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SALT LAKE CITY — A group of feminist members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are urging women to wear pants to church services on Sunday as a show of equality.
It is the first act of a group called All Enlisted, which describes itself as a "direct action group for Mormon women to advocate for equality within our faith."
The group stated on the Facebook page associated with the event that they are pushing for the LDS church to acknowledge the similarities between men and women.
"We believe that much of the cultural, structural, and even doctrinal inequality that persists in the LDS church today stems from the church's reliance on - and enforcement of - rigid gender roles that bear no relationship to reality," a statement on the page said.
Stephanie Lauritzen, who organized the group, said the movement is about having a choice.
We're doing this not because we think women have to wear pants or should wear pants but that women can wear pants.
–Stephanie Lauritzen
"We're doing this not because we think women have to wear pants or should wear pants but that women can wear pants," she said.
LDS church spokesman Scott Trotter said clothing is not meant to be the focus of church attendance.
"Attending Church is about worship and learning to be followers of Jesus Christ. Generally Church members are encouraged to wear their best clothing as a sign of respect for the Savior, but we don't counsel people beyond that."
The LDS church teaches that men and women fulfill different responsibilities in the church, but are "co-equals in this life." Women in the church belong to and lead the church's Relief Society, which was developed as a part of the early church to help care for those in need.
