I wanted to ask a question about the church’s teachings regarding modesty. It seems obvious to me that modesty is not a fixed standard: the use of long hair and a beard were symbols of maturity in years past (Brigham Young, for example), but today most Mormons are clean-shaven.
How do you explain that things that were considered immodest in the past are now acceptable in the church? For example, now young women use pants that are fairly tight, don’t cover their arms, etc. I’ve been reading what the leaders of the church wrote in the 60s and 70s, and I’m pretty sure the standard of modesty was much stricter back then.
In other words, what do you think Spencer W Kimball would have thought if he’d seen some of our young women today, dressing the way they do? Do you think in the future the church’s teachings on modesty will continue to change according to changing social norms? Please don’t think I’m a fanatic. In fact, I’m very opposed to fundamentalism. Thanks.
3 Responses to “Why have the church’s teachings regarding modesty changed?”
Fernando Duarte
2013-02-24 22:44:49
Hi Samuel. We're modest because of the message modesty sends to others about the respect we have for our own bodies and for the God who gave those bodies to us. It's true that modesty is in part defined by our culture. However, while the minor details can vary from decade to decade, the message is always the same: we must keep ourselves separate from the world by respectfully declining to adopt the extreme styles of the world.
The minor details of what constitutes Mormon modesty will likely continue to evolve over time, within certain reasonable limits, of course. However, the message our modesty sends to God, to ourselves, and to our fellow men will remain the same. I hope this answer helps.
Melissa
2013-04-22 13:57:50
I agree with Fernando Duarte's answer to this question. You can also read the church's guidelines on modesty in the "For The Strength of Youth" pamphlet on lds.org
As with all things, we are given guidelines, but it is up to us to decide whether we are going to follow them or not. Modesty is one that many people can view differently. I always try to err on the side of dressing "too modest" which I don't really think is possible versus, what can I get away with wearing before I become immodest.
Again, though, the reasons for doing this are not to prove anything to anyone, but more to prove my devotion to God and his teachings. I do it because I want to dress in a way that is pleasing to Him.
The minor details of what constitutes Mormon modesty will likely continue to evolve over time, within certain reasonable limits, of course. However, the message our modesty sends to God, to ourselves, and to our fellow men will remain the same. I hope this answer helps.
As with all things, we are given guidelines, but it is up to us to decide whether we are going to follow them or not. Modesty is one that many people can view differently. I always try to err on the side of dressing "too modest" which I don't really think is possible versus, what can I get away with wearing before I become immodest.
Again, though, the reasons for doing this are not to prove anything to anyone, but more to prove my devotion to God and his teachings. I do it because I want to dress in a way that is pleasing to Him.