Is there a tradition of 'skirts only' for women at mormon meetings?

Question

My daughter asked me this after she was 'shaken down' by a bishop for wearing a nice pantsuit. I don't think there's a doctrinal issue.

Answer 1

There is no doctrine about dress to church meetings. The church teaches standards of modesty and lets us govern ourselves within those standards.

Even for priesthood participation in the sacrament, the counsel is to dress modestly, be well groomed and clean. White shirts and ties are recommended but should not be required as mandatory prerequisites to participate.

That said, the church is seeped in tradition in many areas. The typical dress for females continues to be conservative dresses or skirts and blouses. There very well could be a church leader who "shakes down" a member with the good intention of helping them to dress according to "traditional" standards of modesty.

Having lived overseas for many years, one should also consider the fact that cultural and economic means often influence what members wear to church in different parts of the world. Some outfits may not fit the typical western idea of appropriate church dress. Many members in third world countries are also very poor and come to church in what amounts to rags.

The important thing is that, like your daughter, they are at church.

Hopefully no offense was taken by your daughter for her bishop's words.

Answer 2

Mormon Skirts

Answer 3

I have thought about this before. When I was a Young Women I was given a pamphlet/booklet that stated we should wear a skirt or dress to church and one pair of modest earrings if we had our ears pierced. Once I dared to wear pants to church, no one said anything except for one of my primary students who asked why I was wearing pants, I think I said because my other clothes were all dirty, which I think was true. Then I moved back to Canada and attended a ward in Toronto, almost all of the women who were attending were wearing pants, the members who had moved from Utah were all wearing dresses and skirts (I get very bored in church and I happen to be very observant) Also the majority of the members were Chinese, even though there was a Chinese/Mandarin ward. Most of the testimony meeting was done in Mandarin, this is why I was so bored.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is there a tradition of 'skirts only' for women at mormon meetings?
My daughter asked me this after she was 'shaken down' by a bishop for wearing a nice pantsuit. I don't think there's a doctrinal issue.

Answer 5

The Bible speaks of being modest in the NT. 1 Timothy 2:9 "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." God sets forth guidelines of modesty so those who believe in Him will please Him in word, thought, deed and even in the way they dress. However, God didn't give us guidelines so we could judge others. We are to look at ourselves not each other!

For example, Independent Baptists wouldn't be caught dead going to church in pants. Southern Baptists, however, think nothing of it (I wear a nice pant outfit regularly to church.) When people say it's wrong for a woman to wear pants to church, they're going right back into legalism and being judgmental. There are lines that one shouldn't cross, but if someone is to be confronted it needs to be done in love and not condemnation.

If we are to follow clothing laws as outlined in Deuteronomy, then I don't believe women would be wearing skirts and men definitely wouldn't wear pants. We would not wear wool woven with linen and we would wear tassels on the four corners of our coats.

These things are outlined in the Old Covenant. We are under a New Covenant as Jesus fulfilled the law. I wouldn't let anyone tell me how to dress. I should dress in the way that would be pleasing to God not to man. When we get into these men-pleasing religions, there is nothing stopping self- righteousness and condemnation of others.

Answer 6

When i started to go to church I would wear jeans and cargo pants. I used to wear hoodies, and clothes that I would wear to go to school. Then I started to wear dressing pants and the day of my baptism (3 months ago) I started to wear skirt.
Nobody ever say something to me or looked at me weird because I wore pants. If I desided to wear skirts is because they are more formal and appropiated. I used to hate skirts but now I feel comfortable with it. I even talked to the missionaries about the skirt issue, lol I really hated skirts. They just said that it is not a requirement and that you need to dress up the best you can and always show respect to God.
But there is no rule that says that you HAVE to wear a skirt.

What really matters is the presence, to be there to learn! it is not a fashion show anyways, lol ^_^

Answer 7

Probably the bishop was a purist or something. There is no reason why a nice pant suit can't be worn, as long as it's not indecent. But, usually, women wear dresses to church, unless they have a reason for needing to wear pants. But, most bishops, at least the ones I know, would be so happy to see them at church, they aren't going to kick about what they're wearing.

Answer 8

Mormon women cannot wear pants suit to church, no if, ands or buts about it. Just liek mormons have no offical doctrine on wearing crosses and claim that they don't focus on the death of Jesus, but you will never find a cross in their churches or a cross necklace on a mormon's neck. EVER. A pants suit is a no go at this station (ward).

Answer 9

There's no doctrinal issue. I think the target of dressing up is misinterpreted by some people to exclude women wearing pants, even if they are dress up pants. However, you are probably right that this is a "traditional" interpretation.

Answer 10

It doesn't need to be a doctrinal issue; its a dress code which is perfectly legal. Apparently the elders feel that anything other than a dress is disrespecful & it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks. The elders are the end-all and the be-all in their church.