Around the time leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were cracking down on members’ treatment of temple garments (sacred underclothing meant to be worn day and night), rumors started circulating of new sleeveless styles being piloted in some hot climes.
This week, The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed all that chatter. A church spokesperson has been opaque about the details when the new styles might be broadly available, but that hasn’t stopped many rank-and-file Latter-day Saints, especially women, from cheering the change.
Others have been less enthusiastic. Yes, the cap sleeve is gone, but the hem’s retreat does not include the top of the shoulder, which remains largely covered — an area mostly exposed by sleeveless dresses and tops.
Some argue that fussing about hemlines is missing the point of the clothing entirely, while more than a few roll their eyes at the idea that a few, as they see them, relatively minor adjustments constitute “progress.”
Here are some reactions, excerpted from blogs, social media and interviews:
“By changing the garment, church authorities aren’t leading us; they are following us. I hope every LDS woman understands the power we have. We, the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, caused this change. Congratulations on a work well done!”
— Blogger Lisa Torcasso Downing
“Does menopause count as a hot climate?”
— Susan Jenkins
“Historically, retrenchment and revision can happen very close.”
— Historian Jonathan Stapley
“The arm cut reduces the amount of excess fabric under the arm, which will make women’s tops much more accessible. Shirts, blouses and dresses that ‘seem’ garment-friendly are much more likely to ‘be’ garment-friendly. ... The biggest, most meaningful impact of any garment redesign is how comfortably it allows the wearer to find, purchase and wear appropriate clothing in a variety of situations and circumstances. And for this redesign, that impact will only become clear with time.”
— Researcher Laura Brignone
[Read the news story about the change in temple garments.]
“Any changes made in something this central to the life of faithful members is bound to raise issues of how to govern a worldwide church made up of people in vastly different regions and cultures. If some principles change by location, what does that tell members about their eternal significance?”
— Historian Laurie Maffly-Kipp
“I hope we are past our ‘porn shoulder’ phase. With this change to women’s garments, it would certainly seem so, because the church has to know that women will take advantage of this change and let their shoulders feel the kiss of the sun.”
— Religion News Service columnist Jana Riess
“No more porn shoulders? Shoulders are just shoulders now?”
— Laura Root
“As awesome as this is for future women, for some reason it irritates me. Not that it’s happening but probably because of the judgment and fights I had all because I wore sleeveless shirts.”
— Korrine Rindlisbacher
“I have family in Florida and a nephew on a mission in West Africa. I think a change is really good for folks there. I’m more intrigued by the concept of a slip for women, though, than sleeveless.”
— Sariah Anne Lanier Kell
“I do appreciate that it seems that the church is recognizing more the needs of a worldwide church with different cultures.”
— Annie Dredge Kuntz
“I’m thinking of the time my 3-year-old in a sleeveless dress got picked to be the modesty demonstration in Primary, and the Primary president stood her in front of the group and talked about how she needed a sweater to cover her shoulders.”
— Joy Chan Tappen
Here are some recent Salt Lake Tribune stories and “Mormon Land” podcasts about garments:
• Who should decide when, where and how often Latter-day Saints wear temple garments?
• The church steps up this message: Wear your temple garments every day.
• Body image and more — how temple garments affect women spiritually, physically and socially.
• What Latter-day Saint women like — and dislike — about wearing temple garments.
• Doubling down on garments and motherhood may not keep young women in the fold.
• How much temple garments cost — besides that 10%.
