White shirts and the sacrament

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_John Larsen
_Emeritus
Posts: 1895
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Post by _John Larsen »

skippy the dead wrote:
John Larsen wrote:You laugh about socks, but when I was at BYU not wearing socks was a violation of the honor code and would get you kicked out of the testing center.


I remember that! I was grateful to the administration for saving me from the erotic sensuality of uncovered male ankles that would have otherwise tempted me into carnal thoughts.


True. The bare eroticism of naked ankles in the mission field has sent many a young man into the arms of Evergreen.
_Doctor Steuss
_Emeritus
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Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:57 pm

Post by _Doctor Steuss »

Blixa wrote:[...]coloured[...]

I love you.

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While on the topic of shirts. The other week, one of my friends asked me if I wanted to know the one thing he absolutely couldn’t' stand about Mormons. I said "sure." His response:

"Short-sleeve dress shirts. What the hell?!?! Do all of you have part-time jobs as shipping clerks? Dress shirts are supposed to have sleeves... sleeves I say, sleeves!"

I sheepishly lowered my head in shame, for I once owned several short-sleeve dress shirts for the summer months.

As for the white-shirts dilly: I think G-d might appreciate it more if I where one of my non-white DKNY shirts instead of a white $10 Sears shirt. G-d don’t like ugly.
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." ~Charles Bukowski
_SatanWasSetUp
_Emeritus
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Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:40 pm

Post by _SatanWasSetUp »

John Larsen wrote:
Scottie wrote:
I'm now waiting for a declaration on what kinds of socks God will accept.


You laugh about socks, but when I was at BYU not wearing socks was a violation of the honor code.


Let me guess. This was around the time Miami Vice was a huge hit. I remember vividly how cool it was to wear dress pants and dress shoes without socks.
"We of this Church do not rely on any man-made statement concerning the nature of Deity. Our knowledge comes directly from the personal experience of Joseph Smith." - Gordon B. Hinckley

"It's wrong to criticize leaders of the Mormon Church even if the criticism is true." - Dallin H. Oaks
_moksha
_Emeritus
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Post by _moksha »

Doctor Steuss wrote:
As for the white-shirts dilly: I think G-d might appreciate it more if I where one of my non-white DKNY shirts instead of a white $10 Sears shirt. G-d don’t like ugly.


Yes, God does look for labels, but only the union label.

Here is the exact initial Church quote:

Jeff Holland: May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament. For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the temple and onto your missions.

That simple suggestion is not intended to be pharisaic or formalistic. We do not want deacons or priests in uniforms or unduly concerned about anything but the purity of their lives. But how our young people dress can teach a holy principle to us all, and it certainly can convey sanctity. As President David O. McKay taught, a white shirt contributes to the sacredness of the holy sacrament (see Conference Report, Oct. 1956, p. 89).


IBM Corporation also thought a white shirt and dark suit contributed to the sacredness of their mission for many years. It was a written part of their corporate culture. Of course, with such a culture comes the burden of unadaptive bureaucracy, and that of course has hurt the IBM business model in terms of growth. The LDS model has also hit a slowdown in terms of growth, but like IBM, it is still plugging along.

As to the initial intention of the white shirts not being a Pharisaical uniform requirement, well the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang aglee.
Cry Heaven and let loose the Penguins of Peace
_Always Thinking
_Emeritus
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Post by _Always Thinking »

My husband tells the story of a time his Bishop asked him to pass the sacrament. This is the conversation (approximately):

Bishop: Can you pass the sacrament?

My husband: Sure, I can. Oh, wait, my shirt isn't white. See these pinstripes? Is that a problem?

Bishop: Pinstripes?

The bishop takes a closer look. The pinstripes were so narrow, you could hardly tell they were there. But, yes, there were pinstripes. The shirt wasn't pure white.

Bishop: Oh, well, I guess you shouldn't pass the sacrament.

My husband: Sorry!

He walks off with a grin. He didn't feel like passing the sacrament anyway.
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