Weather is not the reason why we wear clothing.  It’s a good reason, but there is a better reason.  We wear clothes to cover the body and not suggest alternate activities that can be done with the body (if you get my drift).  By looking around, we can judge pretty quickly everyone by their clothing.  We can spot the rich, the flashy, the conservative, the loose ideals (there are other words, but I choose not to use them).  Granted, all of these people are probably very nice, yet their clothes speak for them.  Don’t they?

You know how we usually have our Presidencies sit in front of the room facing the members of their organization?  Have you ever been confronted with an unnecessary view up the leg of a sister?  I have, many times.  I ask you, how do you tell the sister she is immodest when she is crossing her legs?  How do you inform her of what you see?  How do you say politely-wear a longer skirt next time?  You can’t do it without hurting her feelings.  I have never had the guts to say anything to a fellow sister about her dress.

Yet, women need to be aware of how they appear in public.  And more importantly, they need to be aware they are setting the standard for our youth: what is acceptable, what isn’t.

It will come that some day a temple recommend holder will be spotted at a glance, because everyone else will be exposing themselves in one way or another.  Here’s the trick though, a temple recommend holder has to be solidly holding onto the standard; there can be no borderline.

Our girls, especially need to be taught, shown, and safeguarded.  We are not asking them to be odd-bodies and misfits.  We are asking them to consciously make a choice to be attractive, pure and beautiful, even in their grubbies; even when they’re dressed up to the nines; even when they are at a swimming party; even when they are at school; even when it just doesn’t matter…they should be conscious of the message they are sending with their appearance…always.  And it starts with leaders, and especially parents.  I don’t know about you, but when I see our Young Women choirs singing at a conference, it often brings tears to my eyes (no exaggeration) to see these well dressed, beautiful young girls in bright happy colors.  We don’t see that out on the street.  Our youth are happy, when the world would teach them they have reason to be sad.  Our youth can be the light to the world; and it can merely be shown in the clothing they choose to wear.

Granted, it is hard to find anything decent to wear these days.  And if we do find something, it is often overpriced.  The modest clotheshorse cannot exist. 1) She can’t find enough things to buy, 2) She can’t afford frequent shopping trips, 3) She’s hogging all the decent clothes and leaving the rest of us with nothing.

However, there are basic things we should all consider before we leave the dressing room or bedroom closet:

When you are trying on a skirt or dress, here’s an idea.  Sit in front of a mirror.  Cross your ankles-and see how things look.  Cross your legs—and see how things look.  Relax your legs in front of you-and see how you look.  If you see anything remotely problematic in the mirror, don’t wear the skirt in public or even buy it.  You are treating anyone sitting opposite you with a full view.  Do the same for a slit, only include walking across a room forwards and backwards as part of the test.

While you are at it, bend over forward.  Can you see down your blouse?  What exactly are you seeing?  Will you remember to put your hand to your chest to protect yourself?  Maybe you don’t even need to bend over to realize there is a problem.  I hate button down shirts that gap in the front.  Those wide necklines are usually a real problem.  Cap sleeves are usually “safe”, but not always.  Watch that gap under the arm.  Why can’t people admit that it is just ugly to see someone’s bra strap, no matter what color it is?

We are above all of these issues sisters.  Let’s just avoid them completely.  And let us teach our daughters to avoid them.  There are other more important concerns out in the world that we should be focusing on.