On Tragedy and Pants

While I recognize that these two topics are vastly different, because both have occupied my mind and my conversations quite a bit lately, I felt like they should go together in this post.

First, Connecticut. It makes me teary-eyed writing this now. How terrifying it is that such an atrocious tragedy could take place. In my heart, and the hearts of oh so many other people, there is a plethora of emotions. We feel hurt. Sorrow. Compassion. Love. Empathy. Anger. Then we move past feelings looking for answers. Let's never let this happen again. Ban all guns. Give teachers guns. Rework our mental health system. And in the process of trying to find solutions, we end up attacking each other for our differing opinions. We move past the hurt and compassion and express our anger to those going through exactly what we are. While I don't agree with many solutions that are preached and touted, I do believe in love. It is only through complete love and compassion that we can collectively grieve and move past this tragedy. That love can then impact the policies we may make and move us as a united country into something better.

"Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need -- to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours."
- President Obama

Now on to something much more trivial. Pants in church. With the "movement," there were essentially two issues. First, changing the cultural expectation of wearing pants in church. and second, making a political statement about supposed gender inequality in the LDS church.

First, it makes me sad to think that some may feel that they are not welcome in a worship service because of what they wear. It isn't about what you wear. It is all about being prepared for the worship service. As a Mormon female (with feminist leanings) I feel blessed that I can get dressed up weekly to attend a service to worship Christ and renew my covenants with Him. While I recognize that I have the option to wear whatever I please, I also recognize that my dress is a symbol of my love for the Lord. The cultural assumption that a dress is more (surprise!) dressy than pants is not a Mormon thing. It is an American thing. Wedding dresses. Prom dresses. Cocktail dresses. If I have a nice dress to wear, I will do so, because I love the Lord. And if someone wears pants, I am okay with that, because I love the Lord. Again, the answer here is love. For the Lord and our fellow men and women. Pants or no pants.

The second issue of making a political statement. While the differences between men and women do not signify inequality in my book, I recognize that some women may feel somehow oppressed. However, a worship service is not the place to make a political statement. Period.