Which do you think is worse when blessing/passing the sacrament: a long-sleeved, coloured shirt and tie, or a short-sleeved white shirt and tie.
Fashion and administering the sacrament
82 thoughts on “Fashion and administering the sacrament”
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long-sleeved, coloured shirt and tie.
whither the shirt be short or long sleeved, ’tis white, and that’s all that matters in the end.
Dan
Why though?
I know this wasn’t an option, but what I think is worse is priesthood holders who are blatantly breaking the commandments during the week (for example going on drinking binges, like the night before) and then blessing the sacrament on Sunday, or passing it.
This happened in my ward growing up, when I was a teenager. The same young men who were looking so pristine clean in their white shirts and ties were partying with alcohol and who knows what else (and who knows DOING what else) during the week, while on Sunday they played the good Mormon boys.
I think what one wears on Sunday has less to do with worthiness to bless or pass the sacrament, than what one does, to be worthy, or not.
A priesthood holder involved in the blessing or passing the sacrament should not wear or do anything that may distract from the sacredness of the ordinance.
It’s not that the colored shirt is somehow bad. It’s that a pink shirt amongst the white is a distraction and takes the focus off of the ordanance and places it upon the clothes of the priesthood holder.
This may also be influenced by local cultural norms. While a lavalava may be unacceptable in most north american sacrament meetings, it may be perfectly acceptable in some Polynesian sareament meetings.
Basically, if any article of clothing, hair style, or hair color causes a distraction during the sacrament meeting, that priesthood holder should be asked not to participate. I don’t think it says anything about the persons worthyness. It’s just not appropriate for the sacrament.
The judgement would be the Bishops to make.
Mary beat me to it. It is a shame that we confuse worthiness with clothing. Then again, I live in a branch and we can’t afford to worry about minor clothing issues. Love my branch!!
RE: #3
You are correct. Worthiness should be the single most important factor.
But the dress code is there for a different reason.
For those young men who were unworthy, but looked the part, in the grand scheme of things, your taking of the sacrament on those occasions is not invalidated because of the unworthyness of those individuals.
Their participation will be counted against them in the final judgement. It won’t affect you.
But an unwanted fashion distraction directly affects the congregation.
Thats rigtht John. While on summer vacation, I have attended branches where people come in the best they have. Often this is a nice pair of shorts and a golf shirt with some sandels. Some of these bretheren are asked to pass the sacrament.
In a case like this, where there are many in the same situation, it’s not out of the ordinary or a distraction at all, and feels perfectly natural.
I guess that’s why the Bishop or Branch President gets to make the call on what is acceptable or not for that area.
JM
“Their participation will be counted against them in the final judgement. It won’t affect you.”
Yes, I know. I suppose what bothered me (not so much anymore, I realise they were possibly clueless about what was going on. Which was interesting because there wasn’t one youth in that ward who didn’t know what was happening) was the blind eye that so many people turned, to what they were doing. Granted, their parents may not have been fully aware, but I have, too often seen parents who are so convinced of their child/ren’s righteousness they refuse to see what is staring them in the face. I know, teenagers can hide what they are doing, but I can tell you if I knew my son was behaving in such a way, there is no way on earth I would allow him to use his priesthood authority until he got on the ball and wised up. It’s such a blatant desecration of the sacred priesthood responsibility.
I agree, a fashion distraction can affect the reverence of the congretation.
For me, I am just happy when I GET the sacrament. Like I did not this past Sunday because my baby was too fussy to allow me to stay to partake of it and they don’t bring the sacrament to the mother’s lounge. Sigh.
“It’s that a pink shirt amongst the white is a distraction and takes the focus off of the ordanance and places it upon the clothes of the priesthood holder.”
Does the same go for someone who wears a short-sleeved shirt when others are wearing long-sleeved shirts?
Either clothing combination is fine, although the latter is a current fashion faux pas. The whole white shirt thing is a good example of orthodoxy always leading to apostasy. For male missionaries riding a bike, the current uniform is essential 1920’s period clothing in western counties, and they look utterly moronic. So it’s fair to say our church is more than 80 years behind the times on some areas.
