A Stake President Denounces Cross-dressing

An excerpt from an address given by President Paternoster at a recent Stake Relief Society fireside:

.......and this is why we do not complain or murmur that we have no temple here in Ireland whilst the members in America enjoy Church funded malls.

And now I will answer one last question that was submitted in preparation for my presence here today. 

Sisters I must admit that it grieves my soul to have to address this issue.  But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, as the presiding High Priest in the Stake I cannot shy away from warning you concerning the lures of Satan that surround us in these latter days. 

One of you asked why it was that sisters are counseled not to wear pants to church.  It was mentioned that being the year 2012 surely equal rights ought to be given to the women of the Church in this matter. 

Allow me to address this issue head on.  As the women of the world increasingly leave their homes to follow their husbands into the workforce many have succumbed to the temptation to wear pants.  This, they assume, helps them to look authoritative and has even been attributed in some cases to them being given dominion over the man in the workplace.  I know of several companies that even pride themselves on their policy of paying women the same amount as men for doing similar work.

This trend of women wearing men’s clothing has even infiltrated the Lord’s Church where I have beheld on more than one occasion a sister dressed in pants.  Make no mistake about it; this is displeasing unto the Lord.

In Deuteronomy 22:5 it clearly states that “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man”. 

Quite frankly I do not know how to say it any clearer than that.  And just in case you are wondering, the same goes for men also where it states that “neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment”. 

Sisters this practice of dressing up in the clothing of the opposite sex is commonly known as “Cross-dressing” and the scripture goes on to say (speaking of those who engage in such practices) that “all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God”.

Do you sweet sisters wish to be thought of by the Lord as an abomination? Do you think that God, even He who created the heavens and earth takes such things lightly?  No.  The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.

Some may argue that it is man who looketh on the outward appearance but that the Lord looketh on the heart, but ask yourself this; can a woman who wears men’s clothing in opposition to the Holy Scriptures and in open rebellion to the counsel of her priesthood leaders do so and still maintain the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  I say unto you nay.  For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to damnation. 

And even worse than wearing pants to Church is the audacity that we occasionally see of sisters wearing them to the sacred and holy temples of the Lord.  This gross error in judgment has caused the leaders of the Church, even our prophets, seers and revelators, to take the necessary steps to nip this in the bud by addressing it right in the temple preparation manual. 

Under the section “Special Preparations for the First Temple Visit” it addresses the very important issue of dress wherein it instructs members to “Plan to dress as you would when attending Sunday meetings”. (And just to avoid any confusion amongst the sisters this includes the counsel that “Women should not wear pants to the temple”.  See this link: http://www.lds.org/manual/endowed-from-on-high-temple-preparation-seminar-teachers-manual/lesson-6-preparing-to-enter-the-holy-temple?lang=eng ).

I am thankful for those sisters who meekly and obediently follow the inspired counsel of the priesthood brethren as they lovingly show us how to become more Christlike in our outward appearance.  I testify that you will be blessed as you avoid the temptation to cross-dress and I leave these thoughts with you in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.