Clothing Change for LDS women

[Okrahomer]

Here:  Where did this picture come from?  Is it from a Trek experience?  Is this supposed to represent the way LDS women dress....currently?

[bluebell]

I love how the picture (which has to be from trek if it's even a picture of a latter-day saint) and the headline completely contradict the subject of the article, which is that some members can now purchase sleeveless garments.  They also need to work on their reporting skills because the article claims that they are not available in the US, which is not at all correct. 

[Calm]

3 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

Here:  Where did this picture come from?  Is it from a Trek experience?  Is this supposed to represent the way LDS women dress....currently?

It says “Getty” so likely just a stock photo that has nothing to do with actual LDS, but intended to convey something here about Church members, maybe bring to mind the historical pioneer heritage or maybe even FLDS.

The article references NPR and Religion News for its quotes, so it looks like it was written without actually doublechecking its writer’s conclusions, just mined other news sources for its info.

I don’t expect much effort was put into finding an appropriate picture to draw attention to the article as the article itself isn’t the most accurate, especially this part:

”The Mormon Church has implemented a significant clothing policy change for women for the first time in its two-century existence. Unfortunately, there's a limitation for Americans.”

First, garments were not always with cap sleeves.  I find the change from having it at the wrist as more dramatic than showing shoulders.  I find going to two pieces also much more significant.

Are men’s garments still close to t-shirt in style?  I understand that is more common in men’s general attire and women’s hormonally caused temperature fluctuations likely cause issues men don’t have, but seems like men would benefit as well from having garments that don’t hold on to heat as much and therefore shirts being sleeveless could be a worthwhile option for them in areas where men’s sleeveless shirts aren’t just typically worn for sports/workouts.

Added:  the link for supporting the claim it’s primarily for women in sweltering climates goes to an article about Pornhub, so they don’t put much effort into keeping old articles easily accessible (giving them the benefit of the doubt the link originally went to a front page kind of thing rather than the actual article or something else caused a broken link and accidental replacement rather than they never provided the correct link in the first place).  There was also a weird refusal to give up its place in my window when I tried to backspace to this page like certain poppups, so those were two red flags for me.  Mediabias describes Irish Star a “a left-leaning sensationalized tabloid and therefore lacks credibility as a legitimate journalistic newspaper”.  Looks like this should just be viewed as clickbait, imo.

Edited August 21, 2025 by Calm

[webbles]

I think this is the getty link - https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/portrait-of-mormon-mother-and-daughter-mormon-royalty-free-image/148584552?adppopup=true

It has a title "Portrait of Mormon mother and daughter, Mormon Pioneer Wagon Train to Utah, near South Pass. - stock photo" with an upload date is July 16, 2012.  So most likely a photo from a trek.

[Calm]

3 hours ago, webbles said:

I think this is the getty link - https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/portrait-of-mormon-mother-and-daughter-mormon-royalty-free-image/148584552?adppopup=true

It has a title "Portrait of Mormon mother and daughter, Mormon Pioneer Wagon Train to Utah, near South Pass. - stock photo" with an upload date is July 16, 2012.  So most likely a photo from a trek.

How old are kids on trek?…of course I am the typical cliche, the older I get the younger other ages look to me.  The girl looks much younger than 14 to me.  Can they go if younger than that?
 

Weren’t there some families that went out to follow the historic trail from Winter’s Quarters or at least part of the Mormon Trail for a memorial one anniversary?  I remember a book even being published.  It may have been done by a stake, but different than the usual treks in time commitment, maybe weeks rather than days or even longer.  Did a search and trek or the original pioneers come up. I wish I had a year, but it seems like quite some time ago, though we were in Utah.

Edited August 23, 2025 by Calm

[Calm]

Found it, we were not in Utah as it was 1997.  We might have discussed it on the board though as I don’t think I would have heard of it otherwise, so that’s why I think of it as post 2003.  Added:  looks like it made it into the Ensign, so who knows…

Given it was that long ago (1997), chances are the picture is from just a regular trek and I am just an old timer thinking everyone under 25 looks like a baby.

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-3643/

https://www.thechurchnews.com/2022/7/13/23218911/photo-gallery-sesquicentennial-pioneer-trek-reenactment-1997/
 

Otoh, I wonder if there are reenactment companies or maybe just families who do it for fun off and on nowadays outside of treks.

This article says mentions a family reunion doing a trek, so could be a younger child and not just me not able to judge ages.  😛

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/6/13/23165900/mormon-pioneer-trek-latter-day-saints-learn-history-in-utah-arizona-salt-lake-valley/

Edited August 23, 2025 by Calm

[rpn]

"Moms" and "Dads" on trek assignments are sometimes allowed to bring their bio children on treks  (though I don't think so much recently).

[Calm]

1 hour ago, rpn said:

"Moms" and "Dads" on trek assignments are sometimes allowed to bring their bio children on treks  (though I don't think so much recently).

That makes sense, thanks for that as I didn’t know.  

[bluebell]

In 1997 the church did the "Mormon Trek", where whole families, oxen, teams of horses, etc. recreated the pioneers' westward trek on parts of the historic oregon and mormon trails. It tooks a few months if I remember right.  It could be a photo from that experience too.

[Tacenda]

On 8/23/2025 at 11:54 AM, bluebell said:

In 1997 the church did the "Mormon Trek", where whole families, oxen, teams of horses, etc. recreated the pioneers' westward trek on parts of the historic oregon and mormon trails. It tooks a few months if I remember right.  It could be a photo from that experience too.

I remember those and I really wanted to do that with my young family, until I realized I'd have to sacrifice and not drink my diet soda (flavor changes through the years), lame!

[Calm]

3 hours ago, Tacenda said:

not drink my diet soda (flavor changes through the years), lame!

Most of us have some little thing that becomes are security blanket/way we comfort ourselves.  It may seem like a little thing, but it becomes a significant part of our life.  It’s not lame if that was how you motivated yourself to get through hard days.

[Rain]

On 8/22/2025 at 8:57 PM, Calm said:

How old are kids on trek?…of course I am the typical cliche, the older I get the younger other ages look to me.  The girl looks much younger than 14 to me.  Can they go if younger than that?
 

Weren’t there some families that went out to follow the historic trail from Winter’s Quarters or at least part of the Mormon Trail for a memorial one anniversary?  I remember a book even being published.  It may have been done by a stake, but different than the usual treks in time commitment, maybe weeks rather than days or even longer.  Did a search and trek or the original pioneers come up. I wish I had a year, but it seems like quite some time ago, though we were in Utah.

There have been various treks with families over the years. 

[Rain]

They are available for men too.

[Calm]

59 minutes ago, Rain said:

They are available for men too.

Excellent