"I love how an article in the Scroll about one girl not being let into the testing center because of tight jeans has caused everyone to assume that there is a school wide ban on skinny jeans..."
"I'm only wearing spandex for the rest of the semester"
The original article comes from the Scroll (the student published newspaper at BYU-I):
Testing Center reminds students of Dress and Grooming Standards
And because of that one article there has been much misunderstanding.
Then I read this...
BYU-Idaho bans skinny jeans
Most of the comments written in response to this article are disappointing. And it's amazing how rapidly false information has spread and how because of it people are coming to conclusions about BYU-I, BYU, and the Church that are not true.
Then, I saw the following status:
"The honor code isn't put in place because flip-flops and skinny jeans are "of the devil." There is a much more significant purpose. It's not about shorts or flip-flops. It's about the concept of obedience. If you sign a contract that says you will obey the conditions of the honor code (which every BYU Idaho student must do upon acceptance), you are expected to be obedient to those conditions. More than a secular institution, even more than a university of the Church, BYU-I is a disciple preparation center. The honor code is just one of the pieces that help us to become disciples of the Lord and to learn OBEDIENCE. It's never been about what we as students can or cannot wear. If that is your focus then you have little concept of why the honor code exsists. Not trying to call any of you out. I've read about a million negative statuses regarding this whole skinny jean thing, and I'd thought I'd share the way I feel about the honor code. I have a testimony that when I obey the honor code to the letter, the Lord blesses me innumerably. I encourage every one attending BYU Idaho to re-evaluate their attitude toward the honor code and strive to not question why, but simply obey because it is what you covenanted to do."
I couldn't agree more!
In light of this comment, a friend showed me this article:
Mormon College Objects to Skinny Jeans
While reading the last article, I was happy to see the statement from the school:
"We have not identified "skinny jeans" as a specific violation of the dress and grooming standard. We are aware of the incident and the Student Honor Office is working with the Testing Center to address the issue.
"The Testing Center has not made any new standard, nor has there been a ban of a particular piece of clothing. The effort of the Testing Center as well as with other employees and students is to encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code."
-Kevin Miyasaki
Student Services and Activities Vice President
Even if skinny jeans had been banned, why can't we willingly obey? Why is that so hard? Why are people so resistant?
I feel like as members of the Church, we tend to question the commandments that are inconvenient or that we don't like. Because God said so should be a good enough reason. We shouldn't need an answer as to "why" we do everything. Because we love God and have chosen to willingly obey Him should be attitude and mindset, and if it isn't, we should pray that it will be.
I love this quote:
"The process of giving your heart to the Lord is the great key to understanding the purpose of the Honor Code. The Honor Code is a preparatory commitment to live the gospel and conduct your lives in a spirit of obedience." -President Kim B. Clark
I found this devotional, given by Elder Bednar, that is very fitting for this topic, and I love what he said. The full talk is here: In the Path of Their Duty. Here are a couple of quotes from it:
"Much discussion occurs on this campus about the topic of enforcing the honor and dress codes. Focusing upon enforcement totally misses the issue and emphasizes a symptom of the problem rather than the root cause of the problem. The solution to this issue is really very simple. We do not need more or better enforcement. We simply need more obedience. You can read and understand these codes; that is all that should be necessary. An endless checklistof what can and cannot be done, what can and cannot be worn, is contrary to the spirit of the honor code.
"Men and women are to act and not be acted upon. Obedience as submission from "within" is acting for ourselves. Enforcement as control from 'outside' is being acted upon."-Elder David A. Bednar "In the Path of Their Duty" Ricks College Devotional September 1, 1998
I hope that we can find out the truth before jumping to conclusions. I also hope that we can choose obedience no matter what because we covenanted we would obey, because we want to obey and because we love the Lord.
