirect.

Book of Mormon prophets sees "costly apparel" very negatively–always framing it as a manifestation of pride.[1] In contrast, he looks positively on those that dress and groom themselves in a way that is "neat and comely."[2] 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."[3] A nearly identical injunction is found in 1 Peter 3:3-4.[4] 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[.]"[5]

Other scriptural injunctions that support practicing the virtue of modesty include being a peculiar people so as to encourage interest in the Church and thus success in missionary work,[6] keeping unspotted from the world,[7] abstaining from all appearance of evil,[8] practicing meekness/lowliness of heart/easiness to be entreated before the prophets who have asked us to practice modesty,[9] following the commandment to receive all the words and commandments of the prophet as if from the mouth of God in all patience and faith,[10] and being anxiously engaged in a good cause without God compelling you to do something by explicit revelation.[11]

Scriptural Case for Modesty Generally

The scriptures are the law to govern the behavior and beliefs of the whole Church.[12] The scriptures contain a constellation of words that give us injunctions—some more direct and others more indirect—to practice modesty. These words (including their derivatives) include words like "humility," "temperateness," "lasciviousness," and "lewdness." Modesty falls under the definition of these words or otherwise overlaps significantly with it. We are obligated to follow those injunctions to practice these virtues. An exhaustive concordance of these words will be placed in the appendix to this article.

Definition of Modesty

The Church defines modesty on their website as "an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior. If we are modest, we do not draw undue attention to ourselves. Instead, we seek to “glorify God in [our] body, and in [our] spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:20; see also 1 Corinthians 6:19)."

This definition is important for our discussion moving forward.

Modesty Applies to Both Men and Women

The first thing that this definition makes clear is that it is an attitude and an attitude can be held by both men and women.

Modesty Includes Other Things Besides Dress

It is also clear that modesty is not just about dress. There is a tendency among many members of the Church (women and men) to emphasize modesty in dress too much and especially towards women.

Why should we be modest? What are the principles behind it?

An Element of Pride

An Element of Chastity

An Element of Loving Obedience

Modesty in Dress

The youth pamphlet For the Strength of Youth, written and approved by top general leaders of the Church, defines modesty in dress this way:

Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner. Young women should avoid short shorts and short skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance. Young men and young women should be neat and clean and avoid being extreme or inappropriately casual in clothing, hairstyle, and behavior. They should choose appropriately modest apparel when participating in sports.[13]

This standard focuses more on behavior rather than the principles behind modesty. But this behavior does prepare one to wear the temple garment in the future. The garment is designed to be covered by clothing that is consistent with standards listed here in the pamphlet. Indeed, as the pamphlet itself teaches, "[y]our dress and appearance now will help you prepare for the time when you will go to the temple to make sacred covenants with God."[14]

Are Church Standards About Modesty in Dress Sexist?

Some criticism has arisen against specifically the Church's standards of modesty in dress outlined in For the Strength of Youth.

[Discussion:

  • Definition of sexism
  • Should the women be more conformed to men's standards or men to women?
  • Recognition of realities about clothing for women in modern world?
  • Possibility that standards change?
  • Leaders' right to change when they see fit. In meantime, we should heed all their words (D&C scripture)
  • Advocating for modesty in dress in wrong way?
  • Disparities in standards for men and women? If so, justified or not?]

Conclusion

  • One heart one mind
  • Little rules and the Savior
  • The importance of standards based on unseen, unobvious, and/or delayed consequences. Shared identity as part of that importance.

Appendix: Scriptures Relevant to One's Considerations about Modesty

Notes

  1. ↑ Alma 1:6, 27, 32; 4:6; 5:53; 31:28; Helaman 13:28; 4 Nephi 1:24
  2. ↑ Alma 1:27
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 1 Peter 3:3-4
  5. ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 42:40
  6. ↑ Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:18; Psalms 135:4; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9
  7. ↑ James 1:27; Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
  8. ↑ 1 Thessalonians 5:22
  9. ↑ Moroni 7:44
  10. ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5
  11. ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–29
  12. ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 42:56-60
  13. ↑ For the Strength of Youth (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2011), 7.
  14. ↑ Ibid., 8.
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