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One of the challenges members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints face today is obeying principles of modesty in an increasingly immodest world. Difficult though it may be, we can show our discipleship to the Savior Jesus Christ by obeying the Church’s standards of modesty. Modesty encompasses dress, language, thought, and personal conduct, but here I would like to focus on dress.

Originally, the main purpose of clothing was to cover our bodies and protect them from the elements. Those purposes continue, although clothing now serves more complex purposes too. Today it can be an expression of many things such as wealth, social status, individuality, or belonging. But clothing also reflects our attitudes and values. For Latter-day Saints, the way we dress demonstrates our understanding of and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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The way youth dress is a key to shaping some of the most important relationships in their lives.

Elizabeth is the world’s most adorable two-year-old. I’m confident of this fact because I’m her father, and I should know. But as cute and fun as she is, she does have her limitations—mostly the result of her inexperience and lack of information.

Take the days of the week, for example. She doesn’t understand the difference between them yet. The words Sunday, Monday, or Thursday just don’t mean a thing to her.

So why is it that she always seems to know when Sunday rolls around? The other six days of the week don’t start out all that differently at our house—we get up, read scriptures, have family prayer, and Daddy goes off in his suit and tie.

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As the General Authorities and auxiliary Church leaders travel across the earth, it is apparent to us that the world is becoming increasingly casual and informal. This is manifested in many ways but particularly in the way people dress. This is also true among some members of the Church.

Such informality may come in part because of indifference. It may come from a lack of understanding or a lack of proper example. We are now two to three generations into wearing casual apparel, and we may not all have had good parental examples of appropriate and modest dress. Popular culture generally has not provided good examples either. The declining trend may also come in part because it is difficult to buy modest attire in today’s market.

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“How we act and dress reflects how we regard where we are and who we are. Let me demonstrate. One of the natural occurrences in missionary work is the change in new converts, especially little boys, young men, and fathers. When they go to Church meetings, they want to look like the missionaries. Now, that tells us a lot about the importance of looking like a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

- Harold G. Hillam, “Future Leaders,” Ensign CR, May 2000, p. 10

“I assure you that all Church standards, both those relating to moral conduct and those relating to dress and grooming, are the result of intense, prayerful consideration by Church leaders. Young adults whose clean-cut appearance demonstrates that they feel no need to follow after the pattern of the worldwhich often revels in filth and disorder and garish fadsand young men and young women who look like men and women, who have not succumbed to the morally destructive trend toward a unisex appearance in dress and grooming, are people living cheerful, orderly lives, devoted to improving their ability to serve God and their fellowmen.”

— Spencer W. Kimball, “Give the Lord Your Loyalty,” “Ensign,” Mar. 1980, p. 2

“As you clothe yourself modestly and groom yourself attractively, your ability to make wise choices will be enhanced. Prethink your decisions. Your body is a temple of God; honor it. Don’t get caught in the squeeze of opposing pressures. Downward pressure to be worldly is contrary to the uplifting pressure to live in accord with the Lord’s standards. Step aside from the squeeze and let the elevating power of the Lord lift you without restraint to your loftiest heights.”

— Russell M. Nelson, “Standards of the Lord’s Standard-Bearers,” “Ensign,” Aug. 1991, p. 10

“When firmly planted, your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that you do throughout your life. It will help to determine how you spend your time and with whom you choose to associate. It will affect the way you treat your family, how you interact with others. It will bring love, peace, and joy into your life. It should help you determine to be modest in your dress and in your speech. In the past year or so we have noticed a dramatic change in the way some of our young women are dressing. Styles in clothing change; fads come and go; but if the dress styles are immodest, it is important that our young women avoid them. When you dress modestly, you show respect for your Heavenly Father and for yourself. At this time, when dress fashions are styled after the skimpy clothing some of the current movie and music idols are wearing, it may be difficult to find modest apparel in clothing stores. However, it is possible, and it is important. The Apostle Paul declared: ‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? . . . The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.’ You know the truth; live it.”

- Thomas S. Monson, “Be Thou an Example,” Ensign (CR), April 2005

“President Kimball delivered a great talk many years ago at Brigham Young University entitled ‘A Style of Our Own.’ He encouraged us not to be among those who would follow worldly, immodest styles, but to have the courage to dress in a way which will send a message that our standards are different. Our dress will reflect the way we intend to live, founded on principles of the gospel of our Lord and Savior. It is impossible to expect a child who has been taught to love to dress in the immodest style trends of the day, to then change overnight to an entirely different wardrobe when they enter a Church university or a missionary training center, or when they are married in the temple, or even when they dress for the Sabbath day. Modest, proper styles must be taught almost from birth.”

— L. Tom Perry, Train Up A Child, General Conference, October 1

“It is displeasing to the Spirit of the Lord for persons to array themselves in any way whatever that is disgusting to the eye of the pure and the prudent. There is not a Latter-day Saint nor a Former-day Saint that ever did, or ever will expect to see any such customs or fashions when they get into heaven. If they were to see an angel, they would see a being beautifully but modestly dressed, white, comely and nice to look upon.”

— Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 15:162

“The daughters of Israel should understand what fashions they should have, without borrowing from the impure and unrighteous.”

— Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 12:220

“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, June 1971, p. 3