Proper attire for Sunday meetings

[sixpacktr]

I think Hordak's picture illustration says it well! Sometimes, especially as I look at different thread--be it Word of Wisdom threads, or questions on alcohol, or clothing, or dress, that there is alot of micromanaging that goes on from different people--we just need to give others the freedom in Christ to be who He made them to be. To hear from Him, from His spirit on a give subject that He wants to work with them on.

Not micromanaging, teaching doctrine. People can choose as they wish, they are ultimately the ones that have to be judged for their actions. But to not say anything is in itself wrong, I believe. Most people, instead of fighting with you, will thank you for pointing out something that is incorrect if they are humble enough. I would wager that 90% of the comments made to people are not in a 'judgmental' way, but is rather to teach doctrine (green tea is a perfect example of that). But, rather than listening, seeing if it makes sense, asking the spirit if it is true, they instead take offense, claim that they are being looked down on, and go off an lick the pride wounds by stating that the person giving the information is judgmental, doesn't know my heart, isn't that good of a person anyway, etc., etc., etc.

That is the problem with this board, IMO. Too many come here trying to justify their actions instead of genuinely trying to learn. They put forth a statement, ask for opinions, then slam anyone that happens to disagree with what they said or, heaven forbid, backs it up with recent revelation or quotes from the GAs (not aimed at anyone here in particular, just a general note).

Funky's OP was what our opinion was. I stated what was said by GAs, recently mind you, and I'm somehow a judgmental hypocrite. Hey, I have my faults, I know most of them (and the ones I don't know my wife will tell me!) and work on them. I am the one that has to stand before our HF and Christ at the last day to justify (if I can) what I did. So, those that come to our ward dressed in less than their best, it is no skin off of my nose. I am not the one to judge them. But the doctrine is clear (to me) and if I sluff off because it is more comfortable for me, then I will be held accountable for that.

Do what you wish. No skin off of my nose.

[sixpacktr]

Hordak,

To clarify: my outward appearance is a REFLECTION of my inward attitude, not the cause of my inward attitude.

Again, just to clarify...

[Lilac]

I'm not LDS (i'm a mainline Protestant denom. looking into the LDS).

This topic comes up in our church also.

I really feel that we should dress in our best/better clothes and be respectful.

If you can afford a nice suit, then go for it! If you can only afford a simple shirt and pants, then that is fine too.

For my family, we really can't afford a suit for my husband...he is big and tall and you know how much those suits cost! Instead, I got a white dress shirt at WalMart for less than $10, a tie and some nice dark blue pants. My boys wear dark blue pants (from the thrift store) and white shirts (also from the thrift store). My daughters wear Lands End dresses (also from the thrift store) or a skirt & blouse (also from the thrift store). I wear a long, comfrotable skirt and blouse. In fact, we just came back from a major thrift store shopping. What were we shopping for? Church clothes for the fall/winter. I love thrift stores and I can find very nice name brand clothes for a few dollars.

I know we are not looking all fancy but we look respectful and clean. It is obvious that we have tried to wear something different than what we wear to the mall, mowing the lawn or running errands.

I don't know if it's the actual clothing but the respect level that bothers me.

I am in the greater NYC area and if you go to a fancy opera or something, people are in suits. Go into Manhattan and they are all dressed very nicely. But they wear flip flops to church? Now you know that these people have better footwear than some $.99 beach shoes. People wear good clothes to a job interview or to impress a date.

I don't think you need to wear an expensive suit or a fancy dress with heels (you can if you want to!) but there should be a level of respect that is reflected in your clothing choice.

I don't know of any Bible verses that command us to look respectful but as you grow in your relationship with Christ, it should be eaiser to discern what is appropriate for church.

[hordak]

I beg to differ...These are the men we should be following, not the Bernie Madoffs or Al Capones of the world...

I'm sure that Satan himself would dress in a suit if it suits his purpose. My point has been all along that we have people to look up to, and we should emulate them...

No problem there. But isn't because of their dress that people emulate them.

P.S. Whens the last time we have seen one of thoughs sweet BY beards in Sacrament

[Wingnut]

This whole thing is a "sore spot" for me. My mother was one of the ladies who was looked down upon due to her Sunday dress. What people saw on sunday was her tacky sequined sweaters , stirrup pants, and her wardrobe that hadn't been updated since the 70s.

