Why I Didn’t Wear Pants To Church

I chose to not wear pants to church on Sunday, December 16th. And my reasons are as important to me as the reasons for those who did choose wear pants to church on Sunday.

But focusing on differences is like treading water. No progress is made. No one comes out on top.

When I am faced with different points of view or different beliefs, I try to simplify the situation down to one question. What would Jesus Christ, the Savior of ALL of God’s children (denomination and gender not a determining factor), do?

The answer every single time is love. LOVE. Unconditional, without boundary, void of cruelty love.

I am not a stand on my soapbox, create a scene, start a debate, kind of woman. I am more of an observer. Some call it being a coward. I call it biting my tongue. So many ugly things get said in the heat of the moment. And I have learned my lesson the hard way. I am done with the proverbial foot in my mouth.

I was completely oblivious to the “Wear Pants on Sunday” movement, rebellion, cause, until Saturday (December 15th). Upon reading the commentary I was heartbroken. Not because of the pants. Who cares about pants? My heart was broken because of the unkind things being said. So many faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were tearing each other apart, from both sides of this event. The ugliness was not one-sided. I did not see any martyrs. As I contemplated my place (or lack of place) in this debate I was reminded of the words to two different Primary songs. One is actually my family’s theme/motto for this school year.

Kindness Begins With Me

I want to be kind to ev’ryone,
For that is right, you see.
So I say to myself, “Remember this:
Kindness begins with me.”

Jesus Said Love Everyone

Jesus said love ev’ryone;
Treat them kindly, too.
When your heart is filled with love,
Others will love you.

The common denominator in these two sweet, simple songs?

LOVE EVERYONE!

Not just love the men and women who are like me. Love everyone.

My life the past two years has been one lesson after another on loving everyone. I have had to learn to put my own stereotypes, judgements, and arguments aside in order to best love and serve my new family. It has been a heart wrenching, joyful, hard, beautiful, painful, and l-o-n-g learning process. In fact, I’m still learning!

So, when Sunday, December 16th, 2012 rolled around and the call to wear pants was sounded, I turned within. I considered my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I thought about what that means to me. I thought about what that looks like to me. I thought about all I have been given. I thought about the tender mercies I have been witness to. And I sunk to my knees. With tears of love and gratitude streaming down my cheeks, I poured my heart out to the one being who truly knows me and my heart. He heard my prayer. And I knew that I was not less. I am more. More than equal. I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me, and I love Him. And in that moment I knew that I would stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places.

So I stood, and put on my Sunday best. I helped my beautiful daughters into their Sunday best, and we proudly, with thankful hearts went to church.

We are more than equal. We are daughters of a King.

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