Difference between revisions of "Question: What does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach about modesty and what is its importance?"

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Questions about the Church’s standard of modesty have arisen in recent years. This article seeks to be an exposition of everything we should know about modesty and the reasons for practicing it as well as a response to certain criticisms that have arisen about it.
 
Questions about the Church’s standard of modesty have arisen in recent years. This article seeks to be an exposition of everything we should know about modesty and the reasons for practicing it as well as a response to certain criticisms that have arisen about it.
 
===Response to Question===
 
===Response to Question===
====The Scriptural Case For Modesty====
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====The Scriptural Case For Modesty in Dress====
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The scriptures include injunctions for modesty in dress that are more direct and some that are more indirect.
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Alma in the Book of Mormon sees "costly apparel" very negatively&ndash;always framing it as a manifestation of pride.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.6,27,32?lang=eng&clang=eng#p6,27,32 Alma 1:6, 27, 32]</ref> In contrast, he looks positively on those that dress and groom themselves in a way that is "neat and comely."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.27?lang=eng&clang=eng#p27 Alma 1:27]</ref> The author of Timothy directs women to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [meaning "braided"] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-tim/2.9?lang=eng 1 Timothy 2:9]. The author says "the author" of Timothy because modern biblical scholarship is united in affirming that Paul did not write Timothy. See Raymond F. Collins, ''1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary'' (Nashville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), 4.</ref> A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 known as "The Law" commands members to "let all [their] garments be plain, and their beauty the work of [their] own hands[.]"<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/42.40?lang=eng Doctrine and Covenants 42:40]</ref>
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====Scriptural Case for Modesty Generally====
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====Definition of Modesty====
 
====Definition of Modesty====
 
====Modesty Applies to Both Men and Women====
 
====Modesty Applies to Both Men and Women====

Revision as of 19:05, 22 September 2021

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Question: What does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach about modesty and what is its importance?

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Introduction to Question

Questions about the Church’s standard of modesty have arisen in recent years. This article seeks to be an exposition of everything we should know about modesty and the reasons for practicing it as well as a response to certain criticisms that have arisen about it.

Response to Question

The Scriptural Case For Modesty in Dress

The scriptures include injunctions for modesty in dress that are more direct and some that are more indirect.

Alma in the Book of Mormon sees "costly apparel" very negatively–always framing it as a manifestation of pride.[1] In contrast, he looks positively on those that dress and groom themselves in a way that is "neat and comely."[2] The author of Timothy directs women to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [meaning "braided"] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."[3] A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 known as "The Law" commands members to "let all [their] garments be plain, and their beauty the work of [their] own hands[.]"[4]

Scriptural Case for Modesty Generally

Definition of Modesty

Modesty Applies to Both Men and Women

Modesty in Dress

Are Church Standards About Modesty Sexist?

Notes

  1. Alma 1:6, 27, 32
  2. Alma 1:27
  3. 1 Timothy 2:9. The author says "the author" of Timothy because modern biblical scholarship is united in affirming that Paul did not write Timothy. See Raymond F. Collins, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary (Nashville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), 4.
  4. Doctrine and Covenants 42:40