There's been at least one article in a church magazine admonishing sister mishies of their duty to be attractive. In my mission, the attractiveness lectures were limited to:
Don't be overweight (most of us were painfully thin due to all the exercise and not enough food) Wear makeup, but not too much Don't sweat or stink--we don't care if you ride a bike all day Don't show your knees or you're a big ho
They've always done this. I remember getting a handbook on basic make up, grooming and manners back when I was in the MTC 20 years ago. The only problem is that whomever wrote the manual really didn't know what they were talking about and I found error after error in the etiquette part alone. And the makeup and hair tips were right out of the 1950s. The book was a joke amongst the sister missionaries. I hope it's improved, if they must give it out at all. I couldn't bear to look at the link - once was enough 20 years ago.
On the other hand, what would Mormons possibly know about etiquette? You know,... Enough to write about it. Mormons are too boorish to write about etiquette very well.
oh not just makeup. Did you see they have suggestions on acceptable hairstyles too. Tips for the boys and the girls. I have to laugh at the website. These tips scream CULT from the rooftops. No wonder Mormons are so easy to spot. Their individuality is driven almost completely out of them.
I got one too, in the MTC 20+ years ago but I never even opened it, I went into the bathroom and threw it out. There was no way in hell I was taking grooming tips from the church when every RS president (and the girl on the cover) I'd ever seen looked like a Stepford wife with bad hair and make-up and a fashion defective gene. I only wish I'd taken that attitude further then and gotten out earlier . . . .
I just saw on a local lifestyle show, here in Utah, about how there is more fashion available for sister missionaries now. They were really excited about all the colors!! ;)
Just wasted five minutes of my life seeing what the brethren want the women to wear for everything. God forbid someone gets a glimpse of a shoulder, knee or anything else.
Seriously I would have never made it as a mishie. I went against all this, except for the fact that I hate to wear make-up.
I got shit from women leaders and my friends for having short hair and not liking to do make-up. ONe of the activities of slumber parties or activities was to "let's give jonny a make-over" Yeah!!
This is really sad though, and they look ridiculous riding their bikes in skirts.
also, I have serious foot problems that are now making walking very painful, and I started using the electric carts at stores. So, the shoes that are "appropriate" would not work at all.
They care so much about your personal health, safety, and how you feel about yourself. If someone looks good they usually feel good.
I just could not believe they spent the time make a step by step make up guide.
When I was in YW we did have a few little talks about that our appearances were important because our bodies are temples, but not how to do make up. Sure, there was the quiet comment here and there from the leaders like "if you laid off the eyeliner a little, your eyes would look so beautiful." But really, they focused on modesty and clothing way more than hair and make up. We couldn't even wear pants with a small hole on the bottoms becauset that was like "graffiti on our temples."
Maybe this is a new recruitment tactic. What better way to lure in young males to pay for your malls than by sending out attractive girls to knock on their doors.
It's only a matter of time before TSCC ecnourages its young female missionaries to present themselves as sexually available to men who show an interest in hearing the message of the Restoration.
But what about the cool tattooed convert girl? Or the "I'm a Mormon" surfer girl? Could they not go on a mission? The church has been trotting them up and down the airwaves.
1. "They say they are not using women to recruit members but it sounds to me like the Sirens from the Odyssey who lured sailors to their doom..."
2. "fashion defective gene"
3. "sister hookers for Jesus"
The Mormoney site is a trip. It admonishes the sister mishies: "You should present a dignified, clean, well-groomed appearance and be feminine and professional in style".
The article begins with a quote from the D & C 42, 40-41. "Thou shalt not be proud in they heart, let all they garments be plain, and let all things be done in cleanliness before me." It would be interesting to know what inspired ole Joe to utter this revelation from his little brain and big mouth. Maybe some of this wives were dressing wild and flirting with other men and staying from his arms???
Given how most people here currently view lds, I'd think of this as more of a workplace dress code than a way to snare gullible men into Mormonism by means of wiley women.
While the lowering of the age limit has made the pool of sister missionaries somewhat more attractive, at the end of the day, they're still stuck with 90's-era women's office dress code. I don't think the permission for them to wear brighter colors is going to make the men swoon for them. And it's a pretty wide leap from this to Rael's girls or conversion by way of seduction.
Like most of you, I'd prefer to see the missionary program disappear, but I think this is just a dress code policy update, nothing more (and nothing particularly sinister aboutit).
The girls themselves smile like professional models no matter how awful their clothes are!
They look like someone brought in a rack of assorted unworn clothes from an overstock barn and let a three year old put the "outfits" together!
Gaag!!!!
Blonde wearing a nice dress but instead of a dark jacket, she's wearing cream...it doen't go with the dress.
Then the brunette who is already large, is wearing a nice dark dress and they put a screaming yellow jacket over her. It not only makes her look wide as a linebacker suited up, the color makes her look ill!
They put messy patterns under ugly jackets and covered passable dresses with horrible jackets.
There is even a black jacket with 1 1/2 inch diameter buttons, buttoned up! Good grief? Is she four years old that she needs to wear toddlers buttons so she can easily button up her clothes??????
I have a fashion/design background. Their wardrobe has been mixed, but not matched.
Horrible. What freaking IDIOT came up with those clothes??? Then they tell the poor sisters everyone wants to be them so get out there and spread the word!
What if an African-American woman wants to keep to her cultural roots and do corn rows or even dread locks? What if she wants to lighten or dye her hair?
My ex-wife had lips and eyeliner tattooed on; so she wouldn't have ever been able to follow these beauty tips.
I remember a long time ago at a BYU devotional one of the more colorful apostles (seventy?) was relating how the boys at BYU weren't asking the young sisters out yada yada yada. Anyway, he told the sisters to shape up their act - put on some makeup, lose some weight, etc. It was kind of funny coming from this old fart. I can see where they might want to give some guidance to the missionaries on dress and grooming. Some of my companions could have used a tip or two.
I read the link and they actually recommend using: Moisturizer Sun Block Foundation Powder Blush Eye Shadow (shimmery neutral with a deeper color in the crease) Eyeliner (!) Mascara
Now, I'm old and wear all that stuff. But these poor girls a)don't have the money for makeup and the skin care makeup requires (makeup removers, toners, etc.) b)are a bit too young to require so much makeup. At 18 I never wore foundation...didn't need it. Wore lipstick daily, but hardly anything else. And that was just being a tired full-time student. Working 6 days a week, would mean that Monday shouldn't be "P-Day" it should be "Spa Day!"
I await, with bated breath, the next instructional link on "proper finger/toe nail care." I'll put down even money that red nail polish is not allowed, even on your toes.LOL