bcspace wrote:What kind of idiotic rules?
Like banning Stairway to Heaven and Rock Lobster and unreasonably strict dress codes (no jeans, most dances becoming church dress, etc.). It depended on the area you lived in as some Stakes became more strict first and others much later. Some stakes introduced dance cards which, instead of being a list of people to dance with, was like a temple recommend for admittance to dances. Over the top imho even though I had no trouble getting one.
I don't think it was the Church itself that became strict. There was a movement among the parents which was partly justified. Outrage over the rumored Satanic messages and the subtle sexual messages in the music etc.
You must have been in my Stake growing up! LOL
We had dance cards. Everyone who wanted to attend a dance had to have a Bishop's interview, and had to sign a card saying that they would follow basic rules...dress standards, agree not to use profanity, no alcohol on the premises, etc. The rules were really just common sense courtesies. There was always a priesthood leader there who could conduct a quick interview and give out a dance card if someone forgot theirs.
When I was in High School, the dress for dances was usually "casual Sunday dress" unless otherwise specified. The girls had to wear either dresses or skirts, but denim skirts, flip flops, and sandals were OK. The guys could wear short sleeved dress shirts or polo shirts and dress slacks...no jeans. Actually, at least in my Stake here in NC, the dress standards have relaxed for the YW/YM dances. Both young men AND young women are allowed to wear jeans to dances unless they are formal. I think this is great! Of course, the dress code for Mutual night in our area has relaxed as well. When I was a teen, we had to wear dresses to Mutual because we always began with Opening Exercises in the chapel. You could not go into the chapel at all unless you were wearing a dress. ("Business casual dress" was expected for guys.) No one would even THINK of going into the chapel in a pair of jeans. Now it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal except on Sundays.