Proper attire for mid-week Relief Society

[idatater46]

I previously lived in a ward where the Sisters were comfortable in wearing nice slacks to mid-week Relief Society meeting as long as we were not to be in the Chapel. This new ward insists the Sisters wear dresses and insist this directive came from the Prophet at some time. Since I have never heard that, I am in hopes someone can back that up with proof for me.

[Hemidakota]

modest clothing...would you wear a suit and play basketball on the church inside courts?

[pam]

Playing basketball is hardly the same as going to a RS meeting.

[Hemidakota]

Then, the question is the meeting formal or informal? If informal then no. Formal then yes.

[Hemidakota]

Playing basketball is hardly the same as going to a RS meeting.

How do you know they are not mixing ward business with pleasure (sports)????? :lol:

[Connie]

I previously lived in a ward where the Sisters were comfortable in wearing nice slacks to mid-week Relief Society meeting as long as we were not to be in the Chapel. This new ward insists the Sisters wear dresses and insist this directive came from the Prophet at some time. Since I have never heard that, I am in hopes someone can back that up with proof for me.

I would ask them for a reference if i were you. They are the ones who insist it was said, so they should have a reference nice and handy. I, myself, have never heard such a thing. In all the wards i've been in a higher percentage of women show up in pants regardless of the activity. Good grief, what are they gonna do, send people away for not wearing a dress. Yeah, that would go over real well with investigators or less actives who show up in pants.

I personally wear a skirt if it's a nice dinner or something special but if it's a service project or a bunch of mini classes or whatever i'll wear pants.

[MorningStar]

We wear jeans unless we're going to meet in the chapel for a while. But even people in my ward choir wear jeans in the chapel for practice on Sundays.

[Generally_Me]

I think at our last meeting we had one person in a dress. It was an indoor service project.

However, for our relief society dinner we wore dresses.

I don't think I've ever heard of such a quote before, either.

[yenni]

Good thing I don't go to that ward. I come straight from art school some days and can be quite a mess sometimes

[pam]

We wear jeans unless we're going to meet in the chapel for a while. But even people in my ward choir wear jeans in the chapel for practice on Sundays.

The choir that I belong to (not a ward) we meet in a chapel every Sunday night. We just got an email asking us to please refrain from wearing jeans in the future to practice. To show reverence for the chapel.

But I haven't heard anything about not being able to wear slacks to a RS meeting during the week..unless it's going to be in the chapel. It could be a new Bishop's interpretation of something and not necessarily coming directly from the First Presidency.

[yenni]

I can see being reverent for the Chapel, and for a formal meeting. But if you're getting together to bake brownies or knit or something, doesn't seem necessary.

[Guest]

For any church activity, the activity coordinators may dictate the attire. For example, when I was ward activities coordinator and I send out invites for an activity, I would specify the attire. Sometimes I would specify casual (jeans), sometimes sunday dress, depends on the activity. But, every activity held at the chapel (e.g. Easter Cantata, etc.), the activity coordinator always specify sunday dress.

Therefore, if your RS presidency specified sunday dress for your RS meetings, it is their prerogative and does not need back-up from a Prophet saying so.

[pam]

Amen anatess.

[ferretrunner]

I know we're supposed to wear modest dress to Church. But why the insistence that women "have to" wear a dress/ skirt? What is wrong with a nice pant suit or other attractive outfit?

LOL. A few weeks ago I was at Ft. Hood. I had to work Sunday afternoon. I went to Sacrament wearing ACUs. That was actually the most comfortable, accepting feeling I had in Church for a long time.

Personally, I HATE skirts and dresses. I don't feel safe in them. I don't feel respected in them. I don't feel comfortable. So, when I force myself to wear one to Church, I am horribly uncomfortable and spend at least part of the time looking at my watch, waiting for the meetings to end so I can go change clothes. If I wear slacks, I sometimes feel people are looking at me strange and/or judging me for not dressing "right." When I was in my uniform, it was duty related. I was comfortable and was accepted by the Congregation. A lot of them were military and I wasn't the only one with "release time" to attend religious services.

[Guest jonusb]

long as we were not to toronto asian escort be in the Chapel. This new ward insists the Sisters wear dresses and insist this directive came from the Prophet at some time. S toronto escort ince I have never heard that, I am in hopes someone can back that up with proof for me. long as we were not to be i toronto asian escorts n the Chapel. This new ward insists the Sisters wear dresses and insist this directive came from the Prophet at some time. Since I have never heard that, I am in hopes toronto escorts someone can back that up with proof for me.

[Churchmouse]

If the Bishop decides women should wear dresses to Relief Society he doesn't need to "back it up". It is his decision as the leader(Called of God) of the ward.

