It's not often I involve myself in overly political conversations. In fact, I avoid them at almost all costs. I don't like the idea of pushing one's opinions on another - even if I have the "correct" opinion. However, I am moved to share one of my opinions with you. I was browsing Instagram searching the hashtag "#imamormon". I came across a picture of a family's legs sitting in the pew at church. Dad was wearing black pants and shoes, baby girl was wearing silver sparkly pants and black shoes, and mom was wearing black dress pants and dress shoes. It didn't even pop up on my radar that this was a "statement" photo until the second time I read the caption: "I want more opportunities at church for my daughter and for myself. #pantstochurch #imamormon"
What? What in the DEVIL are you talking about woman?!?! What opportunities are you NOT afforded at our church??? Like the genius I am I select the hashtag "#pantstochurch" and start browsing... and I've never been so dumbfounded in my life.
I've heard of the movement for Mormon women to wear pants to church and potentially be given the Priesthood; I've never given it too much thought, other than it sounds crazy. Guess what. I WAS RIGHT!
As I sat there browsing picture after picture of women wearing pants to church and read comment after comment saying: "way to go" and "stand up for yourself" and "prove a point" and "break from tradition" and even one woman who said wearing pants to church was "fulfilling my childhood dream" I was astounded. Are you freaking kidding me?! If wearing pants to church is the childhood dream you've been waiting all of these years to fulfill you must have been one boring and sheltered child!! I also liked the girl who said she wore pants "in a sign of solidarity and sisterhood". Seriously. These women are serious. And again, I repeat, crazy.
I want to yell at each of them, "WHO CARES?!" No one ever said we weren't allowed to wear pants at church. Yes, we do wear "Sunday Dress" and our church defines it for women as modest dresses and skirts. But no where in our handbook or guidelines or interview for the temple are we told to wear skirts or repent. Nowhere are we asked to not partake of the sacrament if we are wearing pants. Or pajamas. Or dirty clothes. Or bathing suits. Or nothing at all. All that is asked of us is that we show respect and we wear our best. If your best is a pair of overalls with a hoodie or a pair of dress pants with flip flops Heavenly Father loves you the same. Does our religious tradition have women wearing dresses and skirts to church? Yes. Do the majority of us wear dresses and skirts? Yes. Are there going to be judgmental people who think you're nuts for wearing pants? Probably. The people aren't perfect. Hence why we are at church to begin with.
So what are you accomplishing besides attracting unnecessary attention to yourself with your #pantstochurch? Nothing. And what opportunities are you not afforded in our church? Women are teachers and leaders, they participate and lead temple ceremonies, they speak in sacrament meetings and General Conference. We as women are NOT missing out on anything. Maybe women can't be Bishops or the President of our church? But only a handful of men even receive those callings - and the ones who don't aren't upset about it. We get to preach to others, share the Gospel as a Missionary, and be a Disciple of Christ. So I don't get it. What opportunities will you and your daughter not receive that is necessary for your salvation? Heavenly Father wants one thing for us - to live this life on Earth worthily so we can return to Heaven and live eternally with Him. WOMEN CAN DO THAT WITHOUT THE PRIESTHOOD! They can do it in skirts, dresses, pants, bathing suits, etc. All it requires is that we come unto Him with a humble heart and contrite spirit.
I guess what it all boils down to is these women have their priorities wrong. If you're going to attend a sacrament meeting what you wear should be your best. It should be a reflection of you and your love for your Heavenly Father. When you attend sacrament meeting you are given the opportunity to partake of the most precious ordinance in our church - renewing your baptismal covenants to be forgiven for your sins. If you're coming to church so you can wear #pantstochurch then your focus as you're getting ready, walking in the building, and sitting in the congregation cannot be the Atonement for your sins. We should not use church as an venue for proving our points. Instead we should use the church as a venue for feeling the spirit, learning, and coming closer to our Savior and our Heavenly Father.
And to the sister who said wearing pants is "a sign of solidarity and sisterhood" - what sisterhood? Don't pawn this off as one representing our church. Because wearing pants vs. not wearing pants doesn't represent our church. The Book of Mormon, The Holy Ghost, service, love, compassion, The Priesthood, faith, and worship all represent our church... not your desire to stand out and be different because of what YOU are wearing or how YOU are feeling, or how badly YOU think YOU need or deserve the Priesthood.
Heavenly Father loves you. Not your clothing. He asks that we wear modest clothing as a sign of respect for our bodies. But he never said we must wear a dress to church or be condemned. If you don't have a dress then wear your best. If you don't want to wear a dress, fine. Quit making a big deal about it. You're distracting from the Spirit. You're attracting unnecessary attention to your personal feelings about a political issue. When really, we should be focusing all of our attention to spiritual matters that bring us closer to our
Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. You wearing pants isn't changing the view of others around you, I repeat, it is only distracting from the Spirit.
And so what if YOU think YOU deserve the Priesthood. When Heavenly Father agrees with you, we'll all know it. Until then, this is a church, not congress - so sit down! You can't petition for votes to get policies and practices changed. Protest all you want, our church guidelines do not come from men voted into positions of honor - they come from holy men called by a loving and trusting Heavenly Father. And our church will only make changes if Heavenly Father sees fit - and your picket line around temple square, abundant posts on social media, and blogs about why it's "unfair" that men are priesthood holders and women are not, will not make Heavenly Father think differently. Again - you have your priorities in the wrong place. Focus on strengthening and uplifting the church as it is. Change yourself before you try to change the church. Serve others and learn to love unconditionally. Spend your blogging, posting, tweeting, picketing time spreading the joy of redemption to a non-member. If you have all of this time on your hands pick up more sisters on your Visiting Teaching Route, write letters to the missionaries in your stake or from anywhere, or volunteer at your local Bishop's storehouse. Instead of trying to change one aspect of our church and focusing on "feminine equality", find your testimony - and strengthen it. Once you refocus yourself you'll see how silly this is. And how your plan to get back to Heavenly Father and live with Him eternally doesn't involve you having the Priesthood. He doesn't think it's necessary. YOU do. And this is HIS plan.
#reprioritizeladies.
