"From the beginning the Lord has directed his children to clothe their bodies. Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one's fellowman and the Creator of us all. Modesty reflects an attitude of humility, decency, and propriety." Priesthood Bulletin, Sep 1970

"Short skirts, short shorts (shorts should be limited to being worn only during appropriate activities), tight fitting skirts, strapless or spaghetti straps, tight fitting sweaters, figure hugging clothes of any kind, bathing suits which immodestly expose the body succh as bikinis, bare midrifts, french cut, thin knit or netting, low cut or revealing tops, extreme make-up, exstreme haircuts or hairstyles, unbecoming behavior while wearing swimsuits or dresses. Wear cover-ups for changing while swimming". Teachings of Pres. Kimball, pg 284. Teachings of Pres. Benson pg 262, Faith Precedes the Mirache, Pres. Kimball pg 163.

"Young sisters be modest. Modesty in dress and language and deportment is a true mark of refinement and a hallmark of a virtuous Latter-Day Saint woman. Shun the low and the vulgar and the suggestive." To the Young Women of the Church, President Ezra Taft Benson.

"Your dress and grooming send messages about you to others and influence the way you and others act. When you are wll groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit. Immodest clothing includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, shirts that do not cover the stomach and other revealing attire. Young women should wear clothing that covers the shoulder and avoid clothing that is low-cut in the bront or the back or revealing in any other manner. Avoid extreme clothing, appearance, and hairstyle. Avoid sloppy or inappropriately casual in dress, grooming and manners." For The Strength of Youth, PP 15-16

"And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you." Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Gen Conf April 2005

One factor contributing to immodesty and the breakdown of moral values is the modern dress worn by our young women and their mothers. I see young women, and some older ones, on the streets wearing shorts. This is not right. I wonder if our sisters realize the temptation they are flaunting before men when they leave their bodies partly uncovered or dress in tight-fitting, body-revealing, form-fitting clothing. Girls, if the young man is decent and worthy of you, he will love you the more when you are properly dressed. Women who wear tight-fitting clothes which accentuate the human body, and those who show their backs and bosoms and lower limbs, is a wanton disregard of modesty and decency. President Spencer W. Kimball (The Miracle of Forgiveness, 1969)

Modesty in dress is one of the identifying characteristics of true saints. It is an aid in preserving chastity and an outward sign that the modest person is imbued with humility, decency, and propriety. Immodesty in dress is worldly, excites passions and lusts, places undue emphasis on sex and lewdness and frequently encourages and invites petting and other immoral practices. It is an outward sign that the immodest person has become hardened to the finer sensitivities of the Spirit and been overcome by a spirit of vanity and pride. Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Those who follow Church standards of dress and appearance will find that their relationships at home will be less stressful, and their relationships with friends—especially those of the opposite sex—will be more fun and appropriate. But mostly, they will notice improvement in their relationship with Heavenly Father. And that stands to reason, doesn't it? Our physical bodies are among the greatest gifts he has given us. When we show respect for our bodies, we show respect for him, and any relationship that is based on mutual respect is going to feature lots of trust, confidence, and love. Joseph Walker (Ensign Feb 1992)

You young ladies have a profound influence on young, masculine behavior. Young men wear clothes they think you like. Their hair will be cut to please you. You can control how fast they drive their cars if you want. They will dress as grubby as you like. You need not dress in the extreme fashions of the world. Are you aware that fashions and styles are promoted because someone has a product to sell? The rightness or appropriateness or effect on a youthful society does not matter as long as it sells. But the day will come when the world will follow the ways of the Church. Its influence will be as though flowing from the stars to affect the actions of men. Your influence with young men is important. You encourage Church standards and dress and conduct.
Elder David B. Haight (Gen Conf Oct 1977)

"You who have daughters in Zion, save them from following obscene fashions." President Joseph F. Smith

Elder A. Theodore Tuttle taught us that “the father is the protector of the home. He guards it against the intrusion of evil from without. Formerly he protected his home with weapons and shuttered windows. Today the task is more complex. Barred doors and windows protect only against [physical things]. It is not an easy thing to protect one’s family against intrusions of evil into the minds and spirits of family members. These things can and do flow freely into the home. [Satan is very clever.] He need not break down the door” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 86-87; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 67).

Modest people are aware of prevailing standards of taste and decency. They know that within the bounds the Lord has established, norms of modesty may vary from culture to culture, from generation to generation, from youth to age, and even from one activity to another. For example, the athletic shorts that are appropriate at a Church basketball game would be inappropriate at sacrament meeting. Similarly, the knee-covering skirt that might have been considered immodest a century ago is generally acceptable today, except in some countries where it still might be regarded as highly provocative and immodest. Modesty requires sensitivity about what our dress communicates to others. For clothing clearly does communicate. What we wear serves more than the practical functions of keeping us warm in the winter and shaded in the summer. Dress is a language that we employ to express who we are—to make statements—and dress that is modest in what it covers may still be immodest in what it communicates. John S. Tanner, Ensign August 1992

"Modesty is for men also. Young men should keep their faces shaved, their hair combed, their haircuts conservative, their nails clean, their clothes should never be tight fitting. It is just as bad for a man to go around half dressed as it is for a woman. There is no reason a man should go around half dressed without a shirt." Teachings of Pres. Kimabll, pg. 285

Questions Regarding How I Dress

--Does my attire call improper attention to me? Do my clothes cause people to focus on my outward appearance in such a way that they might either misunderstand me or misjudge my character?

--Is my attire revealing? Does it properly cover my nakedness? (Here, the temple garments might serve as a guide to the Lord’s standards.)

--Does my clothing suit the occasion? Does it fit the environment in which I am wearing it? For example, we are asked to wear our best clothing (whatever this may be) to the temple and to Church meetings in order to lend reverence, restraint, and dignity to the atmosphere where sacred ordinances are performed.

--Do I feel comfortable with my grooming and dress in the presence of those I most respect and admire? Does my dress set a good example for those I love--my children, siblings, co-workers, fellow Saints? (We might choose different swimming, jogging, or car-washing attire if we knew we’d meet the prophet while we were wearing it.)

--And finally, does my attire and grooming require so much of my time, attention, and means that I neglect more important, weightier matters?