Why are LDS (Mormon) men not supposed to have long hair?

Question

I don't understand why LDS men are not allowed to have long hair when Jesus had long hair. If it is a Christian-based religion, then why was it okay for Jesus to have long locks, but not for people in the here and now?

Let me clarify. Every painting or representation I have ever seen of Jesus depicts him with long shoulder length hair.
As for the LDS Men not being allowed to have long hair, I guess "allowed" is the wrong term. Why are there not more predominate members who sport long hair. Just wondering.......

Let me clarify. Every painting or representation I have ever seen of Jesus depicts him with long shoulder length hair.
As for the LDS Men not being allowed to have long hair, I guess "allowed" is the wrong term. Why are there not more predominate members who sport long hair. I personally have never met an LDS man with long hair (that I know of).....I find this odd, though. Just wondering.......

Answer 1

Jesus dressed and groomed as a rabbi of his time was expected to dress. The corners of his beard would be untrimmed, and he wore an appropriate tunic and robe. Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follow His example, but obviously times have changed.

From the scriptures, it appears Jesus knew what His mission was as early as age 12, but carefully followed the custom of his time, and did not begin teaching until he was 30 years old. This helped others to focus on his message, not his appearance.

Although there are no rules concerning how our general membership dresses, our missionaries are representing Someone pretty important, and they dress accordingly. They dress as one would expect a minister of the gospel to dress. Among southwestern tribes, that means clean blue jeans and a white shirt. Among some South American cultures, I understand an adult male would be expected to wear a well-trimmed mustache. Here in the United States, business dress and grooming includes a white shirt, tie, neatly-trimmed hair and no beard.

Answer 2

Are you referring to missionaries or regular Church members in general? Missionaries have stricter dress and grooming standards than the Church members do, although they are similar to a large extent. You know, I think the reason short hair is favored now is because it is important to look well-groomed, professional, clean, and business-like - and short hair in my opinion looks better on most men. Actually, in the 19th century, there was a quote by Brigham Young that mentioned that the young men were wearing their hair too short, that is, it was cut above the ears. I don't think it's really any kind of a doctrine one way or another, but if you think about it, people who make an effort to get regular haircuts are often more attentive to other goals as well. That is not to say you can't have longer hair and be a goal-setter, but it is important to look respectable. I believe it is a group of General Authorities who set the standards for missionaries, and other Church members can decide for themselves how they want to wear their hair.

Answer 3

Long Hair issue from Proverbs 11 : 14 - 15...Doth not even nature itself teach you , that if a man have long hair , it is a shame to him..But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her : for her hair is given to her for a covering .. Jesus having long hair ? Nowhere in the Bible does it say Jesus had long hair ! Alll you know is what you see in the paintings of Jesus ! Since all of the paintings of Jesus were done in the middle ages before the translation of The King James Bible , and those artist that did not know the Word at the time simply painted Jesus with long hair as it was the style of the age when the paintings were done !

Answer 4

1. LDS (mormon) men can have hair any length they want. Men serving as full-time missionaries for the LDS church must keep their hair short (except for some LDS missionaries in places where long-hair is part of conservative local culture, see below, including some of the missionairies from Ecuador).

2. What makes you think Jesus had long hair? We don't exactly have any photographs or descriptions.

3. Hair length, facial hair, tatoos, shoes, ties, etc mean different things in different cultures. If Jesus of Nazareth wore his hair long (and I don't think anyone knows if he did or not) it certainly was a different image than long-hair on western-civilization men today.

So, mormon men can have long hair, and Jesus probably didn't, and even if he did it has nothing to do with appropriate dress and grooming today.

Answer 5

The LDS do not have any rules against men keeping their hair long. The only time they have a problem with it is if they don't take care of their hair properly. The same goes for women. Mainly because you are expected to look your best for Sunday.

I’ve known LDS men who have had long hair.

Answer 6

There is no "rule"... other than for missionaries, but I think it's mostly just the attempt to look "clean"... I personally don't like long hair on men and I think they look so much nicer when clean shaven and hair nicely trimmed.
As others have mentioned, maybe part of it is just because the culture is different from Jesus time and ours... it's not like they had barbers and electric shavers!
Don't worry too much about it, it's not a big deal.

Answer 7

Well, you can, there is nothing wrong with it. The thing is, the Church likes it's members to represent themselves in the best way possible. Because currently society views short well groomed hair as being more clean cut, prominent members of the church are encouraged to wear their hair that way. But one thing you have to understand is, members of the church are never forced to do anything. Free will is a dominant concept in the church.

Answer 8

Um... who said they couldnt? Missionaries are asked to be well groomed and presentable, but every day LDS folks can wear their hair any way they like. In fact, a lot of LDS folks living in Utah have to wear their hair long if they are actors in any LDS films so that they closely resemble people of that era.

Get your facts straight at www.lds.org

Answer 9

That was back in those days when it was everyone and scissors didnt exist?

I think the reason now is becuase its a respectable thing to be clean and unspotted from the world. No tattoos, peircings and long hair and dont forget the baggy pants!!

It is counsel from the Bretheren and I think that that is reason enough. You dont always need to know why, its a matter of faith.

Answer 10

Men can have any hair length they want but the missionaries who represent them have very strict guidelines so they don't look scary to old people when they knock on doors.
I don't get why they don't drink wine for sacrament,Jesus drank wine ,made wine from water,said do this in remembrance of me but they use water(it's cheaper).