To tell you the truth, wearing pants to church is truly not the issue here. If you're wearing pants to church just because you feel like wearing pants, that is one's own personal choice. However, when it becomes a symbol of political movement, that is where the problem occurs. The Church is not an appropriate place to enforce a political view. My father, a bishop of a single's ward at BYU, had a very enlightening insight, quoting a little from the For Strength of Youth pamphlet:
"Show respect for the Lord and yourself by dressing appropriately for Church meetings and activities. This is especially important when attending sacrament services. Young men should dress with dignity when officiating in the ordinance of the sacrament."
"If you are not sure what is appropriate to wear, study the words of the prophets, pray for guidance, and ask your parents or leaders for help. Your dress and appearance now will help you prepare for the time when you will go to the temple to make sacred covenants with God. Ask yourself, “Would I feel comfortable with my appearance if I were in the Lord’s presence?” This is found in the [For the Strength of Youth] Pamphlet." Sacrament meeting is not a platform for political or social agendas. They may occur but your actions while meaningful to you would show disrespect to the Lord and others who are worshiping. Never would anyone be asked to leave a meeting unless they are causing a disruption. Where is that still small voice that we seek going to be when we are walking all over it at one of our most sacred times? I am not sure that there is wisdom or selflessness in this approach. What will these actions bring to the alter of partaking of the Lords emblems in remembrance of his sacrifice[?] Where is the selfless act of accepting that sacrifice[?] I cannot support any action that would be disruptive to others that are not involved no matter how much hate there is toward anyone. This is the Lord's Church not our political or social vehicle. Everyone has difficulties with some aspect of the gospel and this requires personal reflection and prayer and fasting not a public forum for support. No matter what the reasoning this cannot be the way to send a message."
Please, don't misunderstand anything that I or my father are saying here. We have no issue with feminists or anyone's political view. However, the Church is not an appropriate base to spread those views. Contrary to popular belief, the Church is, in fact, not unequal in its views of men and women. In fact, the greatest advocate of women in history was Jesus Christ Himself. It is simply the roles that men and women play in the Church that are different. Women are the mothers in the home, which, in the words of several prophets, is the greatest role on earth. There is something about a mother's connection to her children that any father simply cannot emulate. A mother's influence in the first few years of life are some of the greatest influences in a child's life. At the same time, a mother is not the priesthood holder in the family, which is the role of the father. He is the one who blesses his family through the Lord's power and authority.
Even within the Church, men and women have equal right to revelation. Holding the priesthood is not a prerequisite to receiving revelation. A Relief Society president has as much right to revelation for her respective stewardship as a bishop does for his. Anyone who is worthy of the Gift of the Holy Ghost has the right to revelation.
In the end, how we dress is an outward reflection of our attitude in sacrament meeting. If one feels that they are comfortable wearing pants to church, that is fine. However, when they come with the attitude that they are wearing pants to show their political stand, it is a reflection of the wrong attitude. I repeat it, church is not appropriate to reflect political stances. There is a time and place for all things and church is not one of them in this case.
I would also be so bold to say that this is a time for personal reflection of testimony. Remember, no one left the Church because they made one massive mistake out of the blue. It comes from small things. The wife of Thomas B. March, the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, left the Church over a milk dispute! How petty is that! Disagreement with leaders is the first sign of personal apostasy. The doctrine is clear. The Church will never again be removed from the earth. Only we can remove ourselves from it. Brigham Young was very bold with the early apostates when he mentioned the following in his writings: "I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God and sink themselves to hell."
I hope I don't offend anyone with these sentiments. It is not my intention to do so. Part of the mission of a prophet is to warn people of sin. Though I myself am not a prophet, I have been called of one to represent Jesus Christ. And so, my role is the same is His in spreading the message of the gospel and warning of the consequences of sin. Though the current issue in and of itself is not sin, if not checked, it can certainly lead to personal apostasy. The big question is this: "Is the Book of Mormon true and are Joseph Smith and his successors prophets?" If the answer to this is "Yes!" - and it is - then we should follow the direction of our leaders and the revealed truths we are privileged to have. One last question: "Would I be allowed to enter the temple in pants and would I feel right enforcing a political agenda in the House of the Lord?"
I will post some more links for more information. I love you all and hope you understand where I am coming from.
This is a list of frequently asked questions on women in the Church.
This is a video of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland describing the joys of motherhood and the great role women have in the Church.
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