I think it is a holdover from the 1950s. That's when the church was in its heyday. The dresses and hair for women as well as the white shirts sort of froze in time.
(The Amish dress froze in time too. Another exmaple: everyone knows some lady in her 60s who still wears her hair the way she wore it in high school. That was her glory time and she clings to it. I think that kind of mindset relates to Mormon teachings.)
Also, I think the LDS mindset of being clean cut and business oriented was behind the white shirts. Unfortunately that is not the look in businesses today. That was the business look from the 60s I think.
Mormons also have the idea in their heads that white clothes represent purity and righteousness. After all, God loves white clothes!
They are NOT progressive- (looking to the future). They are regressive (looking to the past for direction). I think that is why they are always behind the curve in thought, dress, and actions.
you know, with the commercials showing cool skater mormon dudes, I'll bet eventually TSCC will morph into a "come as you like" church. It will start slow. Like a casual Friday at work.
Charley Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Back in the 70s we used to wear colored shirts > with our polyester leisure suits.
I can vouch for this. Gotta love the 70's!
Now with the white shirt and tie thing the men of the church look like an army of salesmen. Which I guess is the point.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2010 10:51AM by kookoo4kokaubeam.
I turned 12 in the late 70's. We were told to wear white shirts and ties to pass the sacrament. It was pushed hard.
Once I became a Teacher at 14, I started wearing pullover light sweaters just to rebel. Once I became a priest at 16, the white shirt and sacrament thing was pushed hard again.
By pushed hard I mean the Bishop and leaders specifically telling us that they want us to wear white shirts.