Things Changed When Shirt Color Began to Matter

[_Craig Paxton]

It used to be that a person was judged on the content of their character and not on the color of their shirt...but then something changed. A conference talk was given and all of a sudden, shirt color mattered.

Something significant changed in the church with this talk...all of a sudden...obedience became a semi annual subject in general conference...but not just any obedience talk but obedience to priesthood authority talks and what was the easiest way to confirm compliance? Shirt color.

No longer did church authorities have to wait for reports of the tell-tell smell of cigarette smoke or the sound of a lawn mower running on the sabbath to judge fellow ward members...now they could do a quick glance over the congregation and know immediately who was and who wasn't obedient to priesthood authority.

But I believe that that one talk and the resulting consequences have done more damage to the church and it's male members than nearly any other policy. Like limiting the number of earrings, banning flip-flops, tatoos and judging the female members on whether or not their shoulders where covered...white shirts have bled the church of that human quality prized everywhere except within Mormonism....individuality.

The church lost something very valuable the day that talk was given and set into motion a bevy of steps that have quashed individuality and free expression...and the suppression continues to this day.

If u can imagine this...there once was a day when even church office employees had a choice of shirt color...but alias...those days are mere distant memories of the very old...whose children even question the stories of such a time when members actually had a choice

[_son of Ishmael]

Preach it brother. Nail on the head

[_Stormy Waters]

I remember sitting in a church meeting overhearing a woman sitting behind me saying it 'made her mad' when men wore colored shirts. It's amazing how members will shame each other into following these artibtuary rules.

[_bcspace]

now they could do a quick glance over the congregation and know immediately who was and who wasn't obedient to priesthood authority

Shirt color doesn't matter (unless you're a deacon or teacher passing the sacrament). Among those who attend, it's who consistently won't accept callings, speak, teach, pray, or do hometeaching.

[_ludwigm]

...unless...

There are some steps on this path...

[#img] http://doctore0.files.wordpress.com/200 ... -robes.jpg[#/img]

_________________
by the way
would one of You be so kind and quote my comment, without #s and space?
It is a pope's robe.

The picture doesn't show nipples or genitals - the denominated objects all my pictures was banned for - so You are (were?) safe...

[_PrickKicker]

What is their problem with Cartoon characters on ties too?
I sometimes wear one with Homer Simpson as an angel with wings in his underpants, it is awesome!

And what the hell is their problem with facial hair?

[_sansfoy]

now they could do a quick glance over the congregation and know immediately who was and who wasn't obedient to priesthood authority

Shirt color doesn't matter (unless you're a deacon or teacher passing the sacrament). Among those who attend, it's who consistently won't accept callings, speak, teach, pray, or do hometeaching.

Shirt color is a good proxy for men who think for themselves. That's the first step on the road to apostasy. What is the equivalent for women? A second piercing?

[_mercyngrace]

Shirt color is a good proxy for men who think for themselves. That's the first step on the road to apostasy.

Depends on the shirt color. Sometimes it's proxy for, "I have great taste." Other times, it's proxy for, "My mom should still be dressing me."

What is the equivalent for women? A second piercing?

No. How about no piercings? Which means you aren't controlled by mindless fashion trends OR by a mindless need to rebel against a church notion?

Actually, not having any piercings means three things for me:
1. I usually forget to put on my wedding ring before I leave the house, how the heck am I going to remember earrings?
2. I hate needles, especially when they shoot out of a little gun really fast.
3. I watched Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom so much as a kid that every time I see a person with piercings, I think "On no! They've been tagged by the National Wildlife Federation! They're being tracked! Run!"

I'm probably the only adult woman I know, in or out of the church, without pierced ears (except my mom who doesn't have them either - Apparently, I inherited my ambivalence for jewelry.)

[_Craig Paxton]

now they could do a quick glance over the congregation and know immediately who was and who wasn't obedient to priesthood authority

Shirt color doesn't matter (unless you're a deacon or teacher passing the sacrament). Among those who attend, it's who consistently won't accept callings, speak, teach, pray, or do hometeaching.

You confirmed my point...you've filtered and sifted those who attend by what they wear and automatically deemed them as the ones who won't accept callings, teach, pray or do home teaching. But in fact this is not true...wearing a white shirt is not a prerequisite of participating in those activity...YET you've pigeon-holed those who don't wear a particular shirt color and judged them accordingly.


I was serving as young men’s president in my ward when the talk was first given stating that a white shirt represented the uniform of the priesthood. At the time it was pretty standard for only Bishopric members to be compelled to wear a white shirt. I remember being called into special leadership meeting and being informed that from that day forward...only those who wore white shirts could participate in sacrament ordinances...be it preparation (teachers), Passing (deacons) or administering (priests). We were also informed that any father who wished to bless his child in a sacrament meeting would need to be wearing a white shirt and that IF we gave a priesthood blessing to our own children at home...we were to change from whatever we were wearing and don a white shirt and tie prior to giving that blessing.

Each week as YMP I would remind the boys that only those that wore white shirts could administer the sacrament...and each week about half to 3/4 would show up wearing a colored shirt...greatly diminishing those who could participate. There were several weeks when we had to ask boys to go home and change into a white shirt so that we would have enough (3) to administer the sacrament.

While I’ll admit that this policy has an element of obedience in its foundation…it is also about control, manipulation and stamping out individuality…all in the name of conformity.

[_DarkHelmet]

Which talk was this? I don't remember a specific point in time when white shirts were emphasized. I thought it was just a gradual thing, like the mythical story of the frog in boiling water.