They look moronic? Hmmmm…well, I think they look rather sharp and distinguisheed. But that’s just me.
Re: 9
Only if the Bishop feels it is a distraction.
I’m sure that if someone was sufficiently distracted by a short sleve shirt amongst the longs, they are probably the type of person who would make their feelings known to the bishop and he could make a judgement call on the matter.
In fact, I bet such a standard has been enforced at some point in time. I mean, those “overly sensitive to purfume” people seem to get the upper hand all the time.
So, it’s only a distraction if the bishop says it is?
You are correct steve, there really is nothing wrong with either.
But, as a priesthood holder, I would have to ask myself, is my purpose in officiating in the sacrament to make a fashion statement, and make me the focus of the attention, or is it to serve the congregation and allow them to feel the full spirit and blessings of the ordinance?
If the latter, then I would be willing to look however I needed to in order to best serve the ward family.
Kim, you must rack up the billable hours for Lucifer & Co. LLP ;-)
Anything can distract anyone. If something is bothering someone enough to take their focus off of the sacrament during the meeting, they should probably discuss it with the bishop.
I’ve brought similar things to the attention of different bishops at times. Some listen to me, some don’t. That’s really all one can do. (or go attend another ward)
JM I agree, anything can distract anyone. If I became destracted by something or another person, I would have to look at myself and ask why? What is it that makes me feel distracted. Perhaps the real problem is me and my ability to not accept another.
I do not know if there is anything that says we have to wear white long sleeve to pass the sacrament. Are we saying that God does not love color? Or that a God who sent his own son to die for our behalf so that we do nothave to suffer gets irrate at our clothing color? It seems to be a petty thing after treading the winepress alone for our behalf.
I’ve never been distracted by a green, blue or any other color shirt during the sacrament. I don’t even remember what the deacons were wearing yesterday to tell you the truth, probably white. I’d say that if a member is distracted by a shirt during the sacrament, she isn’t trying very hard to fous on the savior anyway.
BTW: Short sleeve shirts are priceless for Bishopric/ BP members who are supposed to always leave their jackets on, even in July.
Isn’t this one of the gospel hobbies BRM warned us about, in this case, The Church of JC of LDS of men with white shirts and boring ties.
“Short sleeve shirts are priceless for Bishopric/ BP members who are supposed to always leave their jackets on”
Except for the fact that there’s no shirt cuff showing through the jacket sleeve. Ewww…
Ewww… ??????????
What am I missing??
Might as well be wearing jackets with sleeves that are too short.
Sounds like Kim is distracted…
JM,
LOL. I never realized that I was part of the problem until now.
You can redeem yourself, John, as long as you don’t wear white socks as well.
Nope,
Argyle all the way.
Whew!! I’m glad that’s over. :)
Unless, of course you take issue with Sponge Bob Square Pants ties.
Just Kidding! That is my pet peave, people passing the sacrament while wearing a character with it’s tongue sticking out on their tie.
My pet peeve isn’t limited to them wearing it while passing the sacrament.
Ah… so John does have a distraction!!!!
For some it’s the color of the shirt, for others it’s the cartoon on the tie.
Now, the question is, what is the proper thing for a priesthood holder to do? Change the tie so that John’s salvation isn’t in jeopardy? ;-)
Okay…I may be the only Mormon who doesn’t care. Because depending on where I sit in the congregation, the person literally passing me the sacrament could be in jeans and flip flops and smell of recent drug use and it still would not corrupt my personal experience with the sacrament. I understand the need for modesty, for wanting our youth to see the purity and humility of abiding proper clothing, but let us never let it pull our focus away from the ordinance itself. If we are busily faulting the clothes of a 12 year old boy, perhaps our attention isn’t being put to the best use?
Nikki
I agree completely, I feel the same way. Well, ok, I was distracted once when the boy passing the sacrament to us, sneezed over top of the bread tray and then proceeded to pass it to us. Hmmm, that was a bit of a concern. :)
But it is the ordinance that is important. Not what the priesthood holder is wearing.
