Post by DianaCPost by DianaCMormonism does not dictate the length of hair on a woman, or the
style of
Post by DianaCskirt or jacket or dress.
If we follow the Bible, it does dictate about woman's hair.
I was recently was reading in 1 Corinthians 11:13-16 that Paul the
Apostle makes it clear women should not cut their hair short and their
hair is like a natural veil.
If my intrepretation is correct, I believe the high-placed Mormon women
in the magazines I refered to earlier should set the example and have
long hair to comply with Paul.
Well, if your interpretation is correct, not only should "high-placed Mormon
women" (whatever they are)should have long hair to comply with Paul, but so
should all women. However, we do not claim to be "Paulists" or "Pauline
Christians" or any such thing. We profess to be followers of Jesus Christ
who leads this Church. I am not aware of any time or place that Jesus Christ
told any woman how to wear her hair or likewise told any man how to wear his
hair. Since the Bible indicates that even His accusers and persecutors had
to have Him identified to them by Judas Iscariot to be sure they had the
right man, it seems that there was nothing distinctive about Him compared to
other men in the area at the time, so his hair and clothing must have been
typical of the time. If it was of the Roman style, which it may have been,
it would have been short, I think, and perhaps He would have been beardless.
But I am not sure if that was a common style for the Jews of the time. If it
followed ancient Hebrew/Jewish customs, then I am not sure about the hair,
but the beard would not have been shaven.
Paul may settle the matter for himself, but not necessarily for Jesus, as to
hair length for men. Here is what he said to the Saints in Corinth:
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it
is a shame unto him?
My reply to Paul has always been, "No, nature teaches me no such thing.
Coupling this with the next verse, I think I know of no natural life in
which the male is short haired and the female has long hair on her head."
It is possible that Paul intended that the letter go to all who claim the
name of Christ in all ages, but again, maybe not.
Regarding long hair on men, long before Paul, some who made vows of extreme
degree as to how they were devoting their lives to God, vowed not to cut
their hair while the vow was in force. This was, I believe, the Nazarite
vow. Samson was one notable person who is recorded in the Bible as having
taken that vow. I am pretty sure that he did not consider it a shame, as
Paul seems to be claiming even nature teaches us. But what do we learn in
the Book of Mormon? I will answer my own question:
Mosiah 3:19
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of
Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of
the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint
through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child,
submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all
things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth
submit to his father.
My final question for pondering on this topic is, "Are we to believe that
the length of the hair of a man or a woman is of importance to God? If so,
why?" Jesus had something to say against even those Jews who were scrupulous
in their application of the law of the Tithe, did He not? (Again I answer my
own question)
Matt 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of
mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the
law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone.
What do I think is the point? I think it is to ponder carefully what you
spend your time on. Try to give importance to the things that God gives
importance to. Take the word of no mortal man regarding what that is for
you. (Not even my word.)