There has always been a problem with modesty\u2026and there always will be, because Satan knows just how to grease the wheel.<\/p>\n
We raised two girls and four boys.\u00a0 From the time the girls were small, sleeves always covered their shoulders, including sundresses, when they were babies.\u00a0 They learned to feel naked without a solid covering.\u00a0 Our boys were taught to avert their eyes or change the channel when a \u201cbad\u201d commercial came on.\u00a0 Movies and shows were always monitored and yes, there were some movies and shows \u201cnot allowed\u201d any viewing at any time.\u00a0 Even with these rules and standards, it hasn\u2019t all been easy.\u00a0 Our kids never fought us, because we started young, but the influences of the outside world never let up.<\/p>\n
Elder Mark E. Petersen gave a talk back in 1962, where he was unapologetically blunt.\u00a0 All he says stands true today.<\/p>\n
He was addressing Relief Society officers and quoted Brigham Young, who said, \u201cThese Relief Societies are for the improvement of our manners, our dress, our habits, and our methods of living.\u201d\u00a0 Sisters should be able to find support and be supportive as we train our children to dress modestly in an immodest world.<\/p>\n
Continuing, he says, \u201cI went to the dictionary to see what it had to say on the subject [of virtue].\u00a0 It gave as definitions, courage, strength, valor\u2026purity, and chastity.\u201d\u00a0 The word valor means strength of mind which enables one to encounter danger firmly.\u00a0 Similar words are gallantry, heroism, personal bravery, and courage.\u00a0 As he pondered these words he clearly understood that \u201cwithout the standards of the Church there is no holiness, nor any virtue either\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mothers have long since been held accountable for the raising of our children, more so than the men.\u00a0 Elder Petersen states, \u201cI remembered that the Prophet Joseph Smith laid it upon the Relief Society women of the Church to protect our homes and families by preserving virtue and holiness.\u00a0 The principal cause of juvenile delinquency is unsatisfactory home life.\u00a0 Unsatisfactory home life results largely from adult delinquency.\u00a0 Adult delinquency is weakening the moral fiber of the Nation.\u00a0 The preservation of the home is left chiefly to the wife and mother.\u00a0 In a large part the home is what the mother makes it.\u00a0 Do our women have the personal courage, the valor, the strength of mind to meet this present situation?\u201d\u00a0 I find these to be very strong words, and very important words, to consider.<\/p>\n
But if you thought that statement was bold, listen to this one:\u00a0 \u201cDo you know what tempts the boys to molest the girls today more than any other one thing?\u00a0 It is the mode of dress of our girls who, in the summertime, often wear extremely abbreviated sun suits, even on the streets; who wear dresses above the knees, whose clothing about the bust is often so tight and revealing that it nearly takes the breath away from the boys who look at it.\u00a0 It is the low-cut evening dress which permits a boy to dance all evening gazing down into a half-concealed, but half-disclosed bosom, thus setting him on fire with an unholy desire.\u00a0 When the boys are coming into their teens and reaching maturity, and such sights are placed before their eyes\u2026can you blame them?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question he asks is:\u00a0 \u201cWho permits them to dress in this manner?\u201d\u00a0 He points out that young women are taught that to be in style you have to expose yourself to a certain extent.\u00a0 There can be a mixed message given at home where the mother wants her daughter to look stylish and fit in to what everyone else is wearing, while the father hangs back wishing his warnings could be heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen of the Church pay far more attention to the style designers in New York and Paris than they do to the appeals for modesty on the part of the General Authorities.\u201d\u00a0 This is a sad commentary on the level of our obedience as a worldwide church, in Elder Petersen\u2019s day, as well as our own.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lord says we are to garnish our thoughts with virtue unceasingly.\u00a0 Can a boy\u2019s thoughts be garnished with virtue while he is looking at the plainly outlined form of a beautiful young woman?\u00a0 Are the girls\u2019 thoughts garnished with virtue when they wear revealing clothing?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cMothers, unless you take a stand, your daughters will not take a stand.\u00a0 You must set the requirements, you must make the decision.\u201d\u00a0 And Relief Society can be a place where support and encouragement can be found.<\/p>\n
(\u201cModesty Protects Virtue\u201d, Elder Mark E. Petersen, October 3, 1962, delivered in the Officers Meeting of the Annual General Relief Society Conference.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There has always been a problem with modesty\u2026and there always will be, because Satan knows just how to grease the wheel. We raised two girls and four boys.\u00a0 From the time the girls were small, sleeves always covered their shoulders, including sundresses, when they were babies.\u00a0 They learned to feel naked without a solid covering.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,19],"tags":[286],"class_list":["post-1502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conference-talks","category-relief-societyyoung-women","tag-modesty-60s"],"yoast_head":"\n