Modesty

1 “For example, they need to understand that when they wear clothing that is too tight, too short, or too low cut, they not only can send the wrong message to young men with whom they associate, but they also perpetuate in their own minds the fallacy that a woman’s value is dependent solely upon her sensual appeal. This never has been nor will it ever be within the righteous definition of a faithful daughter of God.”

APRIL 2010 “Mothers and Daughters”, M. Russell Ballard, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

2 “Virtue encompasses modesty—in thought, language, dress, and demeanor. And modesty is the foundation stone of chastity. Just as one does not hike trails inhabited by rattlesnakes barefoot, similarly in today’s world it is essential to our very safety to be modest. When we are modest, we show others that we understand our relationship with our Father in Heaven as His daughters. We demonstrate that we love Him and that we will stand as a witness of Him in all things. Being modest lets others know that we “cherish virtue” (“Dearest Children, God Is Near You,” Hymns, no. 96). Modesty is not a matter of being “hip.” It is a matter of the heart and being holy. It is not about being fashionable. It is about being faithful. It is not about being cool. It is about being chaste and keeping covenants. It is not about being popular, but about being pure. Modesty has everything to do with keeping our footing securely on the path of chastity and virtue. It is clear that virtue is a requirement for exaltation.”

APRIL 2007 “Stay on the Path” Elaine S. Dalton, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

3 “Modesty is more than a matter of avoiding revealing attire. It describes not only the altitude of hemlines and necklines but the attitude of our hearts. The word modesty means “measured.” It is related to moderate. It implies “decency, and propriety … in thought, language, dress, and behavior” (in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5 vols. [1992], 2:932).”

OCTOBER 2005 “The Sanctity of the Body” Susan W. Tanner, Young Women General President

4 President N. Eldon Tanner once cautioned us with these words: “Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one’s fellowmen, and the Creator of us all. Modesty reflects an attitude of humility, decency, and propriety. Consistent with these principles and guided by the Holy Spirit, let parents, teachers, and youth discuss the particulars of dress, grooming, and personal appearance, and with free agency accept responsibility and choose the right” (“Friend to Friend,” Friend, June 1971, 3).

OCTOBER 2008 “Let Him Do It with Simplicity” Elder L. Tom Perry, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

5 “Modesty is not a matter of being “hip.” It is a matter of the heart and being holy. It is not about being fashionable. It is about being faithful. It is not about being cool. It is about being chaste and keeping covenants. It is not about being popular, but about being pure. Modesty has everything to do with keeping our footing securely on the path of chastity and virtue. It is clear that virtue is a requirement for exaltation. Mormon helps us understand that both virtue and chastity are “most dear and precious above all things” (Moroni 9:9). We simply cannot afford to be casual or get too close to the edge. That is dangerous ground for any daughter of God to walk.”

APRIL 2007 “Stay on the Path” Elaine S. Dalton First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency General Conference

6 “Virtue encompasses modesty—in thought, language, dress, and demeanor. And modesty is the foundation stone of chastity. Just as one does not hike trails inhabited by rattlesnakes barefoot, similarly in today’s world it is essential to our very safety to be modest. When we are modest, we show others that we understand our relationship with our Father in Heaven as His daughters. We demonstrate that we love Him and that we will stand as a witness of Him in all things. Being modest lets others know that we “cherish virtue”.”

APRIL 2007 “Stay on the Path” Elaine S. Dalton First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency General Conference

7 “Modesty is more than a matter of avoiding revealing attire. It describes not only the altitude of hemlines and necklines but the attitude of our hearts. The word modesty means “measured.” It is related to moderate. It implies “decency, and propriety … in thought, language, dress, and behavior” (in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5 vols. [1992], 2:932).”

OCTOBER 2005 General Conference, “The Sanctity of the Body” Susan W. Tanner, Young Women General President

8 “The kind of young woman who can be a terrific torchbearer has high standards all the time, not just in her prom dress, but every, ordinary day. There are so many of you who are like that, and I salute you tonight. You have made modesty your way of life. It is more than how you dress. It includes at least six things that I can think of: (1) your behavior is decent and modest, and yet you are very fun to be with; (2) your language is never crude but happy and interesting; (3) you are well groomed, and that is appealing; (4) you are focused on developing your talents and achieving your goals, not piercing and tattooing and flaunting your body; (5) you play sports with gusto but never lose control; (6) you don’t seem to care about what the latest pop star wears or does because you have a certain style of your own. In summary, you do not imitate the world’s standards because you know a higher standard. You know who you are, and that puts you at a real advantage. You know that you really are a daughter of Heavenly Father. You know that He knows you and that He loves you; you want to please Him and honor His love for you. You know that even if you make foolish mistakes, He will help you if you turn to Him.”

General conference APRIL 2002, “Hold High the Torch” Margaret D. Nadauld, Young Women General President

9 “The world places so much emphasis on physical attractiveness and would have you believe that you are to look like the elusive model on the cover of a magazine. The Lord would tell you that you are each uniquely beautiful. When you are virtuous, chaste, and morally clean, your inner beauty glows in your eyes and in your face. My grandfather used to say, “If you live close to God and His infinite grace—you won’t have to tell, it will show in your face.” 14  When you are worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost, you are confident and your inner beauty shines brightly.”

General Conference APRIL 2010 “Remember Who You Are!”, Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President

10 “Modesty in dress and manner will assist in protecting against temptation. It may be difficult to find modest clothing, but it can be found with enough effort. I sometimes wish every girl had access to a sewing machine and training in how to use it. She could then make her own attractive clothing. I suppose this is an unrealistic wish. But I do not hesitate to say that you can be attractive without being immodest. You can be refreshing and buoyant and beautiful in your dress and in your behavior. Your appeal to others will come of your personality, which is the sum of your individual characteristics. Be happy. Wear a smile. Have fun. But draw some rigid parameters, a line in the sand, as it were, beyond which you will not go.”

APRIL 2004 General Conference “Stay on the High Road”, Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church

Personal Statement

I choose to learn more about modesty because it was something that I was struggling to understand completely. As I’ve learned about modesty my feelings about it have changed. My conviction to teach my children about modest and to live my life modestly have been strengthened. In the beginning I was frustrated reading about how modesty was directed at women and not at men. I expressed this to a friend and she told me she would rather hear about modesty, then have to sit through talks about pornography like her husband has to. This got my thinking about why modest is directed more toward women. I feel that there are some double standards in the world about what is modest for a women to wear and what is modest for a man to wear.

To me being modest doesn’t just mean making sure our bodies are covered, but to make sure that what we have on our bodies doesn’t draw unnecessary attention from others. It means wearing what is appropriate for the occasion and being comfortable in it. It means being grateful for the body I have been given and treating it respectfully. My feelings on modesty are still evolving and I know that will continue to evolve forever. I want to treat my body respectfully and to feel comfortable with who I am, and for me making sure I am wearing clothing that I feel comfortable in and cover me is very important to me.