FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH: “Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner. Young women should avoid short shorts and short skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance.” –Dress and Appearance, For the Strength of Youth. [source]
SCRIPTURE: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” –Matthew 5:27-29. [source]
COMMENTARY: The Mormon use of the term “modesty” is merely a smokescreen for the age-old attempt to control women. If there were something intrinsic about the Mormon definition of modesty, it would apply to men and women equally. A more rational approach entirely, though, is that rather than dictating to others what they should and shouldn’t wear, we instead focus on our own actions and reactions, as Jesus is purported to have taught. I don’t think we should teach women not to dress in a way that might make a man feel tempted; we should instead teach men to control their thoughts and stop sexualizing and objectifying women. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