I strive to live in the perfect world that Nikki has found.
ok am I the only one who actually keeps their eyes closed from the beginning of the Sacrament Prayer while I am praying? Unless I am sitting right on the end the person passing the sacrament is usually a grandchild or husband. IF I am on the end all I actually see is an arm passing me the tray. I pass the tray to the next person and my eyes close again till the next tray or the Bishopric dismisses the boys.
But if you are asking which I would find more distracting if I was actually not praying and keeping my head up to see what was going on around me and who was wearing Manilo Blinic shoes then I would say the colored shirt would stand out more.
All our 12 year olds wear short sleeve white shirts and ties only. They just came from Primary where suits were not expected so most of them only have short sleeve shirts. The 16 year olds in our wards all wear suits.
And the only cartoon tie I ever see on a Priesthood holder is on my son in law when he wears his Tasmanian Devil one.
well, no I USED to keep my eyes closed, but well, you know, not easy these days, usually, lol. Not too bad though, sometimes I get to keep them closed.
True, if we are thinking about the Saviour, like we should be doing, it shouldn’t matter what is worn.
I’m having a hard time expressing my thoughts regarding this. I know how the topic makes me feel, but I’ve never really deeply inspected why I feel this way.
I think the principle is reverence and respect for the oridnance and what it represents.
With that in mind, as a parent, I want to teach my children about the ordinance, the meaning, and how to show proper reverance during the ordinance. I want their behavior to reflect the sacredness of the ordinance. I don’t want them doing or wearing anything that would cause a distraction to anyone else in the congregation. If they act up, I take them into the hall where they get to practice being reverent as if they were in the chapel. I want them to wear special clothes that signify that sacrament meeting is a different event than anything else that they do or attend during the week. I want them to appear, and be mentally ready as if they were about to personally meet the Savior and thank him for his sacrifice.
As a priesthood holder, I wouldn’t want to do anything that might “Upstage” the Savior or the ordinance we participate in. I feel my dress should reflect the reverence I feel for the ordinance. I as a priesthood holder is a servant of the Lord, I would not want to do anything that would cause any unreasonable distraction from the ordinance. I understand that others in the congregation are weak and sinful, and they come to the sacrament meeting to renew their covenants and feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. If I’m taking away from that, I fail in my priesthood duty.
If invited to participate in officiating in the sacrament ordinance, I want my dress and conduct to reflect the sacredness of the occasion. The congregation should feel comfortable with me approaching them with the sacrament tray, or as I bless the sacrament. I wouldn’t want anything I do to distract them from their personal thoughts and meditation during the ordanance. As some come to the sacrament meeting as a refuge from trials and sorrows, even seeking special blessings, I don’t want to invade their sanctuary.
As a member of the church, I would hope that others would recognize my need for reverance during the sacrament. I would hope that they would recognize that I am weak and imperfect and not impervious to unreasonable distraction, and that I need as much help as I can get to make the sacrament a special, reverant experience.
I also recognize that others are imperfect as well and I need to try to not let other influences interfear with my worshiping.
I guess the bottom line is that I need to do all I can to make the meeting a spiritual and reverant experience for others, as well as myself.
The program supported by the bretheren, and interpreted by the bishop presiding in the meeting, includes a suggested dress code. I choose to follow that because it doesn’t do any harm, and it is a starting point at which the congregation can become unified in their participation in the ordinance of the sacrament. I also hope that others would feel the same way.
SteveEM said: “For male missionaries riding a bike, the current uniform is essential 1920’s period clothing in western counties, …”
Steve, you’ve repeated this numerous times before and I’ve held my tongue. But now, I’m dying to know: what to you mean by “1920’s period clothing”?
Do you mean a white shirt, tie, and suit? Or is there something more subtle, and onerous that I’m missing?
Help, please.
Jm hear hear!!!
“I want them to wear special clothes that signify that sacrament meeting is a different event than anything else that they do or attend during the week”
If they grow up and take a job where the dress code is a suit, white shirt and tie, what clothes would you have taught them to wear to sacrament meeting?
