Modesty matters. When Noelle Pikus-Pace, the Olympic skeleton racer, was invited to a photo shoot, she was presented with an immodest red dress to promote healthy hearts. In spite of the hectic pressure she was under, she remembered the commitment she had made, as a Young Woman, of always choosing to be modest. She decided to refuse to wear the dress. Another dress was found for her, and she was respected for her personal code of modesty.
We have the ability to choose, in our daily decision-making, whether or not to follow the principle of modesty outlined to us by our leaders. They have spelled out everything clearly, and if we still wonder, we are encouraged to rely on this question as our guide, “Would I feel comfortable with my appearance if I were in the Lord’s presence?”
The Principle of Modesty comes from 1 Cor. 3:16-17: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?” The For Strength of Youth pamphlet states:
Your body is sacred. Respect it and do not defile it in any way. Through your dress and appearance, you can show that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him.
When we dress modestly, we invite the Spirit to stay with us; we tend to act better, also inviting others to act better around us; and the message we portray is someone who desires first to please the Lord.
Here are five guidelines that can help everyone, male and female, young and old, single and married, hold on to the Lord’s standard of modesty: