Dress Standards and Culture
This is part three of my series on the Washington Post Article.
The article mentions that the LDS church has fallen from the highest converting Christian church in America. The official LDS website states the church is the second-highest converting church in America.
The article suggests that other faiths are “willing to express the local culture in many ways that the LDS has been slow to do.” And further asks if it is necessary for people to all dress a certain way to attend church meetings and for missionaries to be dressed a certain way, etc.
I would love to hear what people have to say about this because from my own personal experience as a missionary in Germany it was very difficult to even have a conversation with the people about religion. However, when I went back to work as a “normal” citizen in Germany and Switzerland, they treated me with respect and got to know me as a person. I found it much easier to have gospel discussions after my mission as opposed to before.
Why do you think the LDS church maintains the standard American white shirt and tie approach to missionary work? Do you feel a change in this would positively affect the ability for missionaries to embrace the culture of other countries?
In addition to these suggestions, what other cultural issues have you experienced that the LDS church could improve on, if anything at all?
Grace for Grace 
9 comments
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February 13, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Bryce Haymond
I think there are some areas where the Church could improve in cultural relations, and certain things do change from culture to culture. I believe that in some Polynesian cultures the members go to church in the typical Polynesian formal dress.
But some things will never change. The gospel is the same, wherever you go in the world.
I’m reminded of Elder Packer’s remarks the other day in the leadership meeting, that some things that we won’t do, we just won’t do. We will not conform our standards of worship to the traditions of culture or fashions of the day. We will not allow beating of drums in sacrament meeting in Africa, for instance, even if it is a local custom.
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February 14, 2008 at 6:16 pm
ama49
Thanks for the comment, Bryce and for the reference to the leadership meeting the other day. I missed it, but I’m looking forward to learning more from what they had to say in the meeting.
When you say “some things will never change.” What things do you think won’t change and what things do you think could change?
In addition, do you think these changes would help boost baptisms?
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February 14, 2008 at 8:43 pm
J. Stapley
We will not conform our standards of worship to the traditions of culture or fashions of the day. We will not allow beating of drums in sacrament meeting in Africa, for instance, even if it is a local custom.
Don’t be so sure. The way we do things now is very much an extension of our culture. It is very possible that the leaders of the Church will one day allow for more cultural adaptability.
I like to wear white shirts and suits, but enforcing that on cultures where it isn’t normal is, in my estimation, a very bad idea.
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February 15, 2008 at 1:31 am
ama49
I can see both arguements. On the one hand you can argue that one doesn’t feel the Spirit as much and one isn’t as reverent, etc. unless we wear the white shirt and dark suits.
However, that is what I’m accustomed to…as we grow and if we want to become global I think the church will need to accomodate to the cultures while still maintaining the spirit. It’s a fine line to walk.
I’d be interested in learning what or if a General Authority had made any addresses on this subject.
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February 18, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Mormon Heretic
I think the whole white shirt thing is silly. It seems like God looks upon the heart, but church leaders look upon the white shirt. (You don’t have to worry about getting certain callings if you wear a colored shirt to church, so there can be pluses to this if you think about it.) This whole thing reminds me of the parable of the widow’s mite.
I remember attending a student ward at the U of U, and being passed the sacrament by someone wearing a white shirt, tie, and a lava lava. (Yes he was Polynesian.) I thought it was pretty cool, but I think that in most of Mormondom, this would be frowned upon.
I’m all for adding more diversity, and I think doing so will both add and alienate some members. However, I think that it will add more than it loses.
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February 19, 2008 at 5:43 pm
ZeeZrom
I remember Hinckley’s GC talk about body/multiple ear piercings and tattoos, but how it was still okay for our polynesian members to have tattoos, because it was part of the culture. I also remember how much it pissed me off. Shortly after that talk I found myself in the MTC. Of course, there were some polynesian elders, who wore their skirts or whatever to the gym and they had their tats proudly displayed, etc. I thought to myself (since I was headed to germany), ‘if the church can grant a “cultural exemption” to polynesians, why can’t they do the same for the germans and let the german members drink beer? I mean, beer drinking has been a cultural part of germany since the freakin’ 1600s. What’s the deal?’ I brought it up in class. It didn’t go over well.
I never have been a fan of double standards.
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February 21, 2008 at 1:58 am
ama49
Zeezrom,
I think drinking beer would be an example of one cultural thing the church wouldn’t embrace. I wouldn’t consider this a double standard. I mean, in some cultures it’s normal to use drugs, have sex…there has to be a line drawn somewhere.
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June 19, 2008 at 8:06 pm
apostatejournal
The mention of Drums in africa is interesting. I heard that in some african countries there were quite a few misunderstandings when members came to church. Apparently in some countries the only place one would find a piano is in a brothel. Drums are the instrument used in African worship.
I think the white shirt and tie are a holdover from the corporate environment of the Church leadership. Until they began getting stipends most of them held corporate executive positions in church owned companies to keep the income coming in.
There is definitely a need for the LDS church to accomodate cultural differences more broadly or it will continue to be seen as an “American” religion and will eventually end up fitting in with no culture.
Having said that… I think there has been a big effort in recent years to loosen up culturally and honor the diverse cultural traditions that are encountered. President Hinkley led the church in making progress in this manner. I hope Thomas Monson continues down this path.
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November 27, 2008 at 7:10 am
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