They are on their own at that point. If I’ve been remotely successful, I will have succeeded in teaching them the principle so they can reasonably govern themselves.
But for now, my girls will wear dresses or skirts and my boy will wear the white shirt and tie on Sundays.
I realise they would be on their own. Which is why I asked what you would have taught them rather than what you will tell them to do.
Kim, I don’t follow… It seems pretty obvious to me.
You’re really going to have to spell it out for me.
You said you are teaching your children to wear something that is different than what they wear during the week. This is why they currently wear white shirts, presumably because they do not wear white shirts to school. So, if they land a job when they are older where they wear a suite, tie and white shirt to work, and still want to follow what you have been teaching them, how do you think they will heed that counsel? In other words, what would you have taught them to wear through this principle?
“You said you are teaching your children to wear something that is different than what they wear during the week”
No I didn’t.
Regardng what I am teaching them, my words were:
“I want to teach my children about the ordinance, the meaning, and how to show proper reverance during the ordinance.”
I still don’t see where you’re comming from.
You said:
“I want them to wear special clothes that signify that sacrament meeting is a different event than anything else that they do or attend during the weekâ€
I don’t know how to explain myself any further. I will try once more.
You are saying the reason they wear white shirts now is because they don’t wear white shirts anywhere else. As a result, they have become reserved for Sundays.
If they are working for a company where they are required to wear white shirts every day, then they are no longer clothes “that signify that sacrament meeting is a different event than anything else that they do or attend during the week”. As such, what clothes will they wear to signify that it is different than any other activity during the week if they continue to follow this principle?
I wouldn’t care if deacons wore pink shirts or short sleeves–and wouldn’t notice unless I’d just read this post or something like it, although I wouldn’t let my son to wear short sleeves with tie and look like a member of the underclass.
The distraction argument cracks me up. It turns the white shirt dictum into a way for the church to get around buying altar boy cassocks.
White shirts and dark pants or skirts are the easy uniform of every budget-challenged children’s choir.
Just reading in passing….
I have one comment to make….
If President Hinckley (or perhaps even the Savior himself) were to show up at your sacrament service on Sunday, what would you (or your deacons) want to be wearing? Cotton dickies and flip flops, or a white shirt and tie?
The Prophet and everyone around him wears suit/white shirt/tie.
Nuff said.
If those were the only options, then I would be wearing the white shirt and tie.
Although, when you think about it, it is possible for those two options to be worn at the same time. (shudder)
If the Savior showed up, I think I’d show up in a Galiean robe and sandals.
And who is this other Dallas fella, anyways? ;-)
“You are saying the reason they wear white shirts now is because they don’t wear white shirts anywhere else. As a result, they have become reserved for Sundays.”
No I didn’t. I said:
“I want them to wear special clothes that signify that sacrament meeting is a different event than anything else that they do or attend during the week.”
You seem to think I said that it was the clothes that are unique to sunday.
The thing that I said was different was the “sacrament meeting”. If you re-read what I actually said, you will see where you made your mistake.
You are assuming that because I want my children to appreciate the uniqueness of the sacrament meeting as a singular event during the week, that they need to wear clothes worn just as frequently.
I just want them to wear clothes that they recognize as “Special”. It helps them apreciate the event, just as it helps them appreciate other events that they wear similar clothes for (Family Pictures, Wedding Receptions, Christmas Concerts at School, etc…).
If I am successful in teaching them the princple, then they should be able to recognize special events and how to dress for them when they grow up.
In my Ward, you have to wear a white shirt and tie to participate in any Priesthood duties. Passing the Sacrament, giving a blessing, ordaining someone. You are not allowed to participate if you have on a colored shirt. You have to wear the uniform.
There is something that does bother me and that is women who wear those cheap flip flops to church and drink bottled water during Sacrament Meeting.
Which brings up an interesting point. Administering in the sacrament aside, why are women not restricted (expected or otherwise) in what colours of tops they can wear?