To be perfectly honest, I'd probably look down on her if I saw her wearing that...in an everyday situation. If I saw her wearing it at church, I'd probably smile and chalk it up to her being an eccentric old(er) woman. :)

[sixpacktr]

Hordak,

Agree with the beards. That was a reflection in later years because it symbolized rebelliousness, but I wouldn't have a problem with it all(besides the fact that I can't grow one, which as ALWAYS bothered me!). Goat and a stache. Have always liked them...

[Moksha]

Wear a tie and get a
shave while you're at it!

[Guest Alana]

No problem there. But isn't because of their dress that people emulate them.

P.S. Whens the last time we have seen one of thoughs sweet BY beards in Sacrament

You would see something close if my husband would attend. He's always sporting some nice facial hair, which I LOVE. My favorite is a wide and bushy chin strap style. I think it looks manly on him, in the best way.

[Moksha]

The uniform of the PH is a white shirt and tie.

We are a prophetic and uniform people.

[lattelady]

To sixpacktr's point about people getting defensive and feeling attacked on certain threads, I have noticed that there's a huge discrepency between how many people VIEW different subjects or posts, but how few actually post/comment on them. Makes me wonder if many people have things they would love to say, questions they would want to ask but they're scared to for fear that they'll get jumped on. I, myself, have felt a bit jumped on just for expressing a thought.

[Moksha]

I, myself, have felt a bit jumped on just for expressing a thought.

Don't worry about that. There are so many opinions around here, that the more indeed makes the merrier. Some people snarl, but that will never hurt you. You are off to a good start. Be bold and keep it up! The golden rule of posting is to always be courteous and civil. The interplay of ideas is what makes for good message board dialogue.

:)

[MobyMule]

I think the main point here is if you are taught that you should wear your best for the worship service that is what you should do with the ability and means that you have. The other people there never should look down on anyone because of what they wear/don't wear to a church service. If you have the means/ability to weare a shirt and tie/dress then if that is what is sunday best then that is what should be worn. If you don't have those things wear what you got the best of.

I do agree I think alot of brethren in the PH have the means/ability and still don't follow this practice.

It comes down to intent of the indiviual. If they are putting their desire to be comfortable above showing respect in their worship then that is a problem but it is a problem that only a leader should address privately. It is not the job of the congregation to police a dress code.

[sixpacktr]

Lattelady,

Never feel bad or scared of posting a real question. I have done it several times here trying to work something thru my head. We don't have time in SS to really noodle thru some of these things, and personal study is important, but sometimes you need to bounce something off of others to be able to learn things. SS is meant for learning the basic principles of the gospel. We don't often go into sanctification and justification (we save that for HP meeting!), and we shouldn't. Alma the Elder himself taught his people to teach nothing by faith and repentance (IOW, the Atonement), so we have to have some outlet.

Some attack. Some (like me, I know) tend to be rather straightforward in their opinions. Some joke. We're all different, and that's okay. We all learn differently. But we need to be humble enough to accept learning by the spirit.

I have learned quite a bit on this section of the board. I have sworn off other parts because I hate to argue politics and the like with other members, particularly on a board. There is way too much room for misunderstanding, and I don't want to argue with members or other good people. The important thing is the Gospel, and pointing others to Christ. All the rest is just fluff, when it comes down to it...

[mlbrowninwa]

At my ward, we have a gentleman that comes for sacrament meetings every now and then. He always comes in in shorts, no tie and a button down shirt, but with a tropical print on it. He sits and listens to the service and does not stay for any of the meetings after. Yesterday he was there and stayed a bit longer than normal and was welcomed by several people. He still didn't stay for the other meetings, but I'm sure he left feeling welcome to return.

