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On garments, judge not …
The headline-grabbing changes to temple garments — providing sleeveless tops (dubbed “open sleeve” by the church) for faithful women and men and slips for women — has By Common Consent blogger Emily Jensen wondering if (read: hoping) the new underclothing options will spell an end to the shaming Latter-day Saints, especially women, have endured over their wardrobe choices.
The judging, often coming from self-appointed and self-righteous modesty cops, Jensen notes, can start early and last a lifetime. For instance, when:
• Small children don sleeveless dresses or jumpers, some of the outfits coming as cherished gifts from grandmas.
• Excited teens wear their prom gowns as they celebrate this rite of passage.
• Beaming brides finally find that perfect wedding dress, “only to be told,” Jensen writes, “it’s not modest for the temple, having too dipped of a neckline or not a big enough arm cap.”
• Adult women attend church in a sleeveless dress, the blogger states, and end up being “marked as someone who is not living her covenants.”
• And, finally, older women, suffering through the “sweaty” and “stifling” effects of menopause, opt to give their bodies a breathable break.
“My hope,” Jensen concludes, “is that these new garment changes are a signal to the membership to stop shaming and judging women throughout their church lives.”
After all, “feeling judged,” according to researcher Jana Riess’ Next Mormons Survey, was the top reason former Latter-day Saint women gave for leaving the church.
From page to, eventually, stage
(Sara Krulwich | The New York Times) From left: Rema Webb, Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad in the musical "Book of Mormon," at the Eugene O'Neil Theater in New York, March 17, 2011. Gad says the show was originally meant for an animated film.
Josh Gad played the original Elder Arnold Cunningham, the nerdy but lovable liar in “The Book of Mormon” musical, but there is no reason to doubt him when he says the smash Broadway hit was initially envisioned as an animated film.
Co-writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone of “South Park” fame “thought that they were going to do it as an animated film. It was going to be their follow-up to ‘Team America.’ And we ended it,” Gad told “Dinner’s on Me” host Jesse Tyler Ferguson. “The response was effusive — albeit people were definitely taken aback and shocked. And they had a huddle, and they decided [to] try this as a live theatrical thing.”
This shift to the stage certainly paid off. “The Book of Mormon” netted nine Tonys, including best musical, and has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.
Even so, many argue that the characters in the rudely raunchy, yet remarkably reverential, comedy still came off more than a bit cartoonish.
The latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: The new garments
The new sleeveless garments for faithful Latter-day Saints are the talk of the church right now — and they’re also the talk of this week’s podcast: How are members reacting? What do — and don’t — they like about them? What new wardrobe possibilities do they open up? What fashion choices remain off the table? And will more members, who have been scolded recently for not donning their garments, now wear them?
Listen to the podcast.
Choir announces another tour stop
After touring in Peru in February 2025, The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square has announced it will head back in August to another South American country: Argentina.
Buenos Aires will be the choir’s fifth stop on its rolling world tour.
Strengthening Cuban ties
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Russell M. Nelson, left, speaks with Lianys Torres Rivera, chargé d’affaires of the Cuban Embassy, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in the Church Administration Building.
The governing First Presidency, led by President Russell Nelson, met earlier this month with a top-level Cuban diplomat.
The visit of Lianys Torres Rivera comes as the church continues to grow its fledgling membership in the Caribbean country. Without any full-time missionaries, a news release reports, 600 Cubans have converted and attend worship services at one of five congregations in and around Havana.
From The Tribune
• Tribune columnist Gordon Monson has an idea for blessing the world and boosting the church’s image.
• A new gallery, celebrating Latter-day Saint art and artists, has risen to replace Provo’s Writ & Vision.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alondra Uhi works on a commissioned painting at The Compass, a new art gallery and event space, in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
• In this polarizing period, Tribune guest columnist Natalie Brown asks, when should we speak up or stay silent — online, at church, or wherever?
• Latter-day Saint authors Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom fame and her husband, educator Ben Blair, have a message for parents: There is no one path to success for kids — whether for school, work, even religion.
