As prom season approaches and sleeves disappear in the latest spring fashions, girls looking for modest dresses are increasingly frustrated.

Michelle Middleton, a University of Utah graduate with a degree in family science, and Dellene Lowry, a mother and seamstress who alters prom dresses, spoke in the first session of Women's Conference about the respect that comes from dressing modestly and ways to find or make appropriate clothing.

By wearing and advocating modest clothing, women and men prove their respect to the Lord and themselves by treating their bodies as sacred temples, Middleton said.

"Wearing modest clothing brings us closer to the Lord and helps us walk by him so we can live with him one day," Middleton said, citing the Primary song "I Am a Child of God."

Using examples from the scriptures, she explained that part of being a "peculiar people" is living to a higher standard, which includes dress. Modesty encourages self-confidence and others remember that impression longer than any other characteristic, she said.

Both women emphasized that the temple should be the standard of dress both before and after receiving the temple endowment.

"Those women who were not dressing to temple standards before they went through found it hard to change overnight," Middleton said.

In talking to the matron of the Bountiful temple, Middleton recounted three observations about women adjusting to the temple garment.

First, how women dressed prior to the temple was an indication of how they would dress after the endowment. Second, how women dressed prior to the temple was based on how the family felt about modesty. Third, what women wore when they were teenagers was influenced by what parents dressed them in as children.

"Children are very impressionable," Middleton said. "It's important to teach them so they make correct decisions. Parents have a huge responsibility for teaching their children."

Children should learn from their parents that they are children of a Heavenly Father who gave them a body to do his work, she said. Using a body for good reflects God's divine purposes and creates respect.

Lowry also pointed out that boys tend to have less of a problem with modesty but should be raised to respect girls by noticing and complimenting modest dress. As they grow older, boys should encourage modesty in their dates.

"I've found that for prom, boys always ask what their date is going to wear to match the corsage to her dress," Lowry said. "Have your boy ask, 'What are the color of the sleeves on your dress?'"

In finding modest prom dresses, Lowry said that many department stores listened to consumer campaigns for modesty and provided dresses with sleeves. Middleton also suggested borrowing dresses from friends or sewing an original dress.

"Christ expects us to use our talents to fulfill his commandments," Lowry said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 2 May 2003