[Guest Believer_1829]

Excellent! As I asked before... when did the business suit of Babylon become "proper attire" for church? Angel messengers are described as wearing flowing white robes, and are often depicted as bearded (even the Father and Son), which raises a whole other issue we can dialogue about in another thread.

http://thm-a02.yimg.com/image/833b58633fa309dc Capone

http://thm-a03.yimg.com/image/94e1586f81cd8c44Gahndi

http://thm-a03.yimg.com/image/ce01a44cd87f02a6Mother Teresa

http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/5605907eb7a21f12Dutch Schultz

http://thm-a03.yimg.com/image/3a03b52777167cc8Berny Madolf

Clothes do NOT reflect the heart.

[sixpacktr]

Believer,

Are you suggesting we all show up in flowing white robes and no shoes? I'd be the first to sign up if we could! But I guess my question is: what is your point?

[Guest Believer_1829]

Believer,

Are you suggesting we all show up in flowing white robes and no shoes? I'd be the first to sign up if we could! But I guess my question is: what is your point?

My point is the suggestion that the proper way to show respect to the Lord is by wearing a white shirt and tie BUSINESS suit, and calling it the "uniform of the PH", seems erroneous to me.

Why a white shirt? What is wrong with a nice pastel color?

Edited August 17, 2009 by Believer_1829

[sixpacktr]

Ask Elder Nelson. Ask Elder Holland. Ask Elder Packer. All of them have stated such. I don't make this stuff up as some way of exercising control over people I have no control over. I only go by what has been stated by the Brethren. I can't state it any plainer than that.

[Guest Believer_1829]

So what made LDS leaders land on white shirt and tie business suits as proper Zionic attire? The suggestion that you are not properly "honoring your priesthood" when you wear something other then a white shirt and tie business suit doesn't wash with me.

[sixpacktr]

Again, you have your agency. Just stating what has been taught. No skin off my nose if you choose to do otherwise.

See you in your white robes! (really, I have told people I look forward to the resurrection because of the attire!)

[Guest Believer_1829]

Again, you have your agency. Just stating what has been taught. No skin off my nose if you choose to do otherwise.

See you in your white robes! (really, I have told people I look forward to the resurrection because of the attire!)

"You have your agency" is generally said when someone believes the other person is making a decision endangering their exaltation...

Do you believe I will receive a "lessor degree of glory" because I do not wear a white shirt and tie business suit to church?

Edited August 18, 2009 by john doe

[talisyn]

I think that if your clothes and shoes (if you wear shoes) are clean then you're fine. Sometimes the only clothes you have are the ones you wear to work.

I laughed a bit when I read the OP. Your bro's clothes looked nice until you found out he went to church in them? That is true siblinghood isn't it?

[sixpacktr]

"You have your agency" is generally said when someone believes the other person is making a decision endangering their exaltation...

Do you believe I will receive a "lessor degree of glory" because I do not wear a white shirt and tie business suit to church?

Man, you just won't let this go, so I'll just say what is in my dark heart:):

Yes! Yes, you are going straight to hell for that! My pharasiacal self righteousness can stand no more!

Is that what you wanted to hear? C'mon, let it go. I have stated what the Brethren have said, it doesn't matter to me what you wear, but if you have been taught correct principles and then decide against it..., well, you make the call.

BTW, there was no 'code' for what I said about agency. You do have your agency. That was all I meant. There was no 'between the lines' meaning to what I wrote...

And, my line of going to hell was tongue in cheek. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't taken seriously...

Edited August 17, 2009 by sixpacktr

[beefche]

It started when we met at my mom's house for Sunday dinner. He was dressed in a nice polo style shirt and khacki pants. I commented on how nice he looked. My brother works in the construction industry and I rarely see him in a clean shirt, let alone one that is wrinkle free and has a collar. He said he didn't have time to change after their Sunday meetings, theirs are later than ours. I asked him why he didn't wear a tie and the conversation went down hill from there.

Let's be clear here: The OP did not say that he wasn't dressed nice....he said that he asked why he didn't wear a tie.

[lattelady]

Have the Brethren ever stated things that go against what Christ taught in scripture? I'm not asking this to make waves, I'm asking because I believe that our highest Authority is God. So when there are hundreds of differing opinions on what we should wear to church (or other things not specifically laid out in scripture), we ought to obey God rather than man. When He says that He is concerned with our hearts and not the outward appearance, I believe He means it. The rest is left up to our relationship with Him to determine, "God, are you honored with this outfit?"