"From the beginning the Lord has directed his children to clothe their bodies. Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one's fellowman and the Creator of us all. Modesty reflects an attitude of humility, decency, and propriety." Priesthood Bulletin, Sep 1970

"Short skirts, short shorts (shorts should be limited to being worn only during appropriate activities), tight fitting skirts, strapless or spaghetti straps, tight fitting sweaters, figure hugging clothes of any kind, bathing suits which immodestly expose the body succh as bikinis, bare midrifts, french cut, thin knit or netting, low cut or revealing tops, extreme make-up, exstreme haircuts or hairstyles, unbecoming behavior while wearing swimsuits or dresses. Wear cover-ups for changing while swimming". Teachings of Pres. Kimball, pg 284. Teachings of Pres. Benson pg 262, Faith Precedes the Mirache, Pres. Kimball pg 163.

"Young sisters be modest. Modesty in dress and language and deportment is a true mark of refinement and a hallmark of a virtuous Latter-Day Saint woman. Shun the low and the vulgar and the suggestive." To the Young Women of the Church, President Ezra Taft Benson.

“The responsibility and the right to teach these sacred [things] rest with the parents in the home. I do not believe that it is the responsibility of the public schools, nor is it the responsibility of the organizations of the Church. The contribution of the Church in this respect is to teach parents the standards of morality that the Lord has revealed and to assist them in their responsibility of teaching these sacred subjects to their children” (Teach Ye Diligently [1975], 256).

“Another of the many things that lead to unchastity is immodesty. Today many young women and young men are smug in their knowledge of the facts of life. They think they know all the answers. They talk about sex as freely as they talk about cars and shows and clothes. And a spirit of immodesty has developed until nothing seems to be sacred. “One contributing factor to immodesty and a breakdown of moral values is the modern dress. I am sure that the immodest clothes that are worn by some of our young women, and their mothers, contribute directly and indirectly to the immorality of this age. Even fathers sometimes encourage it. I wonder if our young sisters realize the temptation they are flaunting before young men when they leave their bodies partly uncovered. … “I am positive that the clothes we wear can be a tremendous factor in the gradual breakdown of our love of virtue, our steadfastness in chastity” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 163, 168).

Elder A. Theodore Tuttle taught us that “the father is the protector of the home. He guards it against the intrusion of evil from without. Formerly he protected his home with weapons and shuttered windows. Today the task is more complex. Barred doors and windows protect only against [physical things]. It is not an easy thing to protect one’s family against intrusions of evil into the minds and spirits of family members. These things can and do flow freely into the home. [Satan is very clever.] He need not break down the door” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 86-87; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 67).

Modest people are aware of prevailing standards of taste and decency. They know that within the bounds the Lord has established, norms of modesty may vary from culture to culture, from generation to generation, from youth to age, and even from one activity to another. For example, the athletic shorts that are appropriate at a Church basketball game would be inappropriate at sacrament meeting. Similarly, the knee-covering skirt that might have been considered immodest a century ago is generally acceptable today, except in some countries where it still might be regarded as highly provocative and immodest. Modesty requires sensitivity about what our dress communicates to others. For clothing clearly does communicate. What we wear serves more than the practical functions of keeping us warm in the winter and shaded in the summer. Dress is a language that we employ to express who we are—to make statements—and dress that is modest in what it covers may still be immodest in what it communicates. John S. Tanner, Ensign August 1992

"Modesty is for men also. Young men should keep their faces shaved, their hair combed, their haircuts conservative, their nails clean, their clothes should never be tight fitting. It is just as bad for a man to go around half dressed as it is for a woman. There is no reason a man should go around half dressed without a shirt." Teachings of Pres. Kimabll, pg. 285

Questions Regarding How I Dress

—Does my attire call improper attention to me? Do my clothes cause people to focus on my outward appearance in such a way that they might either misunderstand me or misjudge my character?

—Is my attire revealing? Does it properly cover my nakedness? (Here, the temple garments might serve as a guide to the Lord’s standards.)

—Does my clothing suit the occasion? Does it fit the environment in which I am wearing it? For example, we are asked to wear our best clothing (whatever this may be) to the temple and to Church meetings in order to lend reverence, restraint, and dignity to the atmosphere where sacred ordinances are performed.

—Do I feel comfortable with my grooming and dress in the presence of those I most respect and admire? Does my dress set a good example for those I love—my children, siblings, co-workers, fellow Saints? (We might choose different swimming, jogging, or car-washing attire if we knew we’d meet the prophet while we were wearing it.)

—And finally, does my attire and grooming require so much of my time, attention, and means that I neglect more important, weightier matters?