While dresses and skirts remain the norm at most Latter-day Saint services, pants have hardly worn out their welcome.
The church did not — and does not — have any rule about clothing at church, but the cultural expectations of dresses and skirts on women have been strong and fairly uniform. The 2012 pants promotion was intended as the first act of All Enlisted, a group dedicated to increasing gender equity in the church.
According to guidelines on dress and grooming on the church's official Web site, Mormons are discouraged from wearing immodest clothing, including “short shorts and skirts,” “tight clothing” and “shirts that do not cover the stomach.” They should “avoid extremes in clothing, appearance and hairstyle” and not “disfigure ...
What should I wear to a Mormon funeral? It's appropriate to dress in formal attire at a Mormon funeral. For men, this usually means a suit and tie, and for women, a conservative dress, skirt and blouse, or suit and trousers. Women should make sure to cover their knees and shoulders.
In addition to avoiding clothing that is revealing, we should avoid extremes in clothing, appearance, and hairstyle. In dress, grooming, and manners, we should always be neat and clean, never sloppy or inappropriately casual. We should not disfigure ourselves with tattoos or body piercings.
Wear dresses or skirts when attending the temple and during Sunday worship services, leadership and zone conferences, baptismal services, and missionary training center devotionals. However, you may wear dress slacks to the meeting location and change into a dress or skirt before the meeting begins.
Church leaders have stated that outside of marriage "passionate kisses", defined as "more intense and last[ing] longer than a brief kiss", and "prolonged kisses that involve the tongue and excite the passions" are "off limits".
LDS Church teachings
Members are told that they should not partially or completely remove any portion of the garment to participate in activities that can "reasonably be done with the garment worn properly beneath the clothing".
Nevertheless, Mormon women are encouraged to buy swimsuits that uphold the church's general standard of modesty. While this does not mean their suits have to cover as much as the garments would, they generally are expected to cover midriffs and to wear bottoms with sufficient coverage.
Mormon underwear, formally known as a temple garment, is a type of undergarment worn by Mormons. The undergarments resemble a white t-shirt tucked into long white shorts and are meant to be worn underneath one's clothes at all times.
Both premarital sex and adultery are prohibited, and marriage below the age of 18 years is rare. In keeping with the Mormon belief that heaven is full of millions of spirits awaiting an earthly body, birth control and abortion are also forbidden.
Church members believe God loves all of His children, regardless of what they look like. Previously existing tattoos will not prevent one from serving in the Church and receiving all of God's blessings.
Though the Mormon Church has no official policy against women wearing pants to church, many say they feel peer pressure to wear a dress, particularly in the Western United States, organizers said.
If women do choose to wear cosmetics, they should be "neutral and conservative in style and color." The same goes for nail polish. And of course, "bathe daily, use deodorant, and wash your hair frequently." Perfume, if worn, can't be "overpowering or distracting."
“Immodest clothing includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and other revealing attire. Young women should wear clothing that covers the shoulder and avoid clothing that is low-cut in the front or the back or revealing in any other manner.
Keep accessories and jewelry, including watches, simple, professional, and conservative so they do not distract from your message or draw attention. Leave expensive jewelry at home.
Tattoos are discouraged, as are multiple piercings. The LDS church's website has an entire section devoted to grooming and dress, complete with makeup tutorials. “You are not required to wear makeup; however, wearing makeup can help you look your best,” it reads.
If any skin shows around your middle, your clothing is not appropriate. Shoulders: Put your hands on your shoulders. If you can feel bare skin, the clothing is not modest. Knees: Put your hands on your knees.
Water activities are closed on the Sabbath.
No bare midriffs, no halter tops, no bikinis, or short- shorts. Women and girls are asked to wear one piece swimsuits, or tankinis, (men and boys are to avoid small, tight swim trunks). Adult supervision is required at anytime youth are swimming or boating.
There are a few different circumstances in which a Mormon woman can wear sleeveless clothing in public. One is if the woman is participating in a sport or physical activity where sleeveless clothing is deemed appropriate.
Clothing. Wear professional-style clothing that is consistent with your missionary purpose and sacred calling as a disciple of Jesus Christ. This includes practicing “principles of orderliness, cleanliness, reverence, and dignity” (David A. Bednar, “The Principles of My Gospel,” Liahona, May 2021, 124).
Updates to dress and grooming guidelines apply to all sisters in all missions. Updated dress and grooming guidelines now provide sister missionaries the option to wear pants during regular missionary activities, including during normal training activities at missionary training centers.
Marrying a non-member is allowed, however, the marriage ceremony cannot be done in the temple.
For some reason, many people seem to think that Mormons aren't allowed to dance. While I agree that some Mormons can't dance very well, Mormons certainly can dance! In fact, the Mormon Church frequently sponsors dances for young men and women, ages 14-18.
The policy of companionships staying together at all times serves to discourage these activities. While missionaries may interact with members of the opposite sex, they may never be alone with them or engage in any kind of intimate physical or emotional activity (e.g., kissing, hugging, holding hands, flirting).