“Tennis Shoes in the Temple,” Liahona, August 2021
Latter-day Saint Voices
Tennis Shoes in the Temple
Would others judge me the way I had unfairly judged another?
Photograph from Getty Images
During a priesthood meeting, I noticed a quorum member wearing jeans and tennis shoes. I wondered, “Why would he come to church in casual clothing? Is he being rebellious? Is he hard-hearted? Does he not feel the Spirit in his life?”
If he truly had a vibrant testimony, certainly he would show more respect for sacred meetings and places.
A week later while my wife and I visited our daughter, we wanted to go to the temple with her. As I opened my suitcase, I was shocked to discover that I had forgotten my dress shoes! Because our temple session was starting soon, I didn’t have time to buy a new pair. So I decided to wear my tennis shoes.
As I was putting on my shoes, I immediately remembered the priesthood meeting. Here I was, preparing to go to one of the most sacred places on earth dressed in tennis shoes. I wondered what others might think. Would they judge me as being rebellious and hard-hearted or lacking the Spirit or a vibrant testimony?
I was ashamed of my previous quick, unfair judgment. Who was I to question someone’s testimony because of his clothing? I knew nothing of his circumstances.
The Savior focused on the spiritual progress of all His Father’s children. As He reminded Samuel, “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
A person’s clothing, appearance, race, or gender should make no difference. We are all brothers and sisters. The fact that this brother was attending church should have been the center of my focus.
We should always try to wear our best clothes when we go to church or the temple.1 However, we shouldn’t judge others on what they are wearing, because we never know their circumstances.
All those around us truly have divine potential. We should offer Christlike love to all of our brothers and sisters no matter their outward appearance, even if they wear tennis shoes in the temple!