- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
What do you think it will take to change the fixation with white shirts in the church? As wearing colored shirts is now part of my modus operandi (mostly due to my changes in weight and laundry inconsistencies in my home), I wonder if this is something we could see changed within the next 10 years. I think if a lot of people started wearing non-white shirts that would help. Too bad there wasn’t a “wear a colored shirt to church day” in order to promote the idea that Mormons ARE individuals, like the ads on Mormons say. Or would that be too much like “wear pants to church day” that Ordain Women started?
Anyway, what would it take to make it more acceptable to wear a colored shirt in the church?
This is a tough one. I think it will have to be a one by one thing just like men starting to have beards again. I was thinking about this after I wrote it….I think your beard analogy has merit, although in reverse of the way you said it. Colored shirts might gain acceptance when:
1. A high ranking leader in the church wears one at a conference.
2. If the Church Handbook of Instructions currently says sacrament passers must wear a white, shirt and tie, this gets deleted or replaced with more liberal dress standards.
Anyone know if the handbook specifies that people passing the sacrament or engaging in ordinances should wear a white shirt?
Makes me want to photoshop some conference pictures and make all the GA’s on the stand have different colored shirts!!!
Quote:1. A high ranking leader in the church wears one at a conference.
I think this might be the only thing that could make an immediate, widespread change. Culture is hard to change.
Quote:2. If the Church Handbook of Instructions currently says sacrament passers must wear a white, shirt and tie, this gets deleted or replaced with more liberal dress standards.
The CHI says white shirts are NOT required to bless or pass the sacrament. In our ward, we have too few Aaronic Priesthood holders to administer the sacrament by themselves, so there are adult men who help every week. Occasionally, one of them is wearing a non-white shirt – and it hasn’t been just me.
Elder Holland said explicitly in his talk about the sacrament and white shirts that they are not to be required – but, as cwald likes to say, many orthodox leaders don’t follow their prophets with regard to some things. Even they are cafeteria Mormons when it comes to things they don’t want to hear and accept.
The current handbook does not say a white shirt and tie must be worn. I think this is being overcome in our area. As I have traveled around our stake I am surprised at how many men and boys I see not wearing white shirts, even in bishopric and other leadership positions (EQP, HPGL, etc.). In my own ward today we had a high council speaker (the SP also just happened to be present), the HC did not wear a white shirt. We have two priests who bless and four passers (small ward). Of the blessers/passers ONEwore a white shirt. One of them, a poor boy who hasn’t been active long, wore jeans (he has no dress pants) and another wore no tie. One of them also has pretty much a full beard (as much as 15-year-olds get). This isn’t all that unusual, my son owns a white shirt but prefers to wear his blue one to church – he usually blesses (there are only 2 priests). Not a word was said to anyone. Our HPGL, a fine upstanding TBM (former bishop, SP counselor) never wears a white shirt and sports a full beard. So what does it take? A little common sense and tolerance. (Although I do agree that if Pres. Uchtdorf or Elder Christofferson wore a blue shirt it would make a huge difference in attitude.)
I doubt this will come close to changing anytime soon. I just wear whatever dress shirt I want to wear that day. It is white maybe once a month. Of course I had to wear white all the time as the first counselor in the bishopric. I agree that it would take some high ranking people to start wearing color and would add that it would have to be over a length of time.
I knew that the handbook said that white shirts weren’t required but I decided to go back and actually read the policy to remind myself of what it actually says. Handbook 2: 20.4.1 wrote:Those who bless and pass the sacrament should dress modestly and be well groomed and clean. Clothing or jewelry should not call attention to itself or distract members during the sacrament. Ties and white shirts are recommended because they add to the dignity of the ordinance. However, they should not be required as a mandatory prerequisite for a priesthood holder to participate. Nor should it be required that all be alike in dress and appearance. Bishops should use discretion when giving such guidance to young men, taking into account their financial circumstances and maturity in the Church.
I think the “recommended because they add to the dignity” is going to be used for ill but the policy is still clear in that they are not
required… but if you want to show more dignity. See how that works? The first thing that came to mind has already been mentioned. Let the GAs wear non-white shirts. Let them visit the stakes of the church. Let people cup their hands to other people’s ears and whisper in hushed voices about what they’ve seen.
😆 The other thing has already been done. Handbook 2 is public information. The policy is now official and public, it’s no longer a part of the unwritten order of things. I’ve heard many members that like colored shirts make comments in church that start off with “The handbook says…” People now have something with which to defend themselves.
Yesterday in church a teacher aged boy was helping the deacons pass the sacrament in a bright red shirt and tie under his nice dark blue suit. He looked sharp. I didn’t hear any grumblings by anyone. A member of the stake presidency was presiding on the stand and did nothing. I’ll have to ask my bishop (good friend of mine) if anyone said anything to him about it.
Yesterday really was an interesting day at church for me.
Last Sunday I gave my talk while wearing a blue shirt (a member of the SP was there). No one said anything about it. I mean I don’t have much clout, but perhaps if people see a HC member wearing a non-white shirt it will help this along a bit…(baby steps).
Or people just automatically tune me out right off the bat because of it.
-SBRed
I didn’t realize this was a thing, as almost every male I know wears a colored shirt to church every once in a while. But why not? They’re nice, but they’re also fun, for lack of a better word. And women aren’t told to wear a white dress- they can have unique colors and styles. So, why not men? I’m not sure it will change soon, but I’ve noticed few individuals who have worn whatever the heck they want to church, even if it’s jeans.
Honestly, I really think that as long as you look nice, it shouldn’t matter so much what you wear. Our church seems to be pretty strict about appearance, but I haven’t noticed any criticism to the men who wear colored shirts, or the women who decide to wear pants. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky with my wards
What really matters is that people are attending, whether or not they’re struggling- that’s what’s more important here, I say
It seems like white shirts are more than a church culture thing. They’re “expected” in a lot of settings. But, yeah, one light blue shirt at conference would be earth-shaking.
Just A Girl wrote:What really matters is that people are attending, whether or not they’re struggling- that’s what’s more important here, I say
Bingo! Couldn’t agree more!
Just A Girl wrote:I didn’t realize this was a thing
Ya…it kinda is. It is usually handled with tact, but many local leaders talk in Priesthood meeting about the importance of respect to the priesthood and services performed. It is often said by local leaders that all priesthood actions should be done in a white shirt to symbolize purity and respect.
I am about to attend priesthood preview with my son in hour. Feeling a bit sheepish I am attending with a colored shirt..largely due to laundry problems in my home and my refusal to take over the job of laundry myself. I wonder if I will get chastised…. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
SilentDawning wrote:I am about to attend priesthood preview with my son in hour. Feeling a bit sheepish I am attending with a colored shirt..largely due to laundry problems in my home and my refusal to take over the job of laundry myself. I wonder if I will get chastised….
We did ours about a month ago. Here you would have been fine.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.