Chapter 83—Reform in Dress
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See Appendix.
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Dear Brethren and Sisters,
My apology for calling your attention again to the subject of dress
is that some do not seem to understand what I have before written; and
an effort is made, perhaps by those who do not wish to believe what I
have written, to make confusion in our churches upon this important
subject. Many letters have been written to me, stating difficulties,
which I have not had time to answer; and now, to answer the many
inquiries, I give the following statements, which it is hoped will forever
put the subject at rest, so far as my testimonies are concerned.
Some contend that what I wrote in Testimony for the Church No.
10 does not agree with my testimony in the work entitled, How to
Live. They were written from the same view, hence are not two views,
one contradicting the other, as some may imagine; if there is any
difference, it is simply in the form of expression. In Testimony for the
Church No. 10 I stated as follows:
“No occasion should be given to unbelievers to reproach our faith.
We are considered odd and singular, and should not take a course to
lead unbelievers to think us more so than our faith requires us to be.
Some who believe the truth may think that it would be more healthful
for the sisters to adopt the American costume, yet if that mode of dress
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would cripple our influence among unbelievers so that we could not so
readily gain access to them, we should by no means adopt it, though
we suffered much in consequence. But some are deceived in thinking
there is so much benefit to be received from this costume. While it
may prove a benefit to some, it is an injury to others.
“I saw that God’s order has been reversed, and His special direc-
tions disregarded, by those who adopt the American costume. I was
referred to
Deuteronomy 22:5
: “The woman shall not wear that which
pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment:
for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.’ God would
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