very surprised at the reaction at church.

[grizzbass]

thanks. about the 16 year old. I guess trying to be funny didn't make my thought clear. He hasn't rebelled just occasionally does things without thinking them through. (if that's the proper way to say it) I know when I was that age while my grades say I was really intelligent but some of the things I said or did say something different.
I am really proud of my sons ( my daughters equally) I and my sons spend about an hour a day each together. After I do my workout I coach them both seperately in powerlifting. So we have alot of time to communicate.
It also helps their strength. The 16 year old, at 165 pounds, in touriment has deadlifted 406 pounds, squatted 303 pounds and benched pressed 186 pounds. The younger is to young to go heavy but can rep 115 pounds 20 times in the deadlift and squat and is at 60 pounds for the bench. The oldest would like to start the scottish games soon. My only problem with that is I've never done it so it will be a learning experience for us both and more importantly not sure where we can practise. My back lawn is only about 20 yards long and I'm pretty sure the neigbors will object to big rocks, hammers, and logs flying around. Okay kid brag over

[beloitpiper]

You could always become an atheist and not care what people think! It feels great!

[macwilkin]

Post deleted.

[Dixiecat]

still think you're left with two realistic options when it comes to membership in an organization (as opposed to dealing with legally protected rights and freedoms): Either 1) try to work constructively, from the inside, for change, or 2) decide to no longer associate yourself with the organization.

David, I would tend to agree with you for the most part except, 1) the young man in question is not a member, he attends because his parents do. He hasn't 'chosen' anything at all and 2) he is a minor child of a member with all the limitations that entails; he can't unjoin something he isn't a member of and he shouldn't be subjected to a 'chat' without permission from his parents.

I'm not here to say anything other than it's sad when anyone, ANYONE can't have an open and just mind. OP, I hope it all gets worked out in the end and that you will be able to use this as a learning opportunity for all involved.

[davidlpope]

David, I would tend to agree with you for the most part except, 1) the young man in question is not a member, he attends because his parents do. He hasn't 'chosen' anything at all and 2) he is a minor child of a member with all the limitations that entails; he can't unjoin something he isn't a member of and he shouldn't be subjected to a 'chat' without permission from his parents.

Very good points.

[MacBean]

Here is a link to a web site that discusses Mormon views on modest dress. Personally, I have no difficulty with the discussion on the page, from the point of view of their church. After reading it, I came away with a feeling that they were careful to guide the reader in a positive and helpful way as to what is modest.

http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/modesty.htm

If the bishop had asked your son whether he thought that his kilt might be drawing more attention to him than might be modest, letting him come to his own conclusion, then I can't see the objection.

Therefore, I conclude that the offensive action was that the bishop saught to impose his view and take away the boy's autonomy; a serious, but not uncommon error in any place of sacred endeavor. The kilt may indeed be immodest in that it is unusual or new, but probably not immodest in and of itself. In time, the congregation would no longer be distracted by the newness. Newness in itself does not strike me as immodest.

On the flip side, it might have been best to consult with the bishop first.

[Kilted Jeeper]

I cannot add much here that has already been said and said better than I could have so I will simply extend an invitation to all my XMARKS LDS friends to come visit if you ever come to Palmyra, NY as that is where my home is and I am only 6 miles up the road from the Hill Cumorah site.

[MacColl]

I am a roman catholic. Being of Irish and Highland Scots ancestry I do wear my kilt to mass. I have never gotten a negative reaction. 100% positive reactions from women and men. My vietnamese priest told me that at his previous parish in New Jersey he saw many kilts. I don't understand the negativity.

[Java]

OK, I'm an old biker, who is now in seminary school. I would say if he won't listen to reason, tell him this old one on the way out the door. (It would apply to kilties as well as bikers).
An old biker decided to go to church one Sunday. He had heard good things about one particular church, so Sunday morning he put on his best jeans, and boots, his newest vest, and a clean t-shirt and went to church. On the way out, he stoped to thank the pastor, and the pastor told him that maybe he had better pray about what is appropriate to wear, before next Sunday. The same thing happened the following 3 Sundays. On the fifth Sunday, after the service, the biker again stopped to thank the pastor on the way out, and the pastor much less politely than before told him, "I told you to ask God what is appropriate to wear here before you came back!" And the biker answered, "Well, pastor, I did ask God what I should wear here, and God told me that he had no idea, because He hd never been here."

Have Fun,
Java

[Riverkilt]

Visions of what the posts would have been like had there been an Internet back when women were first wearing pants suits to church....