Women are excited about news of sleeveless options

The sound you hear is the jubilation of Latter-day Saint women at the news that temple clothing will soon be—wait for it—sleeveless.

This is one of the redesign options – called “open sleeve” – ​​for women's and men's garments being tested by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in hot climates such as Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, the Philippines and other locations in the Southern USA.

In this model, temple garments—which faithful members wear under regular clothing as a reminder of sacred covenants—look more like tank tops than the current cap-sleeve styles.

This new style could make it more difficult for others to judge who is or isn't wearing garments – a real problem for many Latter-day Saint women. (In a 2023 survey, nearly half of active members (45%) said there is a right and wrong way to wear them, and more than half (59%) said they felt judged for how they wore them.)

And there is a lightweight, one-piece “shift” (looks like a slip) and skirt bottom option for women who primarily wear dresses like those in Africa.

Church spokesman Doug Andersen would not confirm details about exactly what the new garments will look like or when they will be widely available.

“I’m really excited to hear about the garment redesign,” says Rachel Gerber, an Instagrammer at LDS Changemakers, who advocates for gender equality in the church. It was, she adds, like an answer to prayers.

“Thousands of women have complained to the church about the style of clothing,” says Gerber. “Many felt that their complaints fell on deaf ears. They were considered 'less fair' because clothing didn't help them.”

You need faith “to face church politics that have a negative impact on you,” says the Californian. “I trust that God hears my complaints and grieves with me.”

The new style “won’t work for everyone,” Gerber admits. “I hope members recognize that this change is a result of Latter-day Saints demanding more.”

Modesty concerns arose

Afton Southam Parker, a Latter-day Saint from Colorado, was one to speak out.

While living in Thailand with her husband and five children, Parker saw firsthand the effects of humidity and heat on Latter-day Saint women who faithfully wore their temple clothing.

It was like having “a wet crotch all the time,” which led to infections, discomfort and suffering, particularly during menstruation and pregnancy, she says. “It was so hard. There was no place for women to turn for answers about something required to be temple worthy.”

So, upon her return to the United States, Parker contacted the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City and, three years ago, secured an interview with the head of a clothing design committee (a man she says was in his 60s) who told her assured that women were also represented there.

She gave an in-depth PowerPoint presentation highlighting the global challenges facing Latter-day Saint women related to then-current designs and fabrics.

“He seemed to be all about women being covered and modest,” she remembers him saying, to which she responded, “Why don’t we make it easier for all body types and give women the choice?”

The new version “feels like some of his desires – to keep women from wearing truly sleeveless clothing – are influencing the design,” says Parker. “Another inch further and it would actually make them more wearable with more clothing.”

It never made sense to her that “the shoulders or other parts of the garment were part of the design,” she says, “unless they were related to the (symbolic) markings.”

While this “feels like a victory,” Parker says, “much more needs to be done.”

For her part, Latter-day Saint podcaster Cynthia Winward is pleased that “leaders are listening” and believes clothing choices “will be so much better for women’s health.”

But she wonders why there can't just be a “spaghetti strap top,” says Winward, co-host of “At Last She Said It.” “It still seems like they are trying to control women’s clothing choices.”

A push for stricter rules

Earlier this year, one of the denomination's senior male leaders condemned what he saw as “causal,” even “cavalier” wearing of religious underwear by religious members.

In a speech to women in Northern California, the General Authority Seventy condemned women who wear clothing only on Sunday and in the temple and are seen in “yoga pants” the rest of the week.

For years, the standard instruction for women and men was to wear them “day and night.”

However, according to a recent survey, some women wore them whenever and wherever they wanted – and they apparently didn't see it as disobedient or inappropriate. At the same time, it became increasingly difficult, especially for women, to find clothing that completely covered the garments.

Days after the church's April general conference, the Utah-based denomination's ruling First Presidency sent a letter to all local and regional male leaders highlighting the importance of wearing the sacred underwear as a “reminder of the covenant relationship (of faithful members) with.” affirmed. Jesus Christ) and the Heavenly Father.”

The letter also explained that one of the temple recommendation questions – used to determine “worthiness” to enter the sacred buildings – had been revised and another added.

The changes were subtle rather than sweeping, but there was a clear message: garments must be worn “according to temple instructions” and not left to members’ individual inspiration and interpretation.

An evolving style

This is not the first time the church has changed its sacred clothing.

The faith periodically asks Latter-day Saints about clothing items, so fabrics and designs have evolved over the years. And they could change again.

Ultimately, the First Presidency considers “the symbolism of the garment” to be “more important than style,” according to “Saints, Volume 3,” part of the Church’s official history.

“The existing clothing pattern, which reached the ankles and wrists and featured laces and a collar, was unsuitable for garments worn in the 1920s,” the book explains. Therefore, senior church leaders ordered “a shortened and simplified garment to be provided.”

Going forward, Gerber of LDS Changemakers hopes that when leaders inevitably come across someone complaining about clothing items, they “recognize that person’s beliefs.”

In conversations with women about these sacred coverings, she says, “the overwhelming theme was that they felt like they were annoying their superiors if they made a complaint.”

They shouldn't, says Gerber. These are acts of courage and desire to fulfill their religious obligations, but in a physically realistic way.

Amy Watkins Jensen, director of the Instagram page Women on the Stand, commends all of the church's efforts to “understand and respond to the specific needs of women.”

For Jensen, this move reinforces that “good information” can lead to “good inspiration,” she says.

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