That being said, I have never heard of a Bishop making such a rule. We never did.

I don't mean this to sound harsh, but is it really worth a confrontation and possibly dividing the ward.

[Melissa569]

I live in the bay area, California. Around here, its pretty relaxed. Sure, most ladies wear dresses to church on Sunday. However, I would say its "Expected, but not required".

Even at sacrament last Sunday, I saw one woman in black slacks. And another woman walked in wearing a sun visor, and jogging suit! She sat in the back, and nobody cared.

Then I went to an RS activity with my aunt Diane a few years ago, and we all wore regular clothes. Even the young women's "Beehive" group I was in back when I was 12 let us wear jeans in the church wednesday nights. Guess it depends where you are.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Melissa569

[Guest]

Okay, for sacrament meeting, there is really no rule that says women HAVE TO wear skirts. The concept has always been - wear your BEST clothes - something you would wear if God would have come to your house for dinner.

If your best clothes is a pair of slacks, then there's nothing wrong with it. If people look at you funny, it's not your problem. The BEST outfit is culturally influenced, of course. For example, in the Philippines, the BEST outfit is not a suit and tie - it's a Barong. But, in the poor areas of the Philippines, it is common to find a clean/well-pressed t-shirt in sacrament - it's the best thing hanging in their closet!

In the US, the traditional cultural influence of BEST outfit for women is a dress, not a pant suit. So, if you have a dress, wear it. If you can't afford one, then wear your pant suit.

Comfort is not as important a consideration. Men, for instance, wear coat and tie to formal events, regardless of whether that noose around their necks are comfortable.

I'm more comfortable in pants as well. But, I wear a dress to sacrament meeting. I did spend a lot of time looking for the most comfortable dress I can find. I found straight long skirts (goes down to my ankles, or the very least between knees and ankles) are the most comfortable.

[ferretrunner]

If God came to my house for dinner... the ferrets would love it. lol. I remember a RS meeting where someone was talking about how would you be if Jesus came to your house- would you be too worried about the "mess" to enjoy the company? I started laughing, with this visual image of my ferrets greeting Jesus like they greet most of my company- trying to climb on His lap and/or up His pantlegs.

Seriously, though. God would likely find me dressed as I am everyday. Casually or work casual. Simply this- if God is my Heavenly Father, do I have to dress to impress?

I know talking about comfort- it doesn't "matter." Ok, that's fine. However, in all honesty, yes, being told (or implied) that I have to wear a dress/ skirt to Church to "show" I'm respectful is something that has kept me from going to the Church in the past and may in the future. I don't show up wearing dirty/ ratty/ revealing clothing. The clothes are nicer than what I would normally wear even to work. LOL. As a matter of fact, some of my presentation clothing is more expensive than some dresses I could be wearing.

[pam]

This is my take on this. This is not directed at anyone in particular, I'm just stating my thoughts on this.

We vote to sustain our local leaders just as we vote to sustain our Prophet. That being said...if our local leader feels inspired (for whatever reason) to ask women to wear dresses to a RS meeting in HIS ward; should we not support him in this? I wonder sometimes if we have trouble supporting or sustaining our local leaders in such a trivial thing as this...how would we support or sustain him in something much more major?

[ferretrunner]

Good point. But, I'm not all that strong a member. Obviously.

[beefche]

What is it about this topic that causes so much feelings?

Here's my take--if I'm in the chapel, then I'm wearing a dress/skirt. I feel that it is culturally acceptable as "best dress" for a woman to do so.

If I'm not in the chapel, then how I dress will depend on the activity. If it is a nice dinner for RS Christmas or Easter, I'm likely to dress either in a dress or a nice slacks outfit. If I'm getting certified in CPR, then I'm wearing sweats/jeans.

If the bishop has decreed that all activities require a skirt/dress and it is an activity that isn't conducive (I would be REALLY surprised if they wanted you to wear a dress while planting flowers around the chapel), then I'm wearing appropriate clothes.

Ferret, I honestly don't know how to say this without it sounding offensive. So, I'm just going to say it and hope you understand the meaning behind the words. Go to church and forget the excuses for not attending. Wear your fatigues, wear pants, wear jeans...who cares? And if someone actually does care and says anything to you, then smile, say thank you, and continue wearing what you want.

[Elgama]

For us it has depended on the Relief Society President some have us wear skirts to everything, some have more casual clothes.

[Moksha]

If you don't all wear the same thing then how can you conform?

[havejoy]

I wouldn't have a problem if my RS Presidency made this decision but I would have a problem with them saying it came from somewhere like the Prophet if